Girls track and field: Cummins goes all out

Steve Virgen

IRVINE - They call it the preliminaries, but the way Becky Cummins

was competing it could have very well been the finals. Cummins, a Corona

del Mar High junior, won her heat in the 800-meter race when she went all

out over the last 100 meters and finished five-hundreths of a second

ahead of Estancia senior Hanni Geider at the Pacific Coast League

preliminaries Tuesday at Irvine High.

Cummins was among seven Sea Kings who advanced to the PCL Finals,

Friday at 5 p.m. at Irvine. Geider and her twin sister, Jasmine, also

advanced, along with Diana Rosete and Ludi Valdez, while Costa Mesa was

led by Sharon Day and Christine Bjelland.

“It’s getting down to the point where you have to push yourself and

put everything on the line,” said Cummins, who also said she went into

her kick because she wanted to practice it. “Being that there was no

(3,200) and no relay this was my workout. I heard Julie (Allen) screaming

her head off and I had to do it. I had to go.”

Cummins, an asthmatic, was also driven by more than just wanting to

finish first in her heat.

“I wanted to prove to my coach (Bill Sumner) that I can do the (1,600

relay); that’s the ultimate team (event),” Cummins said. “I wanted to

prove to him I can still pump out a good 400, and I still have foot

speed, even if you have to drag it out of me.”

Sumner was impressed with Cummins’ effort, but he won’t make a

decision on his 1,600 relay team until Friday, when the relays, field

events and the 3,200 will take place with the rest of the finals.

“I like to see her try that hard but not at the prelims,” Sumner said.

“I was impressed with the heart, but it’s the wrong day. I need her to be

ready for the finals. Luckily, she has some time to recover.”

Cummins also advanced in the 1,600, finishing second in her heat.

Bjelland won the heat in 5:18.18, while Allen had the best time for CdM

in 5:14.19. Allen is the defending PCL champion in the 1,600 and 3,200.

Costa Mesa’s Vicki Pham, advanced in the 100 hurdles after finishing

fourth in her heat in 19.29. Day, the defending PCL champion in the high

jump, advanced with the top time in the 400 (58.79). She was followed by

CdM freshman Melissa Swigert, Estancia senior Jasmine Geider and CdM’s

Sara Claster.

Hanni Geider advanced with the top time in the 100, while CdM senior

Jaclyn Thayer is continuing her comeback from an ankle injury and also

advanced. Thayer and the Geider twins advanced in the 200, which will

also feature Day and Swigert, who won their respective heats.

Cummins’ finish in the 800 was also a reflection of the Sea Kings’

desire to win their third straight PCL title. Corona lost its first dual

match in three years on April 11 at University, 87-49, and now the Sea

Kings want revenge.

“This is a totally different meet,” Sumner said. “Uni can’t come with

an army. They can’t bring 46 long jumpers. That’s over now. I kind of

think I have the kids who want (to win). You take my best kids against

their best kids I like my chances better. I’m ready and my kids are

ready. I have six or seven of them that want the ball. They want Friday

to be here now.”

Dan Wroblicky, who has been the University Coach for 18 years, did not

waver on his call that he made when the season started.

“I think we’re going to win (the PCL title),” Wroblicky said.

“(Sumner) is cheering for his team. He’s making a good choice.”

Wroblicky also said his team won’t be any more or less motivated to

win the PCL title because of Sumner’s words.