CdM sweeps Tesoro

Steve Virgen

A funny thing happened on the way to Corona del Mar High’s quest for

an undefeated season in Pacific Coast League boys and girls track and

field.

Jeritt Thayer -- yes, the same senior who plays shortstop on the

CdM baseball team -- competed for the Sea Kings in a PCL dual meet

against visiting Tesoro Thursday. He finished third in the 800 meters

(2 minutes, 11.5 seconds) as he entered the event by chance. He came

to support his friends on the track and field team and Coach Bill

Sumner asked for his help. The versatile athlete was willing to

oblige.

“That was definitely fun,” Thayer said of running the 800. “I

always come out and support the team. A lot of them were in cross

country with me in the fall. They needed me to run. I said, ‘Sure.’ ”

Thayer was one of several highlights for Corona del Mar, which

swept Tesoro, as the Sea King boys won, 66-61, and the CdM girls, led

by sophomore Anne St. Geme and freshman Tiffany Liu, dominated,

80-47.

Chris Ringstrom and Kevin Artz doubled to help the Sea Kings (5-2)

improve to 3-0 in league. The Corona del Mar boys did not secure the

win until the 3,200, the second to the last event of the meet, when

Jack Turner and Artz went 1-2 to bring relief to the Sea Kings, who,

just as the CdM girls, are the defending PCL champions.

“That was the first time this year I was actually nervous,” Sumner

said. Ringstrom, as well as Artz and St. Geme, showed no fear. The

three athletes continued their hot pace that has them headed for

possible PCL individual titles in their respective events. Artz and

St. Geme did not go for personal records, but still collected

victories, yet Ringstrom held little back in winning the 100 in 10.8

and the 200 in 22.6.

The Sea Kings also received wins from Brandon Borcoman (400 in

51.3), Eemaan Jalili (110 high hurdles, 17.1), Ross McKee (300

intermediate hurdles, 44.5) and Andrew Wong (triple jump, 37 feet, 6

1/2 inches).

On the girls side, Corona del Mar not only remained undefeated in

the PCL, 3-0, but also overall, 7-0. For the first time in her young

high school career, Liu tripled, winning the 100 hurdles (17.0), long

jump (17-0) and triple jump (34-4 3/4).

St. Geme, who owns the top times in Orange County in the 800 and

1,600 this season, also won three events.

St. Geme, who finished second in the 1,600 (a school-record

4:52.93) at the Arcadia invitational Saturday, also held back in

winning the 800 (2:15.8), 1,600 (5:09.9) and 3,200 (11:46.8). While

St. Geme and Liu won three events, Kelly Morgan and Melissa Swigert

had a hand in three victories.

Morgan won the 400 (1:00.9) and Swigert took first in the 200

(26.9). The CdM duo also contributed to victorious relays. The 400

relay also included Lindsay Manning and Whitney Weidner, and the

1,600 quartet included Sara Claster and Alex Tobiessen.