Dashing off another win

The respect factor weighed in more than her status as a top-notch sprinter. Jessica Beard stepped onto Folsom High School's track knowing the competitors in the Golden West Invitational girls 400 meters could dethrone her as the defending champion.

So when the starting gun sounded, the senior from Euclid High School in Ohio jetted out of the blocks, quickly made up the stagger and took control of the race. And after Beard reached the finish, her place in the prestigious event was set.

With a meet-record time of 52.07 seconds Sunday, Beard became the first girl to win back-to-back 400 titles since 1989.

Later in the day, Tori Anthony of Castilleja in Palo Alto established a U.S. National High School record in the girls pole vault at 14 feet, 1¼ inches. She set the previous mark of 14-1 during the California Interscholastic Federation State Track and Field Championships on June 2 at Hughes Stadium.

Beard, however, set the tone early with her dominating performance on a sunny, breezy day.

"When you run in an event like this, you know anything can happen," Beard said. "You hear all the time the best can be beaten. So I came out ready to run."

That approach enabled Beard to set the nation's fastest time in the 400 this season and surpass her previous meet record of 52.16, set last year.

Beard blew out the field, including runner-up Erica Alexander (54.42), a junior from Clear Brook High School of Friendswood, Texas. Alexander entered with the season's second-fastest time in the nation. Eileen Nguyen of Milpitas placed third (55.59).

As a result, Beard left the stadium feeling proud she represented her state well in the high-profile event, which featured Marion Jones, Mike Powell and Steve Prefontaine in previous years.

"When people look back, I'm glad they will see that I'm from somewhere different," said Beard, who has a scholarship to Texas A&M. "Most of the people that win are from Texas, California or Florida. Now, they have somebody from Ohio."

Anthony, however, was a Californian who made history, setting the U.S. record on her third attempt.

"The national record has been something that has been hanging over me for a couple of weeks," she said. "Since I got it last week, there was no pressure this week. My goal was simply to jump as high as I can."

Meanwhile, Fairfield senior Dominique Jackson won the girls 800 title in 2 minutes, 7.97 seconds. Jackson, who ran the nation's second-fastest time this season (2:06.06) last week in the state meet, got out slow Sunday but made up for it. She caught the lead pack with 200 meters to go and prevailed.

The victory not only made up for third- and second-place finishes in 2005 and 2006, respectively, it helped Jackson celebrate something special.

"It's my birthday today," said Jackson, who is headed to North Carolina. "So this is a great present for myself."

Although Jackson showed progress, Jeshua Anderson, the USNHS record holder in the boys 300 hurdles (35.28), said he felt pressure. Still, he didn't disappoint. Anderson, from Taft of Woodland Hills, won the GWI title in 36.05.

"I was feeling the heat because people were expecting me to do something big this week," he said. "But I decided to take it easy this week, not doing much training. Maybe good things can happen in a few weeks at the (USA Junior Outdoor Track and Field Championships, June 20-24 in Indianapolis)."

In other action, Bella Vista senior Veronica Stimson earned second in the girls high jump (5-4 1/4), while Roseville junior and state-meet runner-up Blair Wallingford finished second in the boys pole vault (15-9).

Golden West Invitaional results

GIRLS

Javelin

1. Christina Grizzel, Oregon, 151-10; 2. Brittany Borman, Missouri, 146-2; 3. Heather Bergmann, Kansas, 133-4.

Pole vault

1. Tori Anthony, California, 14-1 1/4; 2. Veronica Stimson, Bella Vista H.S., 12-9 1/2; 3. Melissa Peaslee, Washington, 12-5 1/8. Also: Rachel Simmons, Rocklin H.S., 11-11 3/4; Tess Balcomb, Colfax H.S., 11-11 3/4; Tawny Lambuth, Placer H.S., 10-11 3/4; Diane McAllister, Bella Vista H.S., 10-6.

About the writer:

• The Bee's Quwan Spears can be reached at (916) 326-5517 or qspears@sacbee.com.