Time will be Newport’s greatest asset
Steve Virgen
For the first few weeks of the spring sports season, the Newport
Harbor High boys track and field team won’t look like the usual
Sailors’ squad that is set to contend for a Sea View League title
right from the start. But, before March is over, Newport will be
improved simply because the Sailors will have better knowledge of
themselves and their capabilities.
What they know now is they are young and the team is up in
participation numbers.
“Over half our (program) is made up of freshmen,” Newport Coach
Nowell Kay said. “That’s pretty much the makeup of sports at Newport,
with the freshmen. I had a ton of kids in cross country. We have a
lot of kids on the team right now, which is good.”
Kay, in his 18th year in the program, takes over as coach for Bim
Barry, who is teaching in Lima, Peru. Kay said he spoke with Barry
about three weeks ago, as Barry came to California because the school
in Peru is on summer vacation.
Aside from the increased numbers, Kay is also excited because he
expects improvement to be made.
“We’re pretty solid,” Kay said. “I’m pretty pleased with what we
have out there. We’re young so we can develop toward the end of the
year.”
The Sailors will also have experience. Seven seniors are expected
to help the team in its growing process. Dartagnan Johnson (sprints),
the standout running back for Newport’s football team, and Alec
Urtusuastegui are two seniors who should provide leadership, as
should Rhett Hartsfield (sprints and jumps), Wes Pohlmann (distance),
Fernando Castorena, Jake Skahen (throws) and Johnny Moreno, who is
Newport’s top hurdler.
Urtusuastegui won a Sea View League title in the 3,200 meters last
year. He will defend his individual championship this season and
compete in the 800 and 1,600, as well.
The Sailors were co-champions of the Sea View League last season.
They went undefeated in the regular season, but then finished second
at league finals to let Aliso Niguel share the championship.
This season, Kay said Foothill, a new entry to the league, is the
favorite to win the team title in the Sea View. Kay added the Sailors
will be able to contend because of their solid junior class, which
includes Nick Miller, who qualified for CIF last year in the 3,200.
Matt Encinias is Newport’s top athlete in the long jump, while
Ricky Nott is skilled in the high jump and Joel Walker can score
points in the 100, 200, 400 and relays.
Matt Tracy, another junior, returns as a CIF qualifier in the 400
from last season. The Sailors’ athleticism will also be strengthened
by sophomore Spencer Link, the quick wide receiver from the football
team.
“We’ll be a pretty good dual-meet team,” Kay said. “We’re pretty
deep, and we have a lot of good distance runners. I’m happy with the
speed. We have to work on the specialty events. If I was picking
teams, I would pick Foothill, based on what they have, but you never
know.”
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