By DICK SPARRER
There had to be some pressure on Fremont's Joe Naivalu as he entered his senior track season this spring.
After all, Naivalu had won a state title in the 110-meter high hurdles as a junior, so his success as a senior would be measured by his successful junior campaign.
Simply put, nothing short of another state title would please the talented Naivalu. And that had to create some pressure for the Fremont star.
Well, if it did, it certainly didn't show in his performance this spring.
Naivalu wrapped up a near-perfect senior season by winning the state crown in the 110 highs and adding a state second in the 300 intermediate hurdles.
Naivalu defended his title in the 110 highs by running 13.68 to easily win the event. The time is the second best high school time in the nation this season, just off the national best of 13.34.
He also picked up a silver medal in the 300 intermediates by running 36.26. Makio Haywood of Pasadena Muir won the event in 36.18.
Naivalu's impressive showing at the state meet capped an outstanding senior season for the Indian track and field star. He dominated both hurdle events all season, and was also among the best in the Central Coast Section in the 100 and 200 meter sprints. He had won both the 110 highs and the 300 intermediates at the CCS finals and was second in the 100.
This article appeared in the Sunnyvale Sun, June 5, 1996.
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