Corona Del Mar returns for a sequel

Joseph Boo

NEWPORT BEACH - It’s common knowledge that if you have a successful

cast, then you should try to bring them back to repeat the success. How

else to explain Scream 3, the Utah Jazz or the new Beetle. There’s a

certain comfort in sticking with the same formula that worked before.

And yet, Corona del Mar High’s girls cross country coach Bill Sumner

refuses to remain confident. “I can’t say we should finish here, if this

is our best team, or if we’re the favorites,” he said. “I can only say

that we have to be compared with other teams we’re competing against. Our

only goal is to get to the state meet.”

Ah yes, the state meet. The Sea Kings won the Pacific Coast League and

the CIF Division IV title last year. And then came the state meet, where

CdM lost by one point to Nordoff, a team it beat earlier in the year.

Hence, it seems strange for Sumner to say that only reaching the state

meet is CdM’s goal. The Sea Kings return every runner from last year’s

runner, making them them an early favorite. To add to that piece of good

fortune, they move to the Pacific Coast League, where they avoid

Woodbridge and Irvine.

In the new league, CdM will find it slightly easier, but it’s not a

lock. Traditional PCL power Costa Mesa is adapting to a new coach, but

University will once again field a deep team. And there will be some

sense of familiarity because Northwood absorbed some strength from cross

country powerhouse Irvine, including the top three runners.

All the pieces are in place though, for CdM to march through the

regular season and win the title it just missed by one point last year.

But Sumner said his team will keep that loss in perspective.

“We can say that losing by one point is a motivation factor,” Sumner

said. “But it’s not the point that motivates us. It’s the state meet. You

want to win in the state meet because it feels so good, and you don’t

want to lose because it feels so bad. That alone is a motivating factor.

There’s no extra motivation from last year.”

The Sea Kings hope on reaching the state meet again rest on the junior

triumvirate of Liz Morse, Katie Quinlan and Jenny Cummins. Morse finished

fourth in the Sea View League last year, seventh in the section and fifth

at the state meet. Plus, she’s the national champion in the 800 meters in

track. Quinlan finished third in the section and 12th at state. And

Cummins was eighth in the league, 11th in the section and 19th at state.

Behind the three juniors, the roster is deep and capable. Juniors

Lindsay Yourman, Diana Hossfeld and Cass McGuire are all solid runners.

And senior Jean Garcia is dependable as a middle runner. If there is a

fault with the team, according to Sumner, it’s that their mental

toughness could get better.

But this team has time to grow, and that brings one last impressive

fact to light. Garcia is the only senior, and that means the Seas Kings

will be returning almost the entire team next year, making for an

impressive run even when compared to CdM’s previous success. And yet,

Sumner refuses to speculate on his team’s future.

“I hate to use this word, but every dynasty or successful program has

to deal with a lot of pressure. Because of our success, we’re supposed to

win. But we’re only taking it one year at a time. First, it’s this year.

Then we’ll take care of next year.”

Roster

Liz Morse Jr.

Katie Quinlan Jr.

Jenny Cummins Jr.

Lindsay Yourman Jr.

Jean Garcia Sr.

Diana Hossfeld Jr.

Cass McGuire Jr.

Katherine Morse So.

Becky Cummins Fr. Coach: Bill Sumner