The past and the present converged on the San Jose City College track Saturday afternoon, with the shake of a hand and the presentation of a trophy.
The moment was brief, the respect mutual, and the combined talent was off the charts.
Andre Phillips seemed to pass along more than an award to California High's David Klech, who captured the Hampton-Phillips Classic 400-meter intermediate hurdles race in meet-record time. He also passed along the torch.
Phillips, who inspired the creation of the meet 16 years ago -- along with fellow Olympic champion and Silver Creek great Millard Hampton -- felt as if he had seen the future of his event.
Klech won three events and broke two meet records, including a 6-foot, 8-inch mark in the high jump. But nothing could top his 51.14-second time in the 400 hurdles, which broke his own year-old mark of 52.69 and was the second-fastest time in the nation this year. Of course, Klech also has the fastest, a 50.35 clocking at the Stanford Invitational two weeks ago, and the national-record of 49.38 seems within his grasp.
``I think he'll run a 49 this year,'' said Phillips, who ran 47.19 to win the gold medal in the 1988 Seoul Olympic final. ``I could even see him taking a second off that if he focuses on one or two events.
``He has unlimited potential. He's very poised, very competitive, driven. He's got the body type. I was very impressed. Very very impressed.''
Klech burst onto the scene last season with a state title in the 300 hurdles, a 7-foot high jump and three top-three state meet finishes. With his speed and long stride, the 6-foot-4, 175-pound senior is the rare high school runner who uses 13 strides between hurdles, a pattern he can hold for the first half of a race. Most need 15 or more.
The UCLA-bound Klech seeks to win four golds at the state meet -- he also won the 110 high hurdles (14.32) on Saturday and was third in the long jump (21-8 1/2) -- and isn't even considering the 800 or the 400, even though he has run 1:53.1 and 47.8 in dual meets this year.
``I'm so far ahead of where I was last year,'' he said. ``I've dropped four seconds in the 800 and one second in the 400. And I haven't even touched my speed training yet.''
In the intermediates, Klech led with the wrong leg over several hurdles and chopped his steps briefly to slow his momentum over the ninth hurdle, but still won by 4 1/2 seconds. And this despite complaining of tired legs after an intense week of practice.
``The 400 hurdles is arguably the toughest race in track and field,'' Phillips said. ``Most don't really master it until their late 20s to 30. I would advise him to continue to learn the craft, to run different strategies in races, to feel the race. By doing that, you can figure out what your strengths and weaknesses are, and then work on your weaknesses.''
Other highlights included a double in the girls' short sprints by Mt. Pleasant junior Jeneba Tarmoh. She was disappointed that rival Kristina Davis of James Logan pulled out of both finals after feeling tightness in her hamstring. Tarmoh won the 100 in 11.89 and the 200 in 23.99.
The day's most exciting race came in the boys 1,600, when Alisal sophomore Diego Estrada tried to hold off onrushing San Benito junior Rigo Vasquez down the homestretch. Both were timed in 4:26.0 and neither knew who won.
The electronic timer was unable to break the tie because it was blown over by a gust of wind during the final lap, and the race was declared a dead heat.