May (1) 2022 Candygrams

Sunday, May 1, 2022---USC Men’s and Women’s Track versus the Bruins

Head Track and Field Coach Quincy Watts allowed Trojan Candy to volunteer for the meet and also be a photographer. Thank you, Coach Watts!

My husband Jim and I arrived at 10:30 am to check in and receive our volunteer t-shirts. The volunteer manning the check-in table was Glenda Morris.

Jim posed with Glenda. Glenda’s son is Marquis Morris who ran track for USC. Then it was on to Loker Stadium to get to work.

Trojan Candy saw fellow photographers Terrell Woods and Ray Wong. They were also at the Beach Volleyball Senior Salute on April 22.

Then, Trojan Candy went to take pictures of the Javelin competition. I took pictures of three USC competitors.

Abbey Knoll posed for me first.

Next was Annabel Doherty.

Last was Karlee Freeman (9/1/2018).

Karlee placed 2nd in the Javelin with a 131'11" mark that earned the Trojans three points. Annabel finished 4th while Abbey placed 5th.

Next, I saw USC Graduate Distance runner Julia Bounds getting ready for the 3,000 m Steeplechase.

Luckily, Trojan Candy took this picture of Junior Jalyn Jackson preparing to run the runway in the Men’s triple jump. Jaylen won the triple jump with a leap of 50'4.5"/15.35m! Congratulations, Jalyn!

Later, I snapped this picture of Julia Bounds during her race.

Trojan Candy walked by two Women of Troy Freshmen. They smiled for my picture. They were Issy Cairns, who runs in the 800m, and Ritika Singh, who runs in the 3,000m.

Sitting nearby was sophomore Dallas Wise, who, like Jalyn Jackson, competes in the triple jump. Dallas placed third with a jump of 48'4.75"/14.75m. Congratulations, Dallas!

Morgan Fierro ran in the 3000m Steeplechase.

The winner of the Women’s 1500 meter run in 4:25.50 was USC’s Gigi Maccagnini. Here is my video at the finish line. Gigi beat out two Bruins to win the race. Congratulations, Gigi!

Just by luck, Trojan Candy took this picture of sophomore Temi Ojora as she was concentrating on her next Triple Jump attempt.

Temi won the women’s Triple Jump with a season best leap of 43'0.25"/13.11m!

Then, just by luck again, Trojan Candy was able to take Temi’s picture after her victory! Congratulations, Temi!

Now, there was a break so that the USC Track and Field Seniors could be introduced. Trojan Candy took three videos of the ceremony while trying to take a picture of each Senior.

Here is my first video of the Introduction of the Men’s and Women’s Track and Field Seniors.

This second video finishes with Bailey Lear and Jemima Russell (9/10/2021).

This third video shows all of the graduates lined up.

CONGRATULATIONS, Eric Allen Jr, Davonte Burnett, John Dempsey, Jalyn Jackson, Kasaun James, Earnest Sears III, Brendon Stewart, Sam VanDorpe, Celera Barnes, Breanna Bernard-Joseph, Julia Bounds, Alyssa Brewer, Karlee Freeman, Bailey Lear, and Jemima Russell!!!

Trojan Candy was able to take a picture of a few of the Seniors. First are the men Seniors: Kasaun James.

Earnest Sears III

Brendon Stewart

Sam VanDorpe

Next were the women: Breanna Bernard-Joseph

Celera Barnes

Alyssa Brewer

Karlee Freeman

Bailey Lear

Jemima Russell

Our Women of Troy started the main running portion of the meet with a win in the 4x100m relay with a time of 44.12 seconds. Unfortunately, Trojan Candy did not take a picture at the start of the relay, but I was able to take pictures of two of the four participants afterwards. Celera Barnes and Jasmine Jones happily smiled for me. Congratulations, Jasmine, Chioma Okonkwo, Celera, and Kaelin Roberts!

In their first main running event, our men also won the 4x100m relay in 38.74 seconds! Their time was a new Dual Meet record! The previous record of 38.85 seconds had stood since 1978. My video and my picture are of the winners, Eric Allen Jr., Johnnie Blockburger, Davonte Burnett, and Brendon Stewart. KEEP FIGHTING ON, Eric, Johnnie, Davonte, and Brendon!

As Trojan Candy walked all around the track area taking pictures and videos, I kept seeing a new photographer. I finally decided to meet him. Jason Goode, who is a USC freshman from Maryland, told me that he takes pictures and write articles about USC sporting events. Nice to meet you, Jason, and Keep Fighting On!

The next Women's event was the 100m Hurdles. Here are the field and the ladies getting ready for the start. Jasmine Jones led a USC sweep of this event that awarded the Women of Troy nine points. Jones won with a time of 13.08 seconds. Breanna Bernard-Joseph was second with a time of 14.01 seconds, and Maci Simmons was third with a time of 14.50 seconds. Congratulations, Jasmine, Breanna and Maci!

Standing nearby was friend Rai Benjamin (4/28/2019). Rai told me that he would be traveling to Japan for two weeks. He also assured me that he will compete in the Olympics in two years. Great, Rai! Keep Fighting On, Rai!

Our Women of Troy swept the 400m dash. I took three pictures of the times. Jan’Taijah Ford won with a time of 52.77 seconds.

Bailey Lear was second at 53.03 seconds.

Kimberly Harris took third with a time of 55.10 seconds. Congratulations, Jan, Bailey and Kimberly!

Next, Trojan Candy took pictures of the women’s 100m dash competitors lining up.

They are “Set” to go.

Then they “Go!”

Our women went 1-2 in the race. Celera Barnes won with a time of 11.38 seconds.

Chioma Okonkwo was second with a time of 11.59 seconds.

Kaelin Roberts finished fourth in 11.65 seconds.

Zion Corrales-Nelson finished seventh in 12.00 seconds. Congratulations, Celera, Chioma, Kaelin and Zion!

The score was now: USC 50 – Bruins 44.

Trojan Candy took this video of Earnest Sears' last attempt on the men’s high jump. He won High Jump with a clearance of 6' 11.75". Sophomore Dallas Wise placed fourth in the high jump with a clearance of 6' 8.75". Congratulations, Earnest and Dallas! Keep Fighting On!

Trojan Candy took pictures of the men’s 100m dash.

Six Trojans were “on the mark” at the starting line.

They were “set.”

Davonte Burnett led a USC sweep in the men’s 100m with a time of 10.07 seconds.

Brendon Stewart was second with a 10.25 seconds time.

Ashton Allen was third with 10.34 seconds.

Gavin Schurr placed fourth with a time of 10.60 seconds.

Daniel Robinson finished in sixth place with a time of 10.65 seconds.

Curtis Johnson III was seventh with a time of 10.91 seconds.

What a Trojan finish! Congratulations, Davonte, Brendon, Ashton, Gavin, Daniel, and Curtis!

The last race that Trojan Candy could cover was the men’s 800m.

Senior Sam VanDorpe won the race with a time of 1:50.12.

Junior Bobby Poynter was second with a time of 1:50.47.

Sophomore Jack Carter, who came from behind down the stretch, out leaned the Bruin runners to finish third with a time of 1:51.32. His third place finish gave our Trojans a sweep over the Bruins! Congratulations, Sam, Bobby, and Jack! Keep Fighting On, Sam, Bobby and Jack!

Trojan Candy had to leave the USC-UCLA Track Meet early because I had tickets to the Spirit of Troy concert in Bovard.

I found out later that our men beat the Bruins 88-76.

After a score correction, our Women of Troy beat the Bruins 76-72.

KEEP FIGHTING ON, Men’s and Women of Troy Track and Field!

Many thanks to my photographer good friend, Ray Wong, who sent me an album of his beautiful pictures of the USC-UCLA Track and Field Meet. Enjoy THIS ALBUM of his pictures. Ray told me that, in a few of his pictures, the majority of spectators in the stands were football players.