CdM girls seek redemption

Steve Virgen

There has been date circled on Corona del Mar High’s calendar for the

girls track and field season. That date is coming Thursday.

The Sea Kings, who seemed to have bolstered its attack this

season, will host Pacific Coast League foe University at 3:15 p.m.,

in a meet featuring the top two teams in the PCL. The Trojans showed

their power and strength that came from mainly field events last

season, and that’s what CdM attempted to improve during the

off-season.

The Sea Kings, who had won the previous two PCL titles, finished

second to University last season.

CdM still possesses impressive talent in the track events, despite

the loss of long-distance standout Julie Allen, who graduated last

spring. Allen earned a scholarship to Stanford, but she sat out this

year due to illness. She has been training with CdM Coach Bill

Sumner.

The Sea Kings still have depth in the distance races with senior

Becky Cummins leading the way. Cummins, who will move on to Dartmouth

in the fall, has been pacing herself since recovering from a rigorous

cross country season. CdM is also strengthened by freshman Anne St.

Geme, junior Taryn Kawata and sophomore Ahlia Kattan.

Junior Kinzie Kramer, sophomore Melissa Swigert and junior Sara

Claster have the short sprints and the middle distance events

covered.

Swigert is expected to have a coming-out season of sorts after she

finished second in the PCL in the 200 and 400 meters last year.

“She’s still trying to round herself in shape,” Sumner said of

Swigert. “She’s doing a lot of stuff, so we have to be patient.”

Junior Stephanie Sitzer returns for the Sea Kings as a solid

contributor in the hurdles, and could also support in the long jump

this season.

“I think the girls are starting to come together,” Sumner said.

“We used to be soft in the field events, but we’re making progress

everyday. Our sprinters and distance runners are ready to go. We’ll

be ready to take anybody in the league. We have Uni Thursday, so we

are looking forward to that.”