No breaks for Cummings

MISSION VIEJO — The Trabuco Hills Invitational may be one of many major meets the Corona del Mar High track and field team will compete in this season, but this one in particular holds a special meaning for Sarah Cummings.

A year ago, Cummings broke her foot at the event, effectively ending her junior season. With a minor foot injury at the start of the 2007 season limiting Cummings to only a couple dual meets which equated to warm-up, the Trabuco Hills Invitational Saturday became a return to the scene and a coming-out party rolled into one.

There were nerves and Corona del Mar Coach Bill Sumner asked Cummings not to push herself in the 3,200-meter run. A 10 minute, 54 second time was ideal for him. That time would have won, but it was not the right fit for Cummings.

She finished in 10:40 with a 23-second cushion, halfway through the race breaking out a half-lap lead over her nearest competitor.

“It’s kind of a relief to come here and know the season is not going to be over,” Cummings said.

“I knew I could do this, I felt good. This was the first time I ran hard. I needed to show [Sumner] I could do it.”

In the final lap, Cummings had a shot at breaking the meet record, which Sumner was cheering her on to do, but she came up two seconds short. The record was set in 2006 by Cummings’ teammate Shelby Buckley in 10:38.27.

Earlier in the day, Buckley was busy adding to her record total. As the junior jogged out for the 800 the time of 2:12.85 was announced throughout the stadium as the meet record for the event.

“I thought I should aim for that,” Buckley said.

For the first half of the race, Buckley paced in the middle of the pack. With about 250 meters to go, she hit the burners and blew into a neck-and-neck break down the final 75-meter stretch to win.

“I wanted to just go all out,” said Buckley, who finished second in the 1,600 earlier in the day. “I think I just had a bigger stride at the end.”

Buckley broke the announced record, which was set by Corona del Mar alum Liz Morse in 2000, with a time of 2:12.46 and will likely see her name twice on the meet’s record books next year, but Sumner pointed out former Sea Kings runner Annie St. Geme, who is now at Stanford, ran the event’s final last year in 2:11.7.

“It doesn’t matter who has the record, Liz, Annie or Shelby, they’re all from Corona del Mar,” Sumner said.

Newport-Mesa athletes were breaking other records as well. Newport Harbor senior pole vaulter Allison Stokke posted a height of 12-6, six inches higher than the mark set in 2002. Stokke had to wait four hours before attempting two vaults, one of which was successful to secure first at the meet.

Stokke, who is headed to Cal, was prepared, creating a makeshift tent with two pole vaults and a towel.

“It’s fun to watch the other people go,” said Stokke, whose goal is to add a Sunset League title to her Sea View League title. “You just have to get some shade.”

The Sailors’ Jessica Robson tied for first in the high jump at 5-4, Newport Harbor Coach Eric Tweit giving her a break from her regular regimen of multiple events.

“Her confidence level is really good,” Tweit said of Robson who is tied for the highest jump in the state this season at 5-10.

Corona del Mar’s Tiffany Liu won the triple jump (37-2) and finished second in the long jump (17-3.75), meaning she was out in the sun the entire day.

“I’m happy with today, I just wanted to do as well as I could,” the senior said. “It’s been a long day. It’s warm but it’s good jumping weather. I’d rather it be warm than cold.”

Costa Mesa easily brought the most athletes of any of the area schools, building experience for the future. Mustangs sophomore sprinter Antwon Byrd, who had a personal record in the 200, said the team enjoyed the day.

“It’s been a hot day,” Byrd said. “We get along well, especially in the heat.”