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Photo by Margot Kelly
Santiago High School (Coron, CA) senior Rodney Storrs is often overlooked when the top sprinters in the state of California are mentioned. It is understandable with the likes of speedsters Randall Carroll of Cathedral and Charles Saseun of Rancho Cucamonga to draw attention away from others.
At one point, Storrs was not even going to make the cut to be selected for the invitational division of the 200 meter dash at the Arcadia Invitational. "I almost didn't get into the race. I guess there was a change up and as an alternate I got in," revealed Storrs. Good thing that meet management opted to place him in the fastest division or they would have been shutting out their 2009 champion in the event.
Storrs, a winner last year at Arcadia in the seeded division of the 200 meter dash (21.40), won once again in the event but this time in the more competitive invitational division as a 20.80 winner. Despite running a little bit off his times already posted this season in the 200 meter dash, Storrs was pleased with a first place finish on the big stage. "Compared to last week [at Trabuco Hills], it was kinda slow, but still felt good considering this is weather that I'm not use to." Storrs won the 100 and 200 meter dash last weekend at the Trabuco Hills Distance Carnival in clockings of 10.83 and 21.38 respectively.
With the track at Santiago High School being redone, Storrs has a difficult time training on a normal track surface and knows he'll need to get plenty of good workouts in this season to keep up with some of his top competition in the state later this season. "Randall Carroll and Charles Saseun are coming up, so thats what I got to worry about. I just wish they were in this race." The state runner-up in the 200 last year added. "Hopefully I can get enough workouts in to keep up with them in the state."
Almost to be considered as a diamond in the rough at Santiago High School, Storrs is anxious to really develop at the next level in college with plenty of raw potential in store. "I am going to try to go to college and get faster. Hopefully, everything will work out." Storrs plans to enroll at a community or junior college first and then hopefully transfer to USC. The senior has spent much of his life moving around raised by a mother in the military, so wherever he ends up attending, he'll know the drill and run fast.