Mustangs anxious to rally back

Steve Virgen

The Costa Mesa High girls track and field team was dealt a shocking

setback to open the Golden West League season.

The Mustangs, the defending league champions, lost, 67-60, to

Saddleback March 12. Now Costa Mesa is on the comeback trail, with

the intent of winning the Golden West League finals and gaining a

share of the league title. Sophomore Jasmin Day, the Golden West

League individual champion in cross country, is among the leaders for

the Mustangs’ quest.

Last year, her older sister, Sharon, was Costa Mesa’s leader.

Sharon Day won her second straight state championship in the high

jump and three Golden West League titles (high jump, 100 and 200

meters) in 2003.

She also set an Orange County and CIF Southern Section record with

a 6-2 clearance last year.

She now competes for Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

Coach Glenn Mitchell expects Jasmin Day to get in her groove as

the season progresses. She is just coming off playing for the Costa

Mesa girls soccer team and helping lead the Mustangs to a second

straight Golden West League title. Mesa’s cross country team also won

the Golden West League crown in the fall, thanks also to senior

Christine Bjelland, sophomore Kyla Flores, freshman Emily Cotton,

sophomore Anna Rodriguez and senior Stacy Krikorian, who will also be

competing for the track and field team.

Bjelland won league titles in the 1,600 and 3,200 last year. She

broke the meet league record in the 3,200 (11:35.30) by a little less

than three seconds.

Krikorian and senior Cassey Brick will be the captains for the

Mustangs. Krikorian will compete in sprints and relays. Brick won a

Golden West League title in the long jump (15 feet, 11 1/4 inches),

helping lead the Mustangs to the league championship, the Mustangs’

first since 1974.

“I still think we have a strong girls team,” Mitchell said. “We

can go head to head and run with anybody. I’m anxious to go to the

league finals and get at least a share of the title. I’m very

optimistic.”

Mitchell said he was impressed with Saddleback, which finished

second in the league last year.