Girls cross country: CdM shows new look for 2001

Tony Altobelli

CORONA DEL MAR - The good news for Corona del Mar High girls cross

country coach Bill Sumner is that Julie Allen, last year’s spring

transfer from Fountain Valley High, will be this year’s No. 1 runner for

the two-time state champion Sea Kings.

It’s numbers 2-7 which has Sumner scratching his head.

But, ever the optimist, Sumner is far from worried when describing his

young, but talented runners as the 2001 season inches closer.

“After all the shuffling with this team, I’m really excited about what

I have to work with,” Sumner said. “It’s a crop of very eager kids who

have worked hard in the summer and will be ready to go when the season

gets underway. We’ll do everything we can to reach state, but once we get

there, we’re going to try and win it.”

Allen, a three-time participant in both the CIF Southern Section

finals and state finals at Fountain Valley, will look to instill

championship experience to a Sea Kings group dominated by sophomores and

freshmen.

“We lost our King Kongs and we’ve got babies, but it’s still a very

talented group,” Sumner said.

Not only did CdM lose four seniors from last year’s championship squad

(Katie Quinlan, Diana Hossfeld, Jenny Cummins and Lindsey Yourman),

standout Season Meservey is also out of the Sea Kings’ stable. She will

transfer to Santiago High in Corona for her senior year.

“She was our No. 2 runner this year and a top-five runner in Orange

County,” Sumner said. “I hope she does well for Santiago and I wish her

nothing but the best.”

Looking to ease the high number of MIAs will be senior Becky Cummins

and junior Katherine Morse.

Cummins was a strong factor to CdM’s success on the track and field

team, while Morse is the Sea Kings’ lone returner from last year’s

championship cross country squad. She placed 32nd at the state finals

(20:07), but was only less than a minute from CdM’s top runner, Quinlan

(19:22).

“Those two have some varsity experience, which will be a big help,”

Sumner said. “They both had strong summer workouts and hopefully, they

can help fill our void.”

Sumner’s annual “workhorse” this year is sophomore Sara Claster. “Last

year, it was (Diana) Hossfeld,” Sumner said. “Sara is just so intense in

everything she does for us. You know those Gatorade commercials, where

the athletes are sweating out Gatorade? That’s how Sara is.”

In addition to Claster, Kinzie Kramer, Keelan Cuylar and Jen Logan

join the Sea Kings’ sophomore brigade.

Showing a bright future for the Sea Kings include sophomores Ahlia

Kattan and Taryn Kawata (last year’s junior varsity champion in the 3,200

meters), as well as freshmen Melissa Swigert and Lee Fransen.

But for now, the focus of the Sea Kings starts with Allen, who,

according to Sumner, will gradually pick up her pace as the season

progresses.

“This summer, Julie has logged about 400 miles of roadwork, which is

very impressive,” Sumner said. “She’s as strong as an ox. There won’t be

any expectations early in the season, but she will be ready to go for the

end of the year. My goal is to have her hitting her stride by Oct. 1.”

CORONA DEL MAR GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY

Julie Allen Sr.

Sara Claster So.

Becky Cummins Sr.

Keelan Cuylar So.

Lee Fransen Fr.

Ahlia Kattan So.

Taryn Kawata So.

Kinzie Kramer So.

Jen Logan So.

Katherine Morse Jr.

Melissa Swigert Fr.

Coach - Bill Sumner