Marine View shines again at Mt. SAC Relays

Mike Sciacca

For a middle school that has been participating at the Mt. SAC Relays

since 1985, the Marine View Mariners track and field program’s presence

at the Walnut weekend event has not lost its luster.

The school, which holds nine current Mt. SAC records, was able to

shine once again in 2001, as it brought home 103 medals.

In addition, Marine View was awarded the Sophia Clarke Spirit Award,

given to the school that “encourages fellow athletes, supports teammates,

and shows the good character of true athletes.”

“We are very proud of our student-athletes,” said Marine View Coach

Kelly Painter. “They always go beyond what’s expected of them. We’ve had

better talent in certain events in the past, but heart and desire have

been great substitutes.

“It never ceases to amaze me how energetic and responsible middle

school students can be. They receive compliments every year -- not just

for their performances, but for the class they show while competing. Our

kids also appreciate our large and vocal parent support group.”

This year’s event attracted 6,300 sixth-, seventh-, and eighth-grade

student-athletes, making it the “largest track meet in the U.S.,” Painter

said.

Below are some of the Marine View highlights at all three grade

levels.

6th-Grade Girls

First-place finishes went to Chrissy VanDoornum in the 1,200 meters

(4:31), Chelsea Turner in the 100 meters (14.1; teammates Marilena

Guadagnini and Kourtney Maywhort finished second and third,

respectively), Saida Hudson in the 400 meters (1:14.9), Hudson again in

the high jump (11 feet 6 inches), Staci Austin in the triple jump (27-5;

Turner was second, VanDoornum, third), and Marine View’s 4x200 meter

relay team of Hudson, Guadagnini, Turner and VanDoornum.

6th-Grade Boys

A trio of students won their event as Joey Montoya captured both the

800 meters (2:48) and triple jump (25-7), and Bryce Overend won the long

jump (13-3).

7th-Grade Girls

Loren Kortizija won the 100 meters (13.92), Whitney Thornton won the

high jump (4-6; teammates Hallie Babinski and Becca Sheffield tied for

second), Katie Brezden won the long jump (12-1), and the 4x200 meter

relay team of Ashley Ratelle, Laura Taylor, Kristen Fronk and Kortizija

won the event in 2:07.

7th-Grade Boys

Scott Schauer won two events, the 400 meters (1:04) and the long jump

(15-3). Brian Markwardt won the triple jump (29-1) event, which saw

teammates Dallas Walters place second (28-8) and Andre Gatlin third

(27-10. The 4x200 meter relay team of David Johnson, Robert Peck, Jeff

VanDoornum and Scott Schauer won in 2:01.

8th-Grade Girls

Nikki Freiborg won both the triple jump (28-9) and the 100 meters

(13.57), Karri Weisenthal easily won the 1,500 meters (5:19), beating the second-place finisher by 30 seconds, and Maureen Holloway won the long

jump (12-8).

8th-Grade Boys

First-place finishes went to David Shapiro in the 100 meters (12.62),

Pat Killeen in the long jump (15-5), Dylan Brock in the junior javelin

(166-0), and the 4x400 meter relay team of Derek Willits, Kyle Flanagan,

Shapiro and Kyle Techau, which came in with a time of 4:14.