Eagles lay it on the line

Steve Virgen

In high school track and field preliminaries, the main goal is to

qualify for the finals, while also saving some energy.

But don’t tell that to Estancia High’s C.J. Buchmann.

The Eagles’ sophomore held little back in displaying a nice kick

toward the end of the 1,600 meters and qualified fourth in the Golden

West League preliminaries, hosted by Estancia, at Orange Coast

College Monday. Buchmann finished in 4:42.29, second in his heat,

surpassing Saddleback’s James Casas (4:43.36) over the final 200

meters.

“The main reason I kicked is that I want to be competitive,” said

Buchmann, who will also be competing in the 800 final Thursday at

OCC. “If I think I can beat the guy in front of me, I will try. I

know it’s the preliminaries, but that’s what I was thinking.”

Buchmann also said he enjoys competing in the 800 the most, bu,t

whenever he runs, he just wants to do his best. The 1,600 was the

perfect example as he showed an impressive burst of speed in the

final 200 meters.

“He’s going to be a good one,” Estancia Coach Steve Crenshaw said.

“He already is. I think he can be dominant by this time next year.”

Costa Mesa seniors Juan Avilez and Marco Huipe also advanced to

the final in the 1,600, qualifying 10th and 11th, respectively.

Avilez finished in 4:55.47 and Huipe came in at 4:59.66.

The preliminaries for the 800 did not take place as all 14

entrants advanced to the final. In addition to Buchmann, Estancia

will be represented in the 800 final Thursday by Steve Pedroza,

Ulisses Cardina, Geovani Rodea and Martin Diaz, while Avilez will

represent the Mustangs.

Estancia, the defending league champion, which finished fourth in

the dual-meet season, and Costa Mesa, which was seventh, were mainly

concentrating on qualifying their best athletes for the league

finals.

The Eagles’ top boy is senior Jason Johnston, who has been

battling hamstring tightness the past two weeks. He said his right

hamstring had been bothering him the most, but he felt fine Monday.

He qualified second in the 110 high hurdles (15.71) and second in the 300 intermediate hurdles (43.38). Johnston, who won 22 of the 24

events he competed in during league dual meets this season, will also

attempt to win individual titles in the triple jump and long jump

Thursday.

Johnston’s main competition in the 110 hurdles is Santa Ana senior

Frank Olivas, the defending champion, who qualified first in 15.43.

Olivas edged Johnston by .01 to win the 110 hurdles league title last

spring, which will make Thursday’s race one of the featured events of

the finals.

Nic Koreerat, a senior for the Eagles, qualified fifth in the 200

(24.08) and eighth in the 100 (12.15).

Estancia senior Matt Stevenson qualified sixth in the 110 hurdles

(19.90), while Costa Mesa senior Chris Manning (22.09) and Marvin

Ramirez (24.39) qualified seventh and ninth, respectively. Stevenson

qualified ninth in 300 hurdles (46.41).

Orange senior Henry Kwon qualified first in the 300 hurdles

(42.42).

Senior teammate Adam Rodriguez qualified ninth in the 200 (24.50),

while Costa mesa senior Luis Gonzalez qualified ninth in the 100

(12.17).

Rodriguez and Estancia junior Jae Chung will also compete in the

400 final Thursday, as all nine entrants made the final.