No more margin for error as track and field reaches its postseason

The Orange County Track and Field Championships capped the invitational season.

As much as schools and athletes alike wanted to reach for the county crown, they know that the most important weeks of the season lie ahead.

It all begins with the CIF qualifying meets, otherwise known as the league prelims and finals.

To move on to CIF, athletes must place in the top three of their event and meet a qualifying standard for their respective division.

The league champion automatically moves on to the CIF-SS Divisional Preliminaries.

At-large entries are available. To receive one, an athlete who fails to finish in the top three of their event must meet the average time or mark set forth by the ninth-place performer at the CIF-SS Prelims in their division from the previous three seasons.

Despite some disappointments earlier in the year, the athletes always got to come back for the next competition.

Achieving the qualifying criteria next week should be no contest for the area’s top athletes, but there are always the unfortunate few.

The false start by Edison’s Amanda Herrington in the 100-meter high hurdles at the county championships provided a glimpse of what can happen.

If it happens again, there is no coming back, at least in the event that the miscue occurs. Consistency and precision will be tantamount to success for the next month as athletes attempt to reach the state meet.

The unthinkable can occur at any stage of the postseason. In 2014, Santa Margarita junior Kaitlyn Merritt (Stanford) was the reigning state champion in girls’ pole vault when she posted a no height at the Masters Meet.

Misfortune has struck the Coastal Cities, too. Huntington Beach’s Cassie Durgy (UCLA) committed a false start in the 800 final at the state meet in 2015.

Schedule of Track and Field League Finals

Tuesday, May 2 — Academy League Finals, 2:30 p.m. at Crean Lutheran High

Wednesday, May 3 — Garden Grove League Finals, 3 p.m. at Orange Coast College

Thursday, May 4 — Golden West League Finals, 3 p.m. at Westminster High

Orange Coast League Finals, 3 p.m. at Laguna Beach High

Friday, May 5 — Pacific Coast League Finals, 1 p.m. at University High

Sunset League Finals, 3 p.m. at Huntington Beach High

Local athletes choose their college

Several spring signing day events came and went quietly last week with many schools enjoying a late Spring Break this year.

The area’s top two male throwers made their college choices official. Newport Harbor’s Cole Smith inked his commitment to TCU. Marina’s Kyle Tsu kept his talents localized, as he will join UC Irvine’s throws squad after this season.

Sage Hill sprinter Jack Renton will compete for the University of Chicago.

Corona del Mar’s softball team is having its best season in recent memory. Sea Kings shortstop Brooke Franson has been at the heart of the resurgence.

She will be rewarded for her strong play by getting to continue her career at Manhattanville College (Harrison, NY).

Franson has a .627 batting average with 10 doubles, six triples, and four home runs. She has driven in 28 runs and scored 27 in leading CdM to its first two league wins since 2008.

Costa Mesa shortstop Brenna Alvis will keep playing softball at Alfred University in New York.

Mustangs athletic director Sharon Uhl said Alvis will be majoring in Health and Fitness Management with a minor in Business, adding that she has ambitions of opening her own fitness gym someday.

Votendahl lost for season

Danielle Votendahl wore many hats for the Edison softball team this year.

She had a walk-off home run against Fountain Valley in the teams’ first meeting.

The senior split time between pitching and playing shortstop. Lately, she had been attempting to pitch with a sprained right ring finger.

The injury required surgery over spring break, ending Votendahl’s senior season.

Andrew.Turner@latimes.com

Twitter: @ProfessorTurner