Stokke moves on to finals

SACRAMENTO — There must be something nice about a runway and a pole vault to come.

After dealing with an unexpected emergence as a sort of cult Internet sensation, Newport Harbor High’s Allison Stokke spent Friday doing what she does best — handling the competition.

Stokke qualified for the CIF State Championship finals by clearing 12 feet, 3 inches. She’ll go for her second state championship, her first since freshman year, today at Hughes Stadium in Sacramento.

“For the girls, it’s probably the toughest event,” Harbor coach Eric Tweit said. “It’s such a process.”

After picking up the vault as a freshman, Stokke mastered that process on her way to becoming one of the best in the country.

Her sophomore season was derailed by an injury, and last season saw her place second at the state championship meet.

“She had some good vaults, but there was still some inconsistency,” Tweit said.

Stokke will try to come full circle, book-ending her high school career with state championships as a freshman and a senior, when she participates in today’s finals.

Following weeks of finding her picture displayed prominently on blogs and Internet message boards, Stokke’s day at the track provided her the opportunity to get back to the business of winning.

The senior, who will attend UC Berkeley on a track scholarship next season, declined to comment after the preliminaries.

Harbor qualified one other athlete for the state prelims.

Senior Jessica Robson, who will compete as a heptathlete at Dartmouth next season, entered her first state championship meet hoping for a berth in the high jump finals.

Her attempt to clear 5-5 failed, though, and Robson’s high school career ended.

“Everything felt good,” said Robson, who cleared 5-3.

Robson should be the type of athlete who could excel in the heptathlete. Not only did she qualify for state in the high jump, she also holds the Harbor record in the 100 hurdles and long jump.

“It’s too bad,” Tweit said. “Everyone here wants it, but she is really passionate about track.”

Today’s finals will be televised on Fox Sports Net beginning at 5 p.m.