Track & Field: CdM sweeps Battle of the Bay again
CORONA DEL MAR — The Battle of the Bay in track and field features two coaches, Bill Sumner and Eric Tweit, who have been at it a long time.
Sumner is in his 30th year at Corona del Mar High and Tweit has been at Newport Harbor since 1980.
“If somebody went back and did the math, we’d probably break even,” said Sumner, referring to his and Tweit’s record in the Battle of the Bay matchup. “They’re strong in the throws and we’re stronger in other areas. They’re almost impossible to beat in the throws.”
While the Sailors usually own the boys’ throwing events, CdM has taken over the entire Battle of the Bay.
The Sea Kings swept the respective dual meets, as the boys won, 99-28, and the girls, 90-37, on Thursday.
The CdM boys beat Newport Harbor for the fourth year in a row and Sumner said the girls haven’t lost to the Sailors in quite some time.
Sumner expected a challenge from visiting Newport Harbor. It never came.
“I thought it was going to be a lot closer, especially on the girls’ side,” said Sumner, believing that the girls’ meet would come down to the last two events, the 4x400-meter relay and 3,200. “On the boys’ side, it hasn’t really been all that close. We kind of started out [strong].”
Matt Hurst helped CdM get off on the right foot.
The junior anchored the 4x100-relay team to a first-place finish in 44.1 seconds, almost 2 1/2 seconds ahead of Newport Harbor. Hurst also won the 200 (22.5) and 400 (53.1) sprints and ran a leg on CdM’s 4x400 (3 minutes 41.4 seconds) winning team.
“We’re looking really good this year,” said Hurst of the Sea Kings, who won 11 of the 15 scoring events on the boys’ side.
Other CdM boys taking first included Barrett Barbato (100, 11.2), Tanner Love (800, 2:03.4), Greg May (1,600, 4:43.8), Spencer Keith (3,200, 10:15.7), Troy Bolus (110 hurdles, 15.3), Troy Hardy (300 hurdles, 41.2) and Nick McGuinness (high jump, 6 feet).
The events Newport Harbor claimed were the usual ones, the shot put and discus throw, and it also took home the long jump and triple jump.
Marty Taylor won the throwing events, recording a 56-3 in the shot put and 166-9 in the discus.
“Just trying to beat myself,” Taylor said.
The senior didn’t come close to his personal-best marks in each event, which he achieved at the 34th annual Irvine Invitational on Saturday. His 60-1 effort ranks No. 1 in the state and his 179-10 effort is No. 3 in the state.
The Sailors swept the top three spots in the shot put. Ramsey Hufford was second (56-3) and Will Fortier third (50-1).
There were two surprises in the discus. CdM’s Alex Imani (157-3) finished second and Nick Storm third (143-9).
A lack of competition was a reason why Taylor didn’t throw as far. He took it easy.
“Football is way more intense of a rivalry [with CdM],” said Taylor, who would know since he played in the Battle of the Bay football game.
One of his former football teammates, Riley Gaddis took first in the long jump (20-1) and triple jump (39-11 1/2).
In the girls’ meet, CdM also won 11 of 15 scoring events.
Freshman Jesse Harris won the 100 in 13.3 seconds. She edged teammates Jillian Beese and Tiffany Ginger by a second.
Beese went on to win the long jump (14-4 3/4).
Other CdM girls placing first were Jacqueline Choe (1,600, 5:27.5), Emma Kratzberg (100 hurdles, 16.4), Darcie Marshall (800, 2:28), Claire Keddington (triple jump, 26-10 1/2), Shelby Perez (3,200, 12:16.5), Hannah Bagdasar (discus, 100-7) and Victoria Rihm (high jump, 4-6).
Newport Harbor’s Hope Bender won two individual sprints, the 200 (26.5) and 400 (1:01.2). Rachelle A La Torre (shot put, 30-10) and Natalie Ward (300 hurdles, 47.5) finished first in their respective events.
Twitter: @DCPenaloza