City track team sparkles

The City of Laguna Beach’s youth track team put on an outstanding

showing Sunday at the Orange County track and field championships at

Trabuco Hills High.

Grace Esslinger led the Laguna contingent at the meet by running

her way to a pair of first-place finishes in girls division 91 (year

born).

Esslinger won the 200-meter dash in 28.0 and the 100-meter dash in

14.4.

Marlee Grosher earned a pair of second-place finishes in girls

division 96. She was second in the 400 meters with a time of 1:20.5,

which was just one-tenth off the city record established by Hillary

Kyle in 1986, and second in the long jump at 10-feet-9, which was

only one inch out of first place.

Other second-place finishers included Hunter Burnett in the boys

division 94 long jump (11-8.3), Kathryn DeYoung in the girls division

91 long jump (11-2), Christianne Kinder in the girls division 93 high

jump (4-0) and John Swanson in the boys division 91 long jump

(14-4.5).

Swanson also finished ninth in the 100 meters with a time of 14.3.

Tatum Moore was Laguna’s lone third-place finisher at the meet, as

she went 8.4 in the girls division 96 50-meters. She also placed

sixth in the 100 meters with a 17.5.

Gerry Artman took fifth in the girls division 91 1600-meter run with a time of 6:15, while Hunter Burnett earned the same finish in

the boys division 94 100-meters with a 15.5.

Richard Mattingley lowered his city record in the boys division 92

1600 meters with a time of 5:34.9, which was good for seventh place.

His time at the city meet was 5:56.

Other seventh-place finishers from Laguna included Chelsea

Gramshausen in the girls division 92 long jump (10-0) and Kirsten

Landsiedel in the girls division 98 100 meters (21.3).

Eighth-place ribbons went to Laguna athletes Adam Redding-Kaufman,

who won two in the boys division 94 400 meters (1:18.5) and 800

meters (3:06.08), and Andrew Landsiedel in the boys division 96 long

jump (7-11 1/2 ).

The first- through eighth-place finishers qualify for the Southern

California track and field championships which will be held May 28 at

Gahr High in Cerritos.

The Laguna Beach team is coached by Fred Pichay.