LOS ANGELES — Mario Thompson knew his oldest daughter, Alyssa, was special before she started third grade.
During an orientation for new students at the private Wesley School in North Hollywood, the 8-year-old was matched in a race against the fastest boy in the school. The reason for the race has been lost to time, but not the result: Alyssa smoked the kid.
"The biggest thing I remember is being surprised by how fast she was," said Marquis Gallegos, who lost the race but went on to become a highly recruited safety who will play football at USC this fall.
