Newport’s glittering Blue qualifies for state

Chris Yemma

Newport Harbor High girls No. 1 runner Whitney Blue finished second

overall in the CIF Southern Section Division II championship race at

Mt. San Antonio College Saturday morning.

Blue’s performance was more than adequate to qualify her for the

CIF State championships next Saturday at Woodward Park in Fresno.

Serrano’s Kauren Tarver, a freshman, finished first and broke a

freshman CIF finals record, running the course in 17 minutes, six

seconds. Blue finished in 17:55.

“She did an awesome job and she’s only a freshman,” said Blue of

Tarver’s performance. “I’m a little worried for next year.”

Newport Coach Eric Tweit said Blue was shooting for a time around

17:30, hoping to showcase her best performance in the finals. He said

her expectations were higher than her actual performance.

“She wasn’t really satisfied with the race,” Tweit said. “I know

she is capable of 17:30.”

Even though Blue finished second, she said she improved from last

year’s finals performance by more than 1:30.

The Newport girls did not qualify for state as a team, placing

ninth with 202 points. Mater Dei was first with 102 and Edison was at

the cutoff in seventh with 192 points.

Lauren Maddox (17th in 18:32), Taylor Bryson (55th in 19:44),

Zuzana Bernard (77th in 20:03) and Courtney Marshall (82nd in 20:05)

were Newport’s top five finishers.

For the state meet, Tweit said he has high expectations of Blue.

He said it was possible that she could place in the top five.

“I just want her to run her best race and let the time and place

take care of itself,” Tweit said. “She’s got a chance next Saturday.”