Journey Begins for Track Season

Even though the second annual Redondo Union All-Comers Track and Field Meet featured competitors of every age and skill category, local high school athletes used the Saturday event to prepare for the upcoming track season. 

“Today’s meet is a like a preseason warm-up for most of our competitors,” said organizer Susan Ryan during the event, adding that since the meet is held at Redondo Union High, it allows the community to use and see the school’s new facilities while also raising money for the track and field program.

The All-Comers meet also served as a warm-up for one of the biggest track field meets in the South Bay: the Redondo NIKE Track and Field Invitational, which will be March 19.

Peninsula High senior Victor Woo took full advantage of the All-Comers meet experience, posting the fastest time of the day in the 100-meter sprint with a blistering 11:06.

“I have worked tremendously hard to get ready for this season,” Woo said. “This meet is the start of what should be a pretty good season for me.” 

The meet allows young athletes outside of the Beach Cities to also experience competing in the beach-type atmosphere, said Warren High School track coach and South Bay native Ryan Pitts. He graduated from North Torrance High in 2002. 

“Most of my kids have never been to Redondo Beach,” Pitts said. “This meet exposes them to different areas and environments that usually they might not get exposed to.” 

And, outside of the high school league, Beach Cities residents joined in the meet for the fun. John Sandrum, a 67-year-old former middle school music teacher in Redondo Beach, was one of those people. 

“This is a gorgeous day to be out here competing with all these wonderful athletes,” Sandrum said Saturday. He ran in the 3200-meter race, which is two miles.

“Although I am the only person my age competing, maybe someone my age will see me out here and will be inspired to race next year,” he said. “But if they have a whole senior division we might take all day to finish.” 

Local Paul Viggiano, 11, had his first taste of the competitive track and field word Saturday. He ran in the 1600-meter race at the behest of his father, finishing with a standing ovation from the crowd.

“That was cool,” Viggiano said while gasping for air. “I think I might do this again.” 

Another youngster, Dynasty Gammarge, 11, ran in her first-ever race Saturday, and despite her last place finish in the 200-meter dash, she grinned from ear-to-ear with excitement.

“I always thought running was boring and was doing it to build up speed for soccer and basketball,” Gammarge said. “But this is exciting, having the guy in the red coat with the gun and all the people cheering and athletes around is really cool.” 

Ken Smith was “the guy in the red coat” serving as starter.

“I’ve been here the last two years,” he said. “First of all, you got some good athletes competing so this helps you kind of work out the kinks before the start of the season… It's also a time to let the athletes know what is acceptable and what's unacceptable for competition, plus you throw in some beautiful weather and a great location and you got a top-notch event.”