Mission Viejo Event Tops Track Agenda

More than 400 athletes from 18 high schools will compete in the sixth Mission Viejo Girls’ Invitational today at Mission Viejo High School.

The meet, which begins at 9 a.m. with the 300-meter hurdles, will feature such area athletes as Allison Franke of Canyon, last year’s athlete of the meet; and sophomore Melissa McDonald of Mater Dei, who has shown great strengths in sprints, relays and the long jump.

Mission Viejo, the three-time champion, figures to be the team to beat again, though Upland should pose the strongest threat.

Although Mission Viejo sprint sensation Sherri Bertell has graduated, the Diablos have fine talent in the high jump with Lisa Fager, in the hurdles with freshman Andrea Dean, and in the 200 meters, 400 meters and long jump with Allison Axtell.

Also today, the Dana Hills Invitational at Dana Hills High School will feature more than 20 schools from Southern California with enrollments of less than 1,000.

Trabuco Hills, Costa Mesa, Whittier Christian and Orange Lutheran are among the county teams scheduled to compete. Events begin at 9 a.m.

Corona del Mar’s boys team, led by senior distance standouts Eddie Lavelle and Greg Shryock, will travel to Mt. San Antonio College for the Bishop Amat Relays.

Edison’s boys team will travel to UCLA for the Beverly Hills Invitational.