Boys track and field: Tars weather own storm

Steve Virgen

WALNUT - Chris McMillen says he wants to work for Dreamworks Inc.

someday. If his work ethic is any indication, you can bet you’ll soon see

a movie with his name in the credits. Despite a poor start in the

1,600-meter race, the Newport Harbor High senior won his heat and

qualified second with a personal best 4:23.59 in the CIF Southern Section

preliminaries at Mt. San Antonio College Friday.

McMillen, who possesses great talent in art, also qualifed in the

3,200. Newport’s John Peschelt won his heat and qualified second in the

800 (1:56.17), while Dan Moyer sped to a personal best in the 300

intermediate hurdles.

The Sailors’ 1,600 relay team overcame an injury and qualified with a

3:25.7, a best for the quartet. Adam ?? suffered a slight hamstring in

the 400 relay and Bass replaced him and ran the lead as the Tars finished

second in their heat.

McMillen, who earned a scholarship to the Art Institute of Southern

California in Laguna Beach, molded his own masterpiece in the 1,600. He

was in last just before the first lap ended and finished the first 400 in

about 70 seconds. His second lap wasn’t that much better, but he turned

it on in the final two laps.

“I was actually surprised,” said McMillen, who noted he intensified

his pace with two laps remaining. “I just went around everybody. I didn’t

know anybody, so I didn’t have to be nice.”