Steve VirgenIt has been said that track...

Steve Virgen

It has been said that track and field is more of an individual sport,

yet Corona del Mar High’s girls squad proved otherwise in winning the

Pacific Coast League championship Friday at Irvine High.

Freshman Anne St. Geme stepped up with two PCL titles in her

debut, winning the 800 meters (2:21.38) and 1,600 (5:14.81), while

sophomore Melissa Swigert won the 400 (59.22) and senior Becky

Cummins won the 3,200 (11:41.52). The Sea Kings also won the 400 and

1,600 relays. They scored 136.5 points to earn the PCL title, while

last year’s champion, University, finished second with 108.

“It was very much a team effort,” CdM Coach Bill Sumner said. “We

had a meeting [Wednesday), and I said, ‘Everybody counts, and if you

don’t think so, look back to last year. [University] beat us by one

point.]’ I think we did that pretty well tonight. Everybody

contributed.”

Swigert, who contributed to both relay victories, also finished

second in the 200 (26.91) to qualify for the CIF Southern Section

Division III preliminaries May 16 at Mt. San Antonio College.

“Melissa Swigert carried the bulk of the load for us,” Sumner

said. “[St. Geme, who finished third in the 3,200,] was also strong.

We got points everywhere.”

Freshman Kelly Morgan (400, 59.87), junior Sara Claster (800,

2:23.44) and sophomore Leigh Fransen (high jump 4-6) finished second

in their events to advance to CIF, while Jennifer Way took third in

the triple jump (33-7 1/2) to also advance.

CdM’s 1,600 relay victory included Claster, junior Whitney

Weidner, Morgan and Swigert, whom finished in 4:04.6.

Junior Kinzie Kramer, Lindsey Manning, Morgan and Swigert began

CdM’s run toward the PCL title, as they won the 400 relay (50.41).

Swigert brought home the victory, edging out a University runner by

two-tenths of a second.

Then, St. Geme won the 1,600, running a methodical race.

Sumner said she wasn’t out to achieve a personal record, but

rather to just win the race. Northwood senior Christie Farson started

the 1,600 with a sizable lead. St. Geme steadily moved to the front

and extended her lead over the final 400 meters.

“The [1,600] didn’t feel as good as could have been,” St. Geme

said. “I can do a lot better than that. I was nervous. But, I think

of all these meets the same way now. I’m excited and at the same time

nervous.”

St. Geme said she just began to take running seriously this year.

She grew up playing soccer, but running had also been a big part of

her life. Her mother, Ceci Hopp (now St. Geme), was one of the best

runners in the storied history of Stanford University and she is in

the Cardinal’s Hall of Fame.

St. Geme also said she experienced hip pain during the cross

country season, but overcame the nagging injury before the track and

field season.

Cummins, who will continue her education at Dartmouth, also

endured injuries throughout the cross country season.

Cummins said she is also capable of a better race and plans to

peak as the season ends.