Girls track and field: Day carries the day for Mesa girls.

Barry Faulkner

IRVINE - For only the second time this season, Costa Mesa High

sophomore Sharon Day was given clearance for takeoff on a regulation high

jump runway.

The result was a winning and season-best clearance of 5-foot-6,

Thursday at University, highlighting a solid individual day by the

Mustang star, despite the Trojans’ 76-51 victory.

“She warmed up today at 5-6, then jumped 5-6,” Mesa Coach John Carney

said. “But then she had things to do.”

Those things included victories in the 200 meters (27.43) and the 400

(1:02.4), as well as running the anchor leg on the victorious 1,600

relay.

“I did really well in the high jump today,” said Day, the reigning CIF

Southern Section Division III champion, who was fifth in the event last

year at state finals. She also set the school record (5-9), while

finishing second at the Southern Section Masters Meet last spring. “I

only cleared 5-2 last week (at Estancia).”

Carney had a logical explanation for Day’s sudden progress in the high

jump.

“We don’t have a high jump area yet at our school,” Carney said.

“We’ve ordered everything, it just isn’t ready.”

So, the only times Day has competed with a standard takeoff area, were

her first two league meets.

Junior Lisa Dunn (300 hurdles), Rachel Hughes (long jump) and Beverly

Aina (shot put) also won individual events, while Dunn, Ashley Shaeffer

and Stacy Krikorian joined Day on the winning relay quartet.

Dunn went 51.7 in the 100 hurdles, while Hughes’ winning effort of

14-5 was an inch better than the runner-up from Uni.

Aina’s mark of 32-1, was nearly three feet better than the sophomore’s

closest competitor.

“(Aina) might be able to throw over 40 feet this year,” Carney said.

She was also third in the discus (79-11).

The loss dropped the Mustangs to 0-2 in dual meets, both PCL contests.

Hughes was also second in the 100, while Karleen Cluff was runner-up

in the 100 hurdles.

Mesa’s Christine Bjelland was third in the 1,600 and the 3,200, while

teammate Cheryl Hack was third in both hurdles events.