Sailors seeking full strength
Steve Virgen
Soon, the Newport Harbor High girls cross country team will be closer
to full strength. Courtney Marshall will return and the Sailors will
be better prepared to take on another competitive season in the Sea
View League.
Marshall, a CIF Southern Section Division II qualifier in the
3,200 meters in track and field last spring as a sophomore, suffered
a stress fracture on her foot and will be back for the Sailors
probably next month. She is one of the top runners at Newport Harbor,
which also features senior Lauren Paul, who appears ready to take on
the role as leader.
“She has had a great summer,” Newport Coach Eric Tweit said of
Paul. “She’s one of the best runners in Orange County. During the
track and field season she had some nagging injuries, but she’s
healthy and she’s ready to run. We are looking for big things from
her.”
With a healthy Marshall, Tweit said the Sailors have two of the
best runners in the county and Newport could end up being a surprise
team heading into the postseason.
“If Courtney Marshall was healthy we would have one of the good
teams in the league,” Tweit said. “So for this season we have hope;
call it guarded optimism.”
In addition to Marshall and Paul, the Sailors are also expecting
contributions from sophomores Amy Clippert and Courtney Hanson.
Clippert, a standout on the girls soccer team, is expected to step up
and score for the Sailors, while Hanson is a returning letter winner.
Junior Caitlin Mai completed a summer similar to Paul’s and she
continues to improve. Sophomore Whitney Blue is regarded as the
sleeper of the group, Tweit said.
“By the end of the year she might surprise some people,” he said.
“We are excited about her and what she brings to the table.”
Paul will be one of two team captains for the Sailors, whom will
also be led by senior Heidi Peschelt.
Tweit also showed excitement when talking about freshmen Amy
Penner, Lauren Maddox and Kristina Heimsteadt, as well as junior
Alison Hochwald.
Assistant coach Kira Kirby returns for her third year with the
Sailors and has been one of Newport’s sources for success.
“She has done a great job for us,” Tweit said.
In the Sea View Leauge, Tweit said Woodbridge will be the favorite
and, “after that it’s kind of a crap shoot,” he said. “The league is
going to be tough. Our goal is to make the CIF [preliminaries], then
who knows what could happen.”
Newport opened its season last weekend at the Laguna Hills
Invitational and will compete Saturday at the Woodbridge
Invitational.
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