One year after a disqualification in the 400 meters kept him from the state meet, Ventura College sophomore

Teddy Elsenbaumer responded with personal bests in the long jump, shot put and discus to with the Southern California decathlon last week at Antelope Valley College.

"It was a little bit of redemption for him," said Ventura coach Tony Veney.

Ventura's first entrant in the event in 15 years, the Ventura High product scored 6,326 points, the third-highest total in school history, to win the competition and advance to the California Community College championships next month in Sacramento.

Teammate Tomek Czerwinski was Elsenbaumer's runner-up with 6,269 points.

The competition was not without drama. A timing malfunction during Elsenbaumer's 400-meter heat forced the same event in which Elsenbaumer was disqualified last year for running on the lane line to be rerun.

"It was just a testament to his toughness and his resolve," said Veney of Elsenbaumer. "The kid is very solid mentally... There was no quit in him."