Corona del Mar Boys Win Cross-Country Meet

With sophomore Eddie Lavelle leading the way, the Corona del Mar boys’ cross-country team scored an impressive 60 points to win Division II at the Dana Hills Invitational at Dana Hills High School Saturday.

Lavelle finished the three-mile course in 14 minutes 51 seconds, breaking the sophomore course record of 15:30 set by Greg Lamb of Mission Viejo in 1985. Lavelle was followed by teammates Greg Shryock in third (15:10), Paul Scott in fifth (15:38) and John Carmicheal in ninth (15:58). Saturday’s competition was divided into three divisions, with schools with largest enrollments in Division I and ones with the smallest enrollments in Division III.

Christopher Lugo of Valencia had the day’s best time with a 14:39 finish in the senior section of Division II. That broke the course record of 14:52 set in 1980.

“I wanted to push it up the hills every time,” Lugo said. “I stayed in the middle of the pack until the half-mile, then decided to pull away. I don’t like to jinx myself by saying I’m going to win a race before it starts, but I (felt) pretty confident today.”

The Valencia seniors also scored an impressive team victory over Tustin, 58-109.

“We ran well, but we’re working really hard right now,” said Valencia Coach Mike Cummins. “We’re ranked second in CIF (2-A Southern Section, behind Walnut) and we’ll have to bring our guys’ times closer together to be able to win it.”

In the girls’ divisions, sophomore Kira Jorgensen of Vista won her Division I race in 17:11 despite taking two wrong turns. Vista Coach Ed Mathews believed that Jorgensen lost at least 10 seconds in her efforts to get back on course.

“Kira ran the whole way alone,” he said. “She just gets into the race so much that she didn’t even notice until the (crowd’s) volume woke her up. She did well in spite of it, though.”

In Division II, senior Nichole Nugent of Torrey Pines established a course record for girls (16:58). Her time broke the record of 17:09 set by Sherrie Smith of Woodbridge in 1985.

Boys’ Top Finishers

Division I--Senior: Haissam Sabra, Ocean View (14:51); Jr. Shannon Winkelman, Marina (14:42); Soph. Marco Oceguera, Rubidoux (14:49). Division II--Sr. Christopher Lugo, Valencia (14:39); Jr. G. Lamb, Mission Viejo (15:02); Soph. Ed Lavelle (14:51); Fr. S. Ayres, Los Altos (16:24). Division III--Sr. C. Hobson, Costa Mesa (15:01); Jr. Pestwich, Hemet (15:22); Soph. Steve Niednagei, Capo Valley Christian (15:30); Fr. J. Carney, Yuccipah (16:23).

Boys’ Top Teams

Div. I--Sr. Vista 101; Jr. Rolling Hills 85; Soph. Upland 33; Fr. Fountain Valley 74. Div. II--Sr. Valencia 58; Jr. Mission Viejo 66; Soph. Corona del Mar 40; Fr. Corona del Mar 61. Div. III--Sr. Costa Mesa 52; Jr. Woodbridge 62; Soph. Barstow 70; Fr. San Marino 86.

Girls’ Top Finishers

Division I--Jr/Sr. Suzette Basore, Pasadena, (17:38); Soph. Kira Jorgensen, Vista (17:12); Fr. Andrea Calderon, Ocean View (19:33). Division II--Jr/Sr: Nichole Nugent, (16:58); Soph. Sandra Ruffini, Newport Harbor (18:16); Fr. K. Robinson, N.H. (18:34). Div. III--Sr./Jr: D. Pettit, San Marino (18:05); Fr/Soph: C. Peck, Woodbridge (18:54).

Girls’ Top Teams

Div. I--Jr/Sr: Santa Ana 98; Soph. El Toro 95; Fr. Rolling Hills 81. Div.II--Jr./Sr: Laguna Beach 78; Soph. Dana Hills 51; Fr. Tustin 52. Div.III--Jr./Sr: La Quinta 45; Soph/Fr: Woodbridge 68.