Boys track and field: Corona del Mar hangs on for win

Tony Altobelli

CORONA DEL MAR - Corona del Mar High boys track and field coach

Bill Sumner has seen the future and that future is at Northwood High.

“People say that Northwood will be a good team and I’m here to say

they’re a good team right now,” Sumner said after his squad edged the

seniorless Timberwolves, 78-58, Thursday in Pacific Coast League action.

“They bring out all their football players and they’ve got some studs

over there. Watch out for them.”

CdM (3-2, 1-0 in league) ranked No. 6 in CIF Southern Section Division

III, received double wins from Travis Beardslee and Taumata Grey, as well

as a nice run from Chris Carpenter.

Beardslee pulled out wins in both the 1,600 meters and the 3,200 with

times of 4:53.2 and 10:33.9, respectively. Teammate Josh Yelsey won the

800 (2:01.5) and took second in the 1,600 (4:53.5.).

“Those two guys will do whatever it takes for us to get the job done,”

Sumner said. “The last three or four weeks, they’ve been our main hitters

and this week, they were on call, ready to do whatever I asked of them.”

Grey, whose raw power overcomes whatever technical flaws might occur,

won the shot put (40-feet-8) and discus (143-9 1/2).

“He’s just a big, strong kid, who’s having a fun time out here,”

Sumner said. “I’m trying to tell the other kids to do it T’s way and

that’s to have fun as much as possible. That’s what sports is all about,

right?”

Carpenter used a strong start and late push to win the 300

intermediate hurdles with a 44.7, bettering his previous best by more

than two seconds.

“He came up big for us,” Sumner said. “We need runners to step up and

be heard and he did just that today. It was nice to see.”

Other event winners for the Sea Kings included John Turco, who cleared

10-6 in the pole vault, edging out teammate Andy Norman (10-0).

Dustin Hodges also put in a strong meet. He was third in the 1,600

(4:53.8) and second in the 3,200 (10:34.3).