Tustin Relays : Allison Franke Leads Canyon to Meet Records and the Championship

Allison Franke helped Canyon High School set meet records in three events to lead the Comanches to the girls’ team championship in the 29th Tustin Relays Saturday at Tustin High School.

Franke, who came into Saturday’s meet with this season’s best discus throw (149-feet 10-inches) in the Southern Section, shattered that mark with the state’s second best toss (155-8) of the season. That mark gave the Comanche team of Franke, her sister Megan and Janet Wiederholt a combined effort of 353 feet, breaking the meet record of 314-1 3/4 set by Tustin in 1985.

Only Bakersfield’s Melissa Weis (160-10) has a better discus throw among California high school girls this season.

“My throw today could have gone 165 feet if it had any height to it,” Franke said. “When I let it go, I thought it was going to go only 135 feet because I threw it so low, but the throw had so much speed to it that it just kept traveling beyond that point.”

Franke also helped the Comanches set meet records in the long and triple jumps. In the triple jump, she turned in a personal best of 37-10 as she teamed with Nicky Johnson and Claire Whelan for a 106-2 performance.

West Covina was second at 99-11, followed by Brea-Olinda at 95-9.

The old triple jump team record of 100-11 was set in 1985 by Indio.

In the long jump, Franke, who had a 16-foot leap, combined with Sheila Green and Whelan for a 48-9 3/4 team effort.

Tustin was second at 46-3 1/2 and West Covina third at 45-11.

The old record of 47-2 was established by Tustin in 1985.

“I gave Allison the choice of whether she wanted to compete with the team at Tustin or whether she wanted to compete instead in the Mt. Carmel Invitational (also held Saturday),” said Mike Sayward, Canyon coach. “She chose to come to Tustin because she wanted to help the team set some records, and I’m glad she did. I’m really proud of her.”

Canyon won the girls’ team championship with 87 points. Tustin was second with 50 points and West Torrance third with 46 points.

South Pasadena won the boys’ team competition with 55 points. Irvine was second with 48 points, followed by Long Beach Millikan with 43 points.

In other events:

--The Laguna Hills boys’ distance medley team of Tony Gibney, Scott Fields, Brad Prescott and Steve Frisone won in 11 minutes 0.8 seconds. Huntington Beach was second at 11:05.3, followed by Irvine at 11:15.1.

--The Tustin girls’ shuttle hurdles team won in 1:09.1. West Torrance held off a strong anchor leg by Canyon’s Allison Franke for second at 1:09.2. Canyon was third at 1:09.3.

--The Mater Dei girls’ two-mile relay team of Claudine Moreno, Nicole Simms, Kelly Flathers and Lynn Hagen won in 10:02.2. Irvine finished second at 10:14.2, followed by Ventura’s 10:21.3.