Boys track: Shaking off the ill effects

Richard Dunn

MISSION VIEJO - It’s amazing what a little motivation can do for

even the worst flu bugs and colds.

In the case of Corona del Mar High senior distance standout Josh

Yelsey, it was remembering last year, when he showed up at the Trabuco

Hills Track and Field Invitational bent on running the boys 800 and 1,600

meters.

But, in 2000, only an hour was available to rest between races and

Yelsey scratched the 800.

This year, even with a “horrible cold,” according to CdM Coach Bill

Sumner, Yelsey wanted to make sure he competed in both races. Even if it

meant going against Sumner’s will.

“I told Josh to forget (the 800), but then he was out there lining up.

So, in his senior year, he’s becoming uncoachable,” Sumner said, tongue

in cheek.

Before the 800, Yelsey won the 1,600 invitational in 4:21.21,

finishing ahead of runner-up Doug Westphal of Torrance (4:23.95).

Estancia’s Humberto Rojas was 16th in 4:39.78.

“(Yelsey) remembered last year and didn’t want to do the same thing,”

Sumner said of his star pupil’s desire for more competition, while

proving he could still endure the meet’s rigors even with a cold.

“He said he wanted to double. Last year, he was so tired, he was

completely zapped and couldn’t come back for the 800.”

Yelsey had only 10 minutes more between races this year, and, despite

his illness, posted a 2:01 in the 800.

At times Saturday, there were enough spike problems to resemble a

crowded municipal golf course on a holiday.

Estancia’s Erik Lopez got spiked by an opponent in the 1,600 (he

finished 25th overall in 4:59), while CdM’s Chris Carpenter never made it

onto the track for the 300 intermediate hurdles because of wearing the

wrong spikes.

“(Lopez) got a severe spiking,” Estancia distance coach Charlie Appell

said. “It left a long cut up his chin. He got it real bad, but was able

to finish the race.”

Sumner said it was ultimately his responsibility for making sure his

athletes were wearing the property spikes for the synthetic surface at

Trabuco Hills High.

In the 3,200, Estancia’s Mike Casillas finished seventh overall in

9:56.

In another 1,600 heat, Estancia’s Panfillo Elias crossed second in

4:42.58, behind La Sierra’s Mat Kern (4:35.81).

Estancia’s 4 x 800 relay of Abel Flores, Geraldo Orozco, Casillas and

Elias also competed.

“Everybody was tired today,” Appell said. “This last week we’ve had a

lot of hard races and workouts, and everyone was doubling and tripling on

Thursday (in a Pacific Coast League dual meet).

In the 400, CdM’s Alex Vincent clocked a 54.34.