Anteater men capture Big West Challenge Cup

UC Irvine senior Derek Kingrey won the shot put and discus throw in

impressive fashion to lead the Anteaters’ men’s track and field team

to the Big West Challenge Cup title Saturday at UC Santa Barbara.

UCI compiled 200.5 points, while Long Beach State was second with

178. UCSB was third with 156.50 and Cal State Fullerton fourth with

78.

UCI’s team title was its first in the 12-year history of the

Challenge Cup.

UCI has won three meet titles this season, all firsts for the

men’s program since 1992.

Kingrey, a transfer from Cornell, topped the shot put field with a

mark of 57-8 3/4, second best in school history. He threw the discus

177-6 1/4, the fourth-longest mark on UCI’s all-time list.

Sophomore Brian Moon finished second in both events with marks of

55-5 1/4 in the shot put (No. 5 in UCI history) and 158-6 1/4 in the discus.

Sophomore Tom Whelan won the 1,500 meters in 3 minutes, 51.59

seconds to set a meet record.

Also aiding the Anteater cause, senior Elias Moreno captured first

in the 100 in 10.82 and freshman Dayne Comrie won the 400 hurdles in

a career-best 52.95.

UCI also won both relays, clocking a 41.20 in the 400 relay and

3:12.45 in the 1,600 relay.

Mike Beerer finished second in the hammer throw with a mark of

176-9 1/4, Scott Jarvis was runner-up in the 400 hurdles (53.91),

Kenny Vinh was second in the 110 high hurdles (14.94) and Ricky Barnes was second in the 3,000 in 8:31.04.

The UCI women’s team finished third in the meet with 131 points.

UCSB won with 178, while Long Beach State placed second with 144 and

Cal State Fullerton was fourth with 85.

Junior Erin Curtis won the pole vault (12-3 1/2), junior Kim Ramirez finished first in the 1,500 in 4:34.50, senior Jenny Liou

captured the 3,000 steeplechase in 10:58.01 and senior Annmarie

Turpin was victorious in the 100 hurdles in 14.60.

Orlisha Henlon placed second in the high jump at 5-6 and Kirsten

Loftin did likewise in the pole vault (11-9 1/2).

Third-place finishes went to UCI’s Randi Houston (12.3 in the in

the 100) and Lina Pimentel (1:03.77 in the 400 hurdles).

UCI’s Wijemanne perfect

* TENNIS: UC Irvine senior Renouk Wijemanne won two more singles

sets to pace Sri Lanka to victories over Myanmar and Kyrgyzstan

Friday and Sunday in Davis Cup tennis action in Amann, Jordan.

Wijemanne defeated Myanmar’s Zaw-Zaw-Latt, 6-4, 6-3, to pace Sri

Lanka’s 2-1 victory Friday in Group IV competition of the

Asia/Oceania Zone on the hard courts at Al Hussein Sport City.

Wijemanne, who previously had earned singles wins over opponents

from Bangladesh and Iraq, then defeated Temir Akkazierv from

Kyrgyzstan, 6-0, 6-3, to pace a 3-0 Sri Lanka triumph.

With Sri Lanka’s 4-0 record in round-robin play within the

five-team Group B of the Group IV alignment, it joins Saudi Arabia --

which was perfect in Group A round-robin competition -- as countries

promoted into Group III for 2005.

Wijemanne, from Columbo, Sri Lanka, previously competed for his

native country in Davis Cup play in 1999 and 2001. He has a 9-3

career Davis Cup record, including 8-1 in singles.

St. Geme sets record

* TRACK AND FIELD: Corona del Mar High sophomore Ann St. Geme

finished second in the girls 1,600 meters at the Arcadia track and

field invitational Saturday at Arcadia High.

St. Geme clocked a time of 4 minutes, 52.93 seconds in the

invitational (feature) 1,600, bursting from sixth to second in the

final 200 meters, according to Sea Kings Coach Bill Sumner.

St. Geme’s time bettered her previous best by more than six

seconds and also shattered the school record of 4:57.74, previously

held by Julie Allen.

“That was huge,” Sumner said of St. Geme’s performance, which, he

believes, will boost her confidence even more as she prepares for the

Orange County championships, scheduled Saturday at Trabuco Hills

High.

“That is probably one of the top five times in the nation,” Sumner

added. “Her goal now is to break 4:50. She’s pretty humble, but none

of the other girls are going to scare her now.”

Other CdM highlights Saturday included a second-place showing in

the girls open 1,600 relay. Sara Claster, Alex Tobiessen, Melissa

Swigert and Kelly Morgan, whose anchor split of 57.6 helped CdM move

from fourth to second, combined for a time of 4:03.

Also in the open meet, contested earlier in the day, Sage Hill

School sophomore Zach Chandy finished third in the boys 400 in a time

of 49.07. He was also fifth in the 200 with a time of 22.45.

In addition, CdM freshman Hilary May finished seventh in the girls

seeded 1,600, in a time of 5:08.27.

Four locals all-league

* BASKETBALL: First-team selections Nancy Castro and Susy

Trujillo, seniors at Estancia High and Costa Mesa, respectively, top

four locals honored on the coaches All-Golden West League selections

for girls basketball.

Estancia senior Trisha Wase is a second-team honoree, as is Costa

Mesa senior Cassey Brick.

Castro, a 5-foot-10 center, averaged better than 19 points and

nearly 10 rebounds per game to help the Eagles finish 7-5 in league

and advance to the CIF Southern Section Division III-AA playoffs.

Trujillo averaged 11.7 points and made 55 three-pointers to help

the Mustangs win their final two league games and earn an at-large

playoff berth.

Wase, a talented point guard, averaged 10.1 points for the Eagles,

while Brick, a 5-3 forward, chipped in 7.4 points per game for the

Mustangs.

Saddleback senior Taisha Lewis was named Most Valuable Player.

Sage’s Chandy sparkles

* TRACK AND FIELD: In competition at the Coastal Carnival at

Escondido High March 27, Sage Hill School sophomore Zach Chandy won

the 200 meters in 22.6 seconds and topped the field in the 400 in

49.99. he also teamed with Chris Neale, Matt Sanford and Braden

Barnett to win the 400 relay.

At the same meet, Barnett won shot (47-7 1/2) and was second in

the discus (111-6).