Cerritos College

NORWALK — While his classmates were walking up to the podium to the sounds of "Pomp and Circumstance," Greg Dotson was barreling down a running track to the sound of a starter's pistol. While his peers at Burbank High were celebrating the ending of their high school experience, Dotson was attempting to extend his prep athletic career. With the Burbank graduation happening earlier than usual this year, the event Friday took place at the same time Dotson was taking part in the boys' 800-meter race at the CIF Southern Section Masters Meet at Cerritos College.

TRACK AND FIELD Burroughs in California Relays : Indians' Justice Shank won the girls' high jump with a 5-feet-2 effort Saturday in the event at Cerritos College. Shannon Kermah also had a fine effort in the girls' triple jump, placing fourth with in 35-11 3/4. The effort put her at No. 3 on the Burroughs all-time list. Kermah also finished fourth in the long jump (16-4 3/4). Also on the girls' side, Paris Vaughn finished eighth in the long jump (15-7 3/4). On the boys' side, Brandon Andrade was third in the 800 (2:02.27)

Jeff Tully Sasha Vujic knows what it's like to run by himself. A 1988 Burroughs High graduate, Vujic was able to be successful and excel in track and field and cross-country with limited coaching assistance. So when the former Cal State Northridge standout came on board at Burbank High in 2000 to assist with the school's distance runners, Vujic wanted to make sure his athletes would never have to go at it alone. "When I competed at Burroughs, I really didn't have a coach who specialized in distance running," Vujic said.

Greg Dotson realizes he is on the verge of joining a rare fraternity. As a runner at Burbank High, the junior is well aware of the history the school has in turning out successful distance and middle-distance athletes. Dotson is the latest distance running standout from Burbank, following in a long line of stars dating back to the 1960s with Rick Romero and Fred Ortega. Jeff Nelson, Lin Whatcott and John Musich led the way in the 1970s, Benny Cruz and Todd Lewis in the 1980s, Issac Turner in the 1990s and Kyle Ivie more recently.

BURBANK — In a two-mile race on May 6, 1979 at the Pepsi Invitational at UCLA, Jeff Nelson achieved distance-running immortality. In the meet, the Burbank High athlete found himself competing against top collegiate and Olympic-caliber athletes. “When I was about to run the race, [Burbank] Coach [Dave] Kemp came over to me and whispered in my ear ’You’re going to run 8:35 today,’ ” said Nelson in a 2004 interview with the Leader. “He thought I could really do it."

MISSION VIEJO — With a sharp pain in her right leg, Samantha Bogatz set sail for the finish line with plenty at stake. Competing in the 200-meter dash, the standout Glendale Community College track and field athlete crossed the finish line in a school-record time and breathed a sigh of relief. Bogatz captured the event in 24.09 seconds to repeat as champion at the Southern California Championships on Saturday afternoon at Saddleback College. Bogatz earlier repeated as champion in the 100, clocking 11.85.

Claudia Peschiutta BURBANK -- As a young man living in a small Texas town, Jack Scott felt a calling to enter public service. But it was the pulpit, not the political podium, the future assemblyman was after at the time. "I grew up in a religious home. I saw that ministers are very helpful with people," Scott said. "It gave me a feeling that whatever you do in life ought to be in service for others." So, he studied religion at what is now known as Abilene Christian University and went on to the graduate divinity program at Yale University.

Jeff Tully BURBANK -- Although she is just a junior, Burroughs High track and field runner Carolyn Brown has become an old pro at qualifying for the CIF Southern Section Division II finals. With a fine performance Saturday at the Southern Section preliminaries at Long Beach City College, Brown secured her third straight trip to the finals by finishing first in her heat in the 800 meters in 2 minutes 15.30 seconds. Brown will join teammate Mike Ortega, Burbank's Kyle Ivie and Bellarmine-Jefferson's Camille Napolitano at Saturday's finals at Cerritos College.

There is a specific trait great athletes possess that sets them apart from competitors who are just good or average. The trait is the ability to step up and put forth their best effort in big contests. It is an inner strength that allows the athlete to dig deep and come through with a top performance on a grand stage. Sadee Martinez is one of those great athletes. For the past two seasons, the Burroughs High senior girls’ cross- country and track and field standout has continued to improve and has enjoyed her share of fine performances in big races.

The past few weeks, Sadee Martinez has been involved in an intense battle of endurance, desire and will. Although the junior Burroughs High track and field standout has had to compete against some of the finest female athletes in Southern California in the 1,600 meters, perhaps her toughest competition has come from within. "I always want to finish on top in races," Martinez said. "But what means more to me is that I am able to run the best that I can and that I'm able to get my [personal-record]