Corona del Mar’s Bain Falls Short, Doesn’t Qualify for Discus Final

Michael Bain of Corona del Mar High School, who had the No. 2 mark in the state this year in the discus, failed to qualify for today’s finals in the state high school track and field championships.

Bain finished 10th Friday at Hughes Stadium, one spot too low, with one throw of 166-5 and two fouls. His best mark this year was 189-feet 10-inches. Among those advancing was Rich Brown of Mission Viejo, whose best of 170-4 was nearly three feet off his seasonal best but still good for sixth in qualifying.

In the girls’ discus, Allison Franke of Canyon had the third-best throw of the day at 138-6, behind two freshmen from Bakersfield High, Melissa Weis (143-2) and Dawn Dumble (138-11). It was Franke’s lifetime best by two inches.

Kaleaph Carter and Doug Blanchard of Edison qualified in the shotput. Carter had the top mark of the day at 62- 1/2 and Blanchard was No. 8 with a 56-11.

Nick-John Haiduc of Servite advanced in the 800 meters, running a season-best 1:53.81 for third place in the first heat.

Six days after returning from a 10-day bout with pneumonia, with his legs rusty and heavy, he will be chasing a victory and a scholarship to USC for football and track. The first is highly unlikely, as five people here have better times, and the second is highly unknown.

A good showing today and he figures the scholarship will be his. A disappointing run will probably get a disappointing answer.

“It’s a lot of pressure,” he said after Saturday’s race. “My future is riding on one race now, so . . . I don’t know. It’s going to be tough, but that’s what competition is all about. I’ve just got to bite the bullet.”