CIF Southern Section Cross Country Preliminaries

WALNUT — Corona del Mar High senior Melanie Powers qualified first in her heat and third in the girls’ Division III race at the CIF Southern Section preliminaries Saturday at Mt. San Antonio College.

Powers finished in 18 minutes, 5 seconds to help the Sea Kings take the top spot in their heat and second overall heading into the finals next week.

Marisa Cummings was in second in 18:06, while Kristina Funahashi (fourth in 18:39), Sarah Keddington (ninth in 19:02) and Kristen Rivera (10th in 19:04) finished in the top 10. Ali Hummelberg came in 11th in 19:06 and Shelby Perez was 14th in 19:13.

The CdM boys finished third in its heat to advance to next week’s finals in Division III. Austin Barvin led the Sea Kings, finishing in 13th in 16:10. Peter Morris (17th in 16:18), Blake Myers (21st in 16:26), Sebastien Welch (22nd in 16:27), Kjell Wolker (37th in 16:54), Alex Turney (40th in 16:58) and Derek Satterfield (85th in 18:43) also competed.

The Sage Hill girls finished fourth in their heat to advance to the CIF finals in Division V. The Lightning had the eighth best team time overall.

Sophia Witte led the way, finishing 12th in 20: 16. Caroline France (14th in 21:42), Jackie Dion (43rd in 22:54), Naomi Grenados (46th in 23:05) and Campbell Moore (48th in 24:06) also competed.

The Sage Hill boys advanced to the finals after finishing fifth in their heat in Division V. Dylan Thies led the Lightning in fifth in 16:34. Slater Stanley (30th in 17:47), David Penner (31st in 17:48), Alomar Brito (33rd in 17:56) and Chris Andras (35th in 17:59) also raced.

James Stucker was the lone Costa Mesa boy to advance to the finals in Division IV after he qualified seventh in 16:22.

The Costa Mesa girls finished 17th and missed the final spot to advance by 18 seconds, Mustangs Coach Chuck Lester said. Costa Mesa finished seventh in its heat.

Hunter Strodel (18th in 20:03) led Mesa, followed by Racquel Friedman (26th in 20:53), Kaitlin Yamamoto (35th in 21:34), Natalie Arqueta (44th in 22:09) and Shaylen McNulty (51st in 22:54).

Estancia senior Jorge Martin qualified eighth in 16:01 to advance to the finals in Division III. Peter Hernandez (29th in 16:30), Juan Geronimo (40th in 16:53), Michael Davila (65th in 17:31), Jorge Carrizal (88th in 18:04), Jonathan Moreno (89th in 18:05) and Victor Silva (101st in 18:38) also competed for the Eagles, who were eighth in their heat.

The Estancia girls did not advance and finished 14th in Division III. Mariah Chapin (43rd in 20:28), Melissa Correa (83rd in 22:33), Jessica Cahauntzi (92nd in 23:19), Alejandra Peralta (98th in 23:40), Carrissa Cornejo (103rd in 25:44) and Iris Herrera (105th in 26:30) acompeted.

The Newport Harbor girls did not advance after finishing sixth in Division IV. Maggie Goodson was ninth in 18:43, while Lauren Clemence (15th in 19:20), Tori Sarris (36th in 20:04.), Ava Nelson (46th in 20:31), Patty Moddelmog (49th in 20:31), Kasey DeYoung (73rd in 21:41) and Makena Owen (76th in 21:53) also competed.

— From staff reports