Newport vaulters break out

It’s the event in track and field that could be considered an extreme sport. But that doesn’t seem to faze four Newport Harbor High sophomores.

They just go about their business and compete in the pole vault. Sure there’s danger, but that’s not the main storyline for Mark Sakioka, Max Van Bergh, Allison Krugman and Siara Fabbri. They’re all about success and keeping the Sailors known for their pole vaulting.

This is not just about one girl grabbing attention for her cover-model looks all over the Internet. That’s a thing of the past. Allison Stokke is now at UC Berkeley.

Enter the Newport Harbor quartet. They’re four of 29 local athletes competing in today’s CIF Southern Section Championships. They qualified for the finals at last week’s Division II preliminaries at Moorpark High.

Sakioka is seeded No. 2 after clearing 14 feet last week. That mark came close to his personal record, which is 14-1 and broke the 26-year-old frosh-soph record at Newport Harbor, according to vault coach Fritz Howser. Sakioka finished second in the Sunset League.

He’s been pushed by Van Bergh, who has a PR of 14-0. The two work well together, Howser said. Van Bergh cleared 13-6 last week to qualify seventh.

On the girls’ side, Krugman (10-8) qualified second in the pole vault and Fabbri (10-2) will be seeded third. Krugman’s matched her personal record, which she cleared to grab second place in the Sunset League finals. Fabbri, who has battled various injuries this year, is right behind with a PR of 10-7. She finished third in the Sunset.

The quartet, like the rest of the competitors in the section finals, are vying to advance to the Southern Section Masters meet May 29 at Cerritos College. The top nine regardless of division move on. From there the top five go on to the state meet June 5 at Buchanan High in Clovis.

Newport Harbor junior Cecil Whitside, who finished sixth in the state and won the Masters title last year, will try to defend his title in Division II today.