Mesa ekes it out, 62-61

Steve Virgen

Some time late Thursday night, Danny Krikorian most likely let out a

sigh of relief. Before that, he was too busy for a long breath, as he

had four events to compete in for the Costa Mesa High track and field

team, and then it was off to volleyball practice.

Good thing for the Mustangs, Krikorian apparently had enough

energy for Mesa’s Golden West League dual meet against visiting

Westminster. Krikorian was one of three Mesa athletes, including Zach

Powell and Marco Huipe, who doubled, leading the Mustangs to a 62-61

victory over the Lions.

The Mustangs (2-1 in league) wrapped up the team victory before

the final event, the 400-meter relay, because they swept the 3,200.

Huipe, a junior, won the 3,200 (10:49), while juniors Juan Avilez and

Stephen Kosnosky finished second and third, respectively.

Paul Martin won the shot put (46-8) to also contribute to Costa

Mesa’s victory.

Krikorian, who is also a standout in basketball and plans to sign

a letter of intent with Chapman University Tuesday, won the long jump

(19 feet, 3 inches) and the triple jump (38-4 1/2). Then he

volunteered to run the 200 and contributed points with a second-place

finish.

“I was feeling all right,” Krikorian said of his reason to

volunteer. “I just wanted to see what I could do.”

Another reason Krikorian stepped up for the 200 was because of the

Mustangs’ new attitude in 2003. They are under first-year coach Glenn

Mitchell, who served as the distance coach for the Mesa track and

field teams last year.

“Coach Mitchell’s intensity is unparallel,” Krikorian said. “He

really wants to win and it shows.”

Powell, a senior who won the 400 (54.9) and the 300 intermediate

hurdles (43.97), has also noticed Mitchell’s passion, and has seen

the Mesa track and field members follow his lead.

“He’s cool,” Powell said. “He wants to make sure everything is

right. It seems people are a lot farther along than last year. I

think we’ll have a better team at the end of the year.”

Mitchell was impressed with the Mustangs’ mettle and described the

victory as borderline desperation.

“The boys will have to fight and scratch all year long,” Mitchell

said of his squad. “The distance runners really came through and

James Diehl, who is usually junior varsity, scored one point for us

in the discus.”