Three in top 10 at state

CLOVIS — The heat didn’t get to Newport Harbor High senior Emma Kratzberg.

Kratzberg was the lone local athlete medaling at the CIF State track and field championships, placing fifth in the girls’ 300-meter hurdles in 42.59 seconds at Buchanan High on Saturday.

“It’s really awesome,” Kratzberg said of her finish in her first state finals appearance. “It was very hot. I was struggling with the [90-degree] heat, but I managed to pull through.

“The conditions will be different next year when I compete at Colorado State. I’ll be running in the mountains.”

Costa Mesa’s Felicia Crenshaw almost made the podium, finishing one spot out of sixth place in her respective event.

Crenshaw took seventh in the discus throw with a heave of 143 feet, 6 inches, breaking her Costa Mesa school record by almost six feet.

There was a reason why three months ago Costa Mesa Coach Steve Moreno made hotel reservations for state.

Early on in the season, Moreno believed Crenshaw had what it took to reach the state meet for the first time. Sure she was raw and only a sophomore, but Moreno, along with throws coach Isaias Morales, saw a lot of potential in Crenshaw.

“I couldn’t have done it without my coaches being there for me through thick and thin,” Crenshaw said. “They are such great coaches. [I’m] glad to have them there with me at state.

“My thoughts on the whole state experience [was] that it was amazing. It was just so awesome to be at [state] and I hope to go there for my junior and senior year.”

Crenshaw became the second athlete during Moreno’s six years at the helm of Costa Mesa to reach the second day of the state meet and place in the top seven. Two years ago, Quinton Bell took third in the boys’ 100 meters, running the event in a Costa Mesa school-record 10.51 seconds.

Two Costa Mesa athletes, two Costa Mesa school records, and all of it taking place two years apart at state is something special to Moreno.

“Felicia is a phenomenal athlete,” Moreno said. “I am very proud of what she has accomplished this track season. I look forward to her future accomplishments.”

The other two locals competing on the final day of the state meet were Newport Harbor junior Cole Smith and Sage Hill senior Chance Kuehnel.

Smith wound up ninth in the boys’ discus throw with a heave of 169-3, while Sage Hill Coach Darrien Burwell said Kuehnel was unable to clear the opening height of 6-4 in the boys’ high jump.

Smith made it to the second day after Westlake’s Kyle Carrillo, who qualified third during the preliminaries on Friday, did not compete in the finals. Smith, who was 13th during the prelims, took Carrillo’s spot in the finals. Newport Harbor throws coach Tony Ciarelli said Smith took advantage of the situation.

“It was a great meet to end the season on,” Smith said. “California has some of the best, if not the best, track competitors in the nation and to place ninth in the state as a junior is very exciting. I think I gave a solid effort against some great competition. Although the weather was extremely hot, the stadium and facilities were top notch and the meet was run with fantastic precision.

“I’m looking forward to returning to the state meet next year with even greater success.”

— From staff reports