Double time for Urtusuastegui

Bryce Alderton

Not bad for never running 800 yards on a dirt track.

Newport Harbor High senior Alec Urtusuastegui fought through the

occasional “soft spot”, and everything else in the race, to win in

2:07.5, against Aliso Niguel Thursday in a Sea View League dual meet

at Harbor.

“You don’t know when they are coming,” said Urtusuastegui about

the soft spots moments after exiting the track following the 800. “I

ran the mile and that took a lot out of me. I don’t usually run the

800 because I run the mile, but they needed me today.”

Success came in bunches Thursday for Urtusuastegui. He ran the

1,600 in 4:47.

Joining Urtusuastegui as winners for Newport against visiting

Aliso Niguel in a Sea View League dual meet were Matt Encinias in the

long jump (18-11 1/4), Nick Miller in the 3,200 (10:34.3), Matt Tracy

in the 400 (53.4) and Jon Szecsei in the discus (139-0).

Tracy approached Walker after the 400 and said, “I thought you

were going to beat me.”

But it was Tracy, who started from the blocks quickly and didn’t

let up.

“I’m just hoping to get faster with each race,” Tracy said. “My

best time on a synthetic track is 52.7.”

The 400 -- the 18th event out of 43 Thursday -- was Walker’s first

time racing the event this season, according to boys coach Nowell

Kay, who offered some other news.

“He sprained a muscle in his leg during the race so he’s done for

the day,” Kay said. Walker took second to Tracy in the 400 (54.2).

The Sailors (2-2, 0-1 in league) won both relays [400 and 1,600].

Keith Eldridge, Rhett Hartsfield, Joel Walker and Dartagnan Johnson

finished the 400 in 45.2 while Urtusuastegui, Johnny Marino, Tracy

and Johnson crossed the finish line in the 1,600 in 3:43.6.

Aliso Niguel prevailed, 73-65, with more second and third-place

finishes.

Newport’s Ricky Nott (5-8 in the high jump), Jake Skahen (44-11 in

the shot put and 117-4 1/2 in the discus), Miller in the 1,600

(4:48.2) and Eldridge in the 100 (11.2) all placed second for

Newport.