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.