Mustangs’ strength in throwing events

Steve Virgen

After losing to rival Estancia High and Golden West League foe Orange

April 15, the Costa Mesa boys track and field team knows it can’t

contend for the circuit’s championship.

However, there continues to be a few bright spots for the

Mustangs, including senior Qualic Vargas. The Costa Mesa thrower took

first place in the shot put and discus against the Eagles and

Panthers. With marks of 162 feet, 2 inches in the discus and 43-1 1/2

in the shot, Vargas displayed his continued improvement.

He has been excelling in the shot put and discus this season and

is among the top discus throwers in Orange County.

Teammate Luke Sapolu, last year’s Golden West League champion in

the discus, will attempt to defend his title. But that will be

challenging, since he broke his right (throwing) arm two months ago

and just had the cast removed Friday.

The Mustangs (0-4 in league) also feature youth on the track in

freshman Steve Nguyen and sophomore Tyler Legg.

Mitchell, an assistant coach for Joe Busi’s cross country team,

also has distance athletes Marco Huipe and Juan Avilez, both whom are

seniors.

Sophomore Tony Krikorian, who is also a guard for the boys

basketball team, is in his second varsity season and competes in the

long jump.

In addition to Vargas and Sapolu, seniors Omar Ruiz and Luis

Gonzalez, who also played football in the fall, are competing for the

Mustangs. Ruiz, a running back, and Gonzalez, a defensive back, are

running the sprints. Gonzalez also competes in the 300-meter

intermediate hurdles.

Mitchell wants his athletes to concentrate on individual

improvement.

“We don’t have the numbers to compete,” Mitchell said. “You have

to pick up the second- and third-place finishes, so I just want them

to have a lot of fun and focus on the league finals.”