Track star Harrison 'committed'

Dana Hills senior Devin Harrison is Orange County's top sprinter this season.

Wait a minute. Wasn't there a Harrison at Dana Hills who held that distinction before?

Before the request for confirmation is completed, the younger and newer Harrison jumped in.

"No correlation whatsoever," Devin Harrison said.

Bryan Harrison of Dana Hills was the county's No. 1 sprinter in 1996 when he set school records in the 100 and 200 meters. His marks in those events still are among the 10 fastest times in Orange County history.

The connection ends there. These Harrisons are not related, and met for the first time last year. But the connection they do have is one of track excellence.

Devin Harrison set the school long jump record as a freshman in 2008. That year, he was part of a Dana Hills relay team that qualified for the CIF State Championships. He returned to the state meet as a sophomore, when he finished third the long jump. And as a junior, his 24-1 in the long jump tied for the second-best mark in the event.

The Orange County long-jump record is among the oldest records in county. The county-leading mark of 24 feet, 5 inches was set by Tony Pitts of Santa Ana Valley in 1978. The next-best distance of 24-1 that Harrison equaled last year was established by Garden Grove's Tony Krzyzosiak in '71.

Harrison also has excelled in the 400 since his freshman year, and for four years has been part of Dana Hills' outstanding group of relay teams. Harrison only dabbled in the 200 last year, yet logged the third-best county time in that event in 2010.

The 100, though, was not one of his core events, until this year. Harrison is a quick runner, and a quick learner. His 10.77 clocking in the 100 two weeks ago at the Laguna Hills Invitational is the quickest time in county track this year.

"I'd never been at a high level in the 100 and 200 until this year," Harrison said. "I came into this year with a new mindset. I've put a lot of work in, which has made it easier for me to compete with the top-level guys."

But he did not expect to be this good this soon.

"I've been very lucky to do so well in the 100," he said. "It's all about being in a quick tempo, which is just the opposite of how you approach the 400. I'm still getting used to that."

Harrison's improvement rate gets a great test this week. He is entered in the 100 and the long jump at the Arcadia Invitational, in which he also will be on Dana Hills' team in the distance medley relay, in which Dana Hills last year broke the Orange County record it had set in 2009. The prestigious meet at Arcadia High on Friday and Saturday annually draws the sport's top athletes from across California and several other states.

Harrison said Arcadia serves as more than just a preview of the CIF State meet. The Arcadia meet is a showcase meet, a pressure-packed test.

"Arcadia is like state, really," he said. "But I'm not completely stressing over it. I know I've put in all the work this year."

Dana Hills track coach Craig Dunn said there is no question that Harrison will be prepared.

"Devin's a pure track guy," Dunn said. "He's very committed to the sport, year 'round."

Harrison prepped for Arcadia by winning the 100 and 200 at the ASICS Trabuco Hills Invitational last week.

Harrison, who accepted a track scholarship from Fresno State and has a more-muscular frame than most sprinters, knows where he needs to refine himself to have similar success this weekend.

"There are some little things I need to refine," Harrison said. "The 100 and 200 really are new events to me this year. So I'm still working on my starts in these past meets, trying to get that explosive element all the top 100 and 200 guys have."

Just like another Dana Hills star sprinter named Harrison had ... 16 years ago.

Contact the writer: sfryer@ocregister.com