A Test Run for Track Season

Peninsula High School senior Victor Woo showed up to the Redondo Union All-Comers Track and Field Meet on Saturday with some lofty goals in mind. He predicted that he would try to break every Peninsula sprint record in his sport's fast-approaching season.

The second annual meet, held at Redondo Union High School, featured competitors of every age and skill category, but high school athletes like Woo were mostly preparing for the upcoming track season.

“I have worked tremendously hard to get ready for this season,” Woo said after posting the fastest time of the day in the 100m sprints, finishing in a blistering 11:06. “This meet is the start of what should be a pretty good season for me.” 

The time posted by Woo was just three-tenths of a second slower than the current Peninsula record and the fastest time posted by any Panther sprinter in four years. Woo is the current Peninsula record holder in the 1,600-meter relay. 

“Today’s meet is like a pre-season warm-up for most our competitors,” event organizer Susan Ryan said. “This is a way for our local community to celebrate our wonderful new facilities we have at Redondo.” 

All of the members of the Ryan family worked in some capacity to help make the meet a success. Patriarch Bob served as the emcee for the event, while daughter Kelly competed in the 1,600-meter for Redondo and their 12-year-old son John managed the snack bar. 

“This event serves as a fundraiser for the track and field program,” Ryan said. “It's also nice to work with my husband, watch our daughter compete and have our son around to help.” 

Warren High School track coach Ryan Pitts, a South Bay native, said this meet is a good way for his kids to experience the beach-type atmosphere. Pitts 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.” 

John Sandrum, a 67-year-old former middle school music teacher in Redondo Beach, was one of those people running on Saturday. 

“This is a gorgeous day to be out here competing with all these wonderful athletes,” said Sandrum, who ran in the 3,200-meter, 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. 

“But if they have a whole senior division we might take all day to finish.” 

The Redondo Union All-Comers Track and Field Meet also featured young runners, such as 11-year-old Dynasty Gammarge, who was running in her first race. Despite her last-place finish in the 200-meter, she was grinning widely at all the excitement. 

“I always thought running was boring and was doing it to build up speed for soccer and basketball,” Dynasty 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.” 

Another youngster also had his first taste of the competitive world of track and field. Paul Viggiano, 11, ran in the 1,600-meter at the urging of his father and finished to a standing ovation from the crowd. 

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

For starter Ken Smith, the guy in the red coat, Saturday serves as the unofficial start to track and field competition for the upcoming season. “I’ve been here the last two years,” Smith 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.” 

The All-Comers Track and Field Meet was also a warm-up for one of the biggest track field meets in the South Bay: next month's Redondo Nike Track and Field Invitational.

“This was really a warm-up for that meet and a trial run,” Ryan said. “It is going to be a major event in March, and we are really looking forward to it.”