Fresno on their minds

Steve Virgen

The CIF Southern Section cross country finals seem to bring out the

best in its competitors and the meet is certainly gaining some great

energy from Newport Harbor High girls coach Eric Tweit.

The Sailors are one of four Newport-Mesa area teams that will be

competing at the meet that will also include Costa Mesa sophomore

Jasmin Day and Estancia junior Alex Cahuantzi today at Mt. San

Antonio College. Day, Cahuantzi, Newport, the Sage Hill boys and the

Corona del Mar boys and girls squads are one step away from the state

meet, and Tweit is not shy about his team’s chances for advancing.

The first seven teams in each division will qualify for the state

meet at Woodward Park in Fresno Nov.30.

“I’m really expecting us to qualify [for the state meet],” Tweit

said. “I usually don’t make statements like that. I’m usually more

cautious. But I’ve seen the kids. They seem pumped up. I think we’re

ready.”

Tweit’s runners are about as healthy as they have been all season,

as senior Lauren Paul has been learning to deal with pain in her

foot, the Newport coach said. In addition, junior Courtney Marshall,

who was injured earlier in the season, has been improving each week.

The Sailors also feature sophomore Whitney Blue, and three

freshmen, Taylor Bryson, Lily Dierkes and Lauren Maddox, who are very

excited to compete in the CIF finals, Tweit said.

The Newport girls will compete at 8:05 a.m. in Division II.

Corona del Mar Coach Bill Sumner has also been confident about his

teams. Before the season began he booked hotel rooms in Fresno

because he wanted to be prepared and send a message to his runners.

There has been a high standard at CdM, and this year’s Sea Kings plan

to follow suit.

The CdM girls team, champion of the Pacific Coast League, will

race at 9:05 a.m. in Division III, which will also include Day, the

Golden West League individual champion. The Sea Kings are led by

sophomore Annie St. Geme, the Pacific Coast League individual

champion, and also receive solid contributions from freshmen Hilary

May and Christie St. Geme, and seniors Taryn Kawata and Sara Claster,

along with juniors Ahlia Kattan and Melissa Swigert.

Sumner’s boys team will compete at 10:05 a.m. in Division III,

which will also feature Cahuantzi. Senior Kevin Artz, the PCL

individual champion, leads the Sea Kings, who also include sophomores

Kenny Wong and Jack Turner and seniors J.C. Turner and Brandon

Borcoman.

The Sage Hill boys will close out the day’s action in the Division

V race at 10:45 a.m. Last week, the Lightning, champion of the

Academy League, qualified for the finals by grabbing the 13th and

final spot. Junior Mike Voge, sophomore Zach Chandy and senior Chris

Chiboucas are among Sage Hill’s top runners.