Helix sprinter Adren Parker determined to win state, make San Diego history after disappointing finish to 2022 season

For more than 20 years, San Jose was known as “Speed City,” home to runners like Olympians Tommie Smith, Lee Evans and John Carlos.

Rodney Van, head track coach at Helix High School, thinks that maybe, with CIF-San Diego Section 400-meter record-holder Adren Parker leading the way, La Mesa can become “Speed City South.”

Parker is Helix’s featured runner after clocking a time of 46.82 seconds in the State Championship semifinals and putting up a scorching 45.8-second anchor time on the Scotties’ 4x400 relay team. In between, he placed fourth in the state 400 at 47.68 seconds, which has kept his competitive fires stoked.

“I want to win a state championship,” said the 6-foot-2, 165-pounder, bluntly.

Should Parker reach his goal, he’d become only the second San Diego Section runner to have a gold medal draped around his neck for the 400.

Morse’s Tony Banks captured the state title in 1979 at 47.28 seconds.

San Diego High’s Cotton Warburton (49.6 seconds for 440 yards in 1929) and Norm Stocks (49.3 seconds in 1946) both won state titles when the Cavers were part of the Southern Section.

It was Morse’s Lydell Burston whose 1996 record time of 46.85 Parker broke last year. Burston finished second in the state meet that year to Pasadena Muir’s Obea Moore, who ran 45.81.

“Last year, I was looking at getting 46-something, and this year, it’s 45-something,” Parker said. “In the state finals, I just didn’t execute. No excuses, but it was my first time running back-to-back 400s (Friday and Saturday). I learned that every little thing matters … sleeping, eating, everything.”

Van, who has been Parker’s coach since he was a freshman, said things didn’t go the way they’d planned.

“He told me he fell out of the race plan because everybody did something unexpected,” said Van. “He went out with the leaders and then he started to press.

“Because of that, he’s hungry. Although there’s a lot of talent in the state, he’s coming back with the fastest time. If he hadn’t played football, I’d say he would run 45.79, but he was a little beat up and got a late start training.

“I’ve been pretty accurate with my predictions in the past, and I see him running in the 46.20 to 45.90 range. We’re going to pick our spots to run the 400 before state, but he’ll do a lot of 100s, 200 and, of course, both relays (the 4x100 and 4x400).”

Adre Parker said playing football helped prepare him for the track season.

(Hayne Palmour IV/For The San Diego Union-Tribune)

Parker said playing football helped him grow because he was a captain. And he’s the captain of the track team, too.

Running, however, remains his passion.

“I’m a track guy who played football,” said Parker, putting the gridiron in the past tense.

He’s not obsessed about lowering his record.

“I really don’t think about it,” said Parker, who had a quiet celebration for 24 hours and then was disappointed with his state final performance.

“It felt good when I got it, but in track you’re only as good as your last race. It (46.82) is my PR and I’m proud of it but right now I’m looking forward. The 45.8 on the relay didn’t surprise me because I love running with my teammates.”

And now we get into “Speed City South.”

Laurence Burston, Lydell’s son, ran the 100 in 11.06 as a freshman. Two newcomers and a vastly improved third runner give the Scotties that speedy look.

Van has been impressed with freshman Brandon Arrington, sophomore Spencer Gray and Eastlake transfer Shon Martin, a 15.00 high hurdler. The coach thinks whichever four eventually compose the 4x100 could challenge the 2002 Reggie Bush-anchored team that ran 41.00.

As for the 4x400, all five runners are able to extend their speed so the school record 3:15.79 that Parker anchored last year at state could also fall.

“Adren is going to anchor those teams,” said Van. “He’s been doing all the work plus extra. He’s got a great workout partner in Brandon and they’ll push each other.

“Last year I noticed the runners who beat Adren were 10.5 and 20.8 sprinters, so we’re working on getting him (10.82, 21.75) faster.

“The girls’ sprinters are also very strong, so maybe La Mesa can be the new ‘Speed City.’”

Brand is a freelance writer.