Girls track and field: Straight A’s for Tars

Barry Faulkner

NEWPORT BEACH - Newport Harbor High unleashed it’s A-Team,

including Amber Steen, April Ross and Amy Burlingham, on host Aliso

Niguel Wednesday, en route to an 86-50 Sea View League girls track and

field victory.

Coach Eric Tweit’s Tars (4-1, 3-1 in league and ranked No. 5 in Orange

County) won 12 of 16 events and the damage could have been more

extensive, had freshman hurdler Valerie Day not felt a minor hamstring

twinge in the 400-meter relay, sidelining her for both hurdles races.

“It was a good, solid meet for us as we get ready for (Sea View League

preliminaries at Irvine High) Monday,” Tweit said. “We’re as ready as

we’re going to be.”

Finals are scheduled Thursday, also at Irvine.

Steen, a junior, won the 800 (2:31), the 1,600 (5:23) and the 3,200

(12:38), while also anchoring the victorious 1,600 relay.

Ross, a senior, won the high jump (5-2), long jump (16-1) and triple jump

(35-7 1/4), while Burlingham, a freshman, topped the field in the 100

(12.8) and 200 (26.3). Burlingham also ran a leg on both winning relays.

Senior Krista Dill swept the shot put (38-6 1/2) and the discus throw

(131-0).

Breonna Tiffany was second in both hurdles races and third in the triple

jump.

Lauren Hanson (400), Lynn Rinek (800), Sonya Mechkor (3,200), Heather

Cullen (high jump) and Lisa Gerlach (discus) also earned second-place

points for the Sailors.

Aliso fell to 3-4, 2-2.