Untimely illness derails Tennison’s state title hopes

After winning the CIF Southern Section Division II individual title, Paige Tennison was peaking at the right time heading into the CIF State Cross-Country Meet.

However, Newport Harbor High’s senior standout got sick Wednesday and was still under the weather at Saturday’s elite meet at Fresno’s Woodward Park. It led to Tennison taking fourth in 17 minutes, 52 seconds.

“On Wednesday, I slept all day and I was so thirsty I probably drank 200 bottles of water and Gatorade in the last three days,” Tennison said. “I am just really weak. I went out in the race as fast as I could, but I just didn’t have the energy.”

Tennison was neck and neck with the eventual winner, Granite Bay’s Maggie Bell (17:29), early on Saturday, but couldn’t maintain the pace. Saugus’ Samantha Ortega (17:33) and Danielle Katz of Los Gatos (17:46) took second and third, respectively.

Tennison still turned in a strong performance with the top-five finish, but it wasn’t up to her expectations. She easily won the Southern Section Division II title last week at Mt. San Antonio College’s rain course with a time of 16:13. She bested Ortega in that race by 13 seconds.

“I am very thankful for everything I was able to accomplish this season,” Tennison said. “I wouldn’t change a thing and I know I am only going to be stronger in the future after going through this.”

— Andrew Shortall

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BOYS’ BASKETBALL

Sage Hill 54, Avalon 40

AVALON — Junior guard Jack Williamson scored 11 points to lead the Lightning in the nonleague game Saturday.

Senior guard Darren Chen added 10 points and Krishan Tarsadia finished with nine points for Sage Hill (2-0), which plays host to Public Safety Academy on Tuesday.