TeWinkle streak snapped

CORONA DEL MAR ? Dwyer Middle School Coach Lynn Arnold had already come close to beating the TeWinkle Middle School boys in the Coastal Athletic League junior high track championships.

“We came close about 10 years ago,” Arnold said. “We lost by half a point.”

This year, Arnold and Dwyer finally did what no other local middle school had done in more than two decades ? top TeWinkle. The Trojans’ 21-year streak of winning the area competition ended Thursday with a sixth-place finish.

Dwyer took first overall on the boys’ side, with 180 points, and also finished first in girls’ competition with 273 points for its second straight girls’ crown.

Corona del Mar finished second in both the boys and girls’ overall standings.

“I think Dwyer does so well because we’re the ones who are always screaming out there,” said Dwyer distance Coach Kim Williams. “We’re very enthusiastic as a coaching staff.”

For the TeWinkle boys, it was a disappointing end to the streak, but Coach Michael Jekogian put things in perspective.

“We’re not as strong as we have been in years past, but we’re out here to compete just like every other year,” Jekogian said before the final results were tabulated. “I’m always happy with how they do. Whatever way it comes out, I’m proud of them.”

Not that the Trojans didn’t have their stars. Seventh-grader George De La Torre won the seventh-grade boys’ 100 and 400 meters and was on the winning 4x100 relay. In each of the individual events, he edged out a Dwyer runner at the end and was greeted by excited teammates.

“Everyone’s cheering and motivating each other,” De La Torre said. “I’m excited that I beat the guy from Dwyer. I’ve run against him before, but today was the first time that I got first (place) from him.”

But it was Corona del Mar eighth-grader Alex Swigert who turned in perhaps the best individual boys’ performance. He won the eighth-grade boys’ 100, 400, long jump (18-feet, 1 inch) and anchored the victorious 4x100 relay.

“I tried to win the first half of the race,” Swigert said after winning the 100 going away. “Long jump, I could’ve done better. I scratched my best two jumps, but it was good anyway.”

On the girls side, Dwyer dominated the eighth-grade events, led by two-time winners Jenny Pilecki (800 and 1600 meters) and Rachelle Clark (100 and 400).

“We had a lot of personal-bests today, and took an awful lot of firsts,” Arnold said.

Pilecki won the mile in the afternoon’s first race, then won the last individual race ? the 800 meters ? about two hours later, taking first right from the start.

“I always try to pull ahead a little bit in the beginning,” she said. “It definitely strains you a little bit of energy, but I think I like it better that the mile’s first.”

Clark ? who hasn’t lost all year in either the 100 or 400 meters ? received a scare in the 400 but held on for the win.

“I could hear people yelling, ‘She’s right behind you!’” Clark said. “So I just sprinted harder.”

Corona del Mar’s Sarah Craig set two new district records, in the seventh-grade girls’ 400 meters and 800 meters.

“Alex (Swigert) and Sarah were the highlights for CdM,” said Corona del Mar Coach Linda Craig. “(Eighth-grade girl) Sarah Keddington also took second place in both of her events (the 400 and 800). Overall, I think we did pretty well.”

Costa Mesa eighth-grader Alysia Werdel set a new district record in the girls’ shot put with her heave of 38-1, and the Dwyer seventh-grade girls’ 4x400 relay team also set a new district record.