Liu has surprising springs

When Corona del Mar High track and field star Tiffany Liu lines up for one of her events ? she’s proficient in the 100-meter hurdles, the long jump and the triple jump ? she doesn’t exactly strike fear into the hearts of opponents.

Liu is just 5-foot-6, 120 pounds and soft spoken, so it’s not until she outruns or outjumps her opponents that they take notice.

Last Thursday in a meet against Laguna Beach, Liu won all three of her events, setting personal-best marks in the process. Liu took first place in the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 16 seconds, won the long jump with a distance of 17 feet, 6 inches, and was victorious in the triple jump with a mark of 36-4 1/2 . Liu’s performance helped the Sea Kings defeat the Breakers in the Pacific Coast League meet, 76-50, and move to 5-0 this season.

Corona del Mar track and field Coach Bill Sumner said her mark in the triple jump was tops in Orange County this season and her distance in the long jump was second in the county.

“That was really fun,” Liu said.

Considering her soft-spoken nature and small frame, Liu can easily be overlooked on a team full of long-distance running superstars like Annie St. Geme, Shelby Buckley and Sarah Cummings, but she still makes her mark.

“She’s quiet and she’s not intimidating if you line up next to her,” Sumner said. “She’s a small, quiet girl. You barely notice her until the race or jump is over and she’s beaten everybody. She’s deceiving in her appearance. “

Liu said her best event is the long jump. Sumner added that she’s also a great hurdler.

“But I think the long jump will end up being her best event,” Sumner said. “She looks like she can get 18 feet in the long jump ? that would be phenomenal.”

As good as Liu already is, Sumner believes she has yet to hit her stride.

“She hasn’t hit the board with full acceleration and full extension yet,” Sumner said. “I’m looking forward to that.”

Liu, a junior, said a lot of technique training coupled with weight lifting has helped her improve. Liu has reached the CIF Southern Section preliminaries in the long jump the last two years and looks to be a shoo-in for a third straight season. But that’s not the only event she’d like to advance in.

“I’d like to try for the triple jump as well,” Liu said.

Liu is always willing to try new things, which Sumner said is a great attribute in track and field.

“If we need her to run the 300 hurdles, even though it’s a little long for her strengths, she’ll do it,” Sumner said. “That’s the kind of girl she is.”

Liu said it helps having a coach like Sumner on board.

“He’s a really good coach,” Liu said. “He really cares about every single person.”

As the season progresses and Corona del Mar paces toward CIF, Liu will be the one quietly sneaking up on opponents and passing them by or out-jumping them when they least expect it.

“She’ll surprise you. She doesn’t look imposing, but she is,” Sumner said.

The Tiffany Liu File

Hometown: Newport Beach

Height: 5-foot-6

Weight: 120

Sport: Track and Field

Position: Hurdles, long jump, high jump

Coach: Bill Sumner

Favorite food: Chinese food

Favorite movie: The “Lord of the Rings” trilogy

Favorite athletic moment: “The meet against Laguna Beach because I set personal records in three events.”

Week in review: Liu set personal-best marks while winning the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 16 seconds, the long jump (17-6) and the triple jump (36-4 ½) during Corona del Mar’s 76-50 victory over Laguna Beach last Thursday. Liu helped the Sea Kings move to 5-0 this season.dpt-femaleathlete01.IMGGraphicInfoBI1PHO7H20060401BI1PHO7HNo Captiondpt.01-aow-liu-CPhotoInfoKP1PHQR720060401ix0oklknMARK DUSTIN / DAILY PILOT(LA)