Five advance for Newport-Mesa

Steve Virgen

There was a misprint for a certain Newport Harbor High freshman’s

name in the CIF Southern Section Masters Meet program.

However, the event’s organizers will be sure to get the correct

spelling from now on, as Allison Stokke will be etched into the

record books -- not just for the CIF Southern Section, but

nationally.

Stokke cleared 12 feet, 7 inches in the pole vault to set a

national high school record for a freshman at Cerritos College

Friday. The previous record was 12-6, set by Katie Vieth of Homestead

High in Fort Wayne, Ind.

Stokke, whose previous best and school record was 11-8, finished

third and was one of five Newport-Mesa District athletes who advanced

to the state meet at Hughes Stadium in Sacramento June 4. While

Stokke was a newsmaker, Costa Mesa sophomore Jasmin Day captured the

championship in the high jump with a 5-6 clearance. Corona del Mar

sophomore Anne St. Geme and freshman Hilary May, as well as Newport

senior Elizabeth Clayton will also be competing next week.

St. Geme finished second in the 1,600 meters (4:56.87) and fourth

in the 800 in a personal-best 2:13.71, Clayton took fourth in the

triple jump (37-8 1/2) and May advanced with a qualifying time of

4:59.91 in the 1,600 to join Stokke in Sacramento.

“I can’t even explain how I felt [after clearing 12-7],” said

Stokke. “My heart jumped. I didn’t expect it, but it feels really

good.”

Stokke (pronounced stock-ee) also said she was able to jump nearly

a foot more than her previous best because she was comfortable with

her surroundings, having competed in the CIF preliminaries and the

finals at Cerritos College. A gymnastics background has also

benefited Stokke, who competed for eight years before turning her

attention to the pole vault.

Day, the Mustangs standout, also plans to focus more on her event.

Soccer has been her favorite sport, yet when it comes to track and

field she has always enjoyed the 800. However, after winning the CIF

Division III title last week, Day has found more pleasure in the high

jump.

“Last year, I was just doing [the high jump] for fun,” said Day,

whose older sister Sharon holds the Southern Section record in the

high jump (6-2). “I used to think, ‘That’s my sister’s thing.’ But I

want to do it more.”

Of the five who qualified, St. Geme will be the only making her

second appearance at the state preliminaries.

St. Geme said she will drop the 800 to have more energy for the

1,600 next week. St. Geme was disappointed to finish second in the

1,600, because she said she did not have enough stamina to kick at

the end of the race that began with a slow pace.

May, the fastest freshman in the state, was ecstatic to qualify

for state. She screamed in celebration when she discovered she had

made it. All nine competitors in the 1,600 advanced to the state

meet.

Clayton was also excited to move on. She said she hopes to be

competing Saturday in the state finals, instead of attending Newport

Harbor’s prom. Next week, Clayton, who battled through shin injuries

last season, wants to top her personal best, which is the school

record, a mark of 38-4 1/2. The previous record (37-8 1/2) was held

by her older sister Mandy in 1994.

Corona del Mar junior Andrew Wong, who cleared 14-2, nearly

advanced to the state meet, just missing on 14-8, which was the

qualifying mark. The Sea Kings girls 1,600 relay team of Sara

Claster, Whitney Weidner, Alex Tobiessen and Kelly Morgan finished

ninth in 3:57.