Boys track: CdM prevails over Mustangs

Tony Altobelli

CORONA DEL MAR - Despite some pretty impressive marks and times

from the Costa Mesa High boys track team, Corona del Mar’s squad believes

in that “strength in numbers” theory.

With talent and depth in a majority of the events, the Sea Kings

pulled out a 77-59 win over the Mustangs to wrap up Pacific Coast League

dual meet action.

“Mesa’s got a nice program with some great athletes,” CdM Coach Bill

Sumner said. “I think we just had a few more horses in the corral. It was

a great meet against two good programs. Nothing gets accomplished in

blowout meets. I like these even better.”

The Sea Kings had two double winners in individual events, Taumata

Grey and Josh Yesley. Grey won the shot put with a mark of 43-feet-4 3/4

and placed first in the discus with a quality throw of 142-9.

“He’s just have a good time out here,” Sumner said. “He threw those

marks with a sprained index finger on his throwing hand. That’s getting

better and he should be 100% for the league prelims and finals next

week.”

Yelsey used his last tuneup before the PCL prelims and finals to place

first in the 800 meters (2:08.3) and 3,200 (9:41.4.).

“We just want Josh to stay healthy for the big meets coming up,”

Sumner said. “Today, he was working on certain things and he got

something accomplished today, which was very encouraging.”

On the Mustangs’ side, Louis Day and Josh Strickland took first in two

events.

Day was a winner in the high jump (personal-best 6-0) and long jump

(19-1), while Strickland won both the 100 (11.3) and 200 (23.6).

“Josh has really gotten serious the past few weeks,” Mesa Coach John

Carney said. “He’s put more focus and intensity into his events and it’s

showing with the strong times.”

Assistant coach Eugene Day, the father of Louis, was pleased to see

such strong marks in his events. “I’ve really been working with him on

his form in the high jump and today, he put together a great jump out

there,” Eugene Day said.

While Day and Strickland carried the load for the Mustangs, a number

of different Sea Kings were posting victories in various events.

Jon-Luke Del Fante placed first in the 400 (53.9), Travis Beardslee

won the 1,600 (4:45.3) and Chris Carpenter took the top spot in the 110

high hurdles (17.2).

The Mustangs had individual wins from Bernardo Falci in the 300

intermediate hurdles (44.5) and Zack Powell in the triple jump (36-7).

Mesa also won the 400 relay (Strickland, Powell, Falci, Day) with a 45.5

and the 1,600 relay (Day, Bo Iliescu, Strickland, Powell) with a 3:38.6.

“Overall, we did some pretty good things today,” Carney said. “We’ve

been pretty good in most of our events, but today, some individuals

stepped up and performed even better.”

The PCL preliminaries will take place Monday, beginning at 2:30 p.m.

at Irvine High, while the finals begin at 4:45 on Friday.