Track Athlete Dies

Flower and balloon tributes marked the spot Wednesday where a 17-year-old pole vaulter landed on his head and died. It was the second Southern California high school track death in a week.

Heath Taylor died at Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital on Tuesday after missing the landing pad and hitting his head on concrete during practice at Hart High School.

Taylor landed on his back on the foam mat, but his head pushed over the edge and slammed into the concrete.

Just a week ago, a 16-year-old track team member from Palos Verdes Peninsula High School was struck by a discus.

Craig Kelford’s skull was fractured when a discus hurled by an athlete from Torrance North High School struck him in the head. Kelford was taken off life support last Wednesday.