Making a run at league championships

Chris Yemma

Heading into the track and field league preliminaries, with the

championships set to begin Thursday, one Newport-Mesa high school

stands apart from the rest, across both genders.

Both the Corona del Mar boys and girls teams head into finals

undefeated in the Pacific Coast League and looking to wrap up a

championship, as prelims begin today.

The Estancia boys will also be taking an unbeaten streak into

today’s Golden West League prelims.

Sage Hill, Newport Harbor and Costa Mesa will have individual

athletes shooting for league crowns.

Perhaps the biggest lock for a team title is the CdM girls, who

finished third at the Orange County track and field championships

April 23.

Still, CdM Coach Bill Sumner hasn’t penciled in the victory just

yet.

“On paper, they’re a lock,” CdM Coach Bill Sumner said. “But paper

doesn’t look that good anymore. When somebody starts throwing in

emotions and when the adrenaline gets pumping, it kind of messes

things up. It’s enough to give a coach a heart attack.”

But with some of the most talented athletes in the state scattered

throughout numerous events, the Sea Kings -- led by middle distance

runners Annie St. Geme and Hilary May -- should take a serious run at

a third consecutive league title.

The Pacific Coast League boys race should boil down to CdM and

Northwood, Sumner said, with the field events being the deciding

factor.

“They have us in the sprints, but we have them in the distance

events,” Sumner said.

“So, it will be between the jumping events and throwing events,

and we’re a little stronger in the throwing events.”

Today’s Pacific Coast League prelims, as well as Thursday’s

finals, will take place at Irvine High.

The Estancia boys head into the Golden West League prelims and

finals on the heels of a 6-0 league dual-meet campaign. They are led

by senior Bryce McKendry, who finished second in the county

championships in the long jump.

McKendry has consistently won the long, triple and high jumps in

league meets while dabbling in the hurdles.

Distance runners Ernesto Castaneda, C.J. Buchmann and Alex

Cahuantzi, along with hurdler Josh Hendrickson, are additional

Estancia standouts.

The Golden West League prelims, as well as Thursday’s finals, are

at Orange Coast College.

Whitney Blue (1,600 meters, 3,200) and Allison Stokke (pole vault)

are favorites for the Newport Harbor girls, who went 3-2 in Sea View

dual meets.

Aliso Niguel, the county champion, is favored to claim the team

title.

Bo Taylor (shot put, discus), Trevor Theriot (shot put, discus),

Keith Eldridge (100, 200) and Nick St. Andre (1,600, 3,200) lead the

Newport boys, who were 2-3 in league dual meets.

The Sea View prelims are Tuesday with finals Friday, both at

Irvine High.

The Sage Hill boys, led by junior Zach Chandy, are sending Chris

Neale, Jimmy O’Hare, Tyler Ellis, Mike Voge, Eric Good, Derrick Sun,

Tim Lefler, Chris Lee, Connor Rose and Andrew Winterman to the

finals. Prelims were held Thursday.

Qualifying for the Sage girls were Kelsey Rose, Laura Gordon, Amy

Werblin, Sara Montazami, Rachael Blitzer, Megan McGillivray, Madison

Gillis, Amelia Fletcher and Erica Farris.

Academy League finals are Thursday at Saddleback College.