TUSTIN RELAYS : Parlin Wins Two Events Despite Injury

A sore foot didn’t stop Mark Parlin of Esperanza on Friday at the Tustin Relays.

Although Parlin, a senior, hurt his left heel in an Empire League dual meet Thursday against Loara, he came back Friday to win the shotput and discus. Parlin, who leads Orange County in both events with marks of 64 feet 5 1/2 inches and 186-2, respectively, threw 59-6 3/4 in the shotput and 183-4 3/4 in the discus during the field portion of the relays at Tustin High School.

“It bothered me a little bit, especially in the shotput,” Parlin said about the injury, which Coach Bill Pendleton described as a bone bruise. “But I was going to come to the meet no matter what because we had a chance to win as a team.”

It was the first time this season Parlin threw shorter than 60 feet in the shot, but his closest competitor Friday was Tustin’s Chris Santori, who threw 51-10. Parlin’s winning mark in the discus moved him into second on the relays’ all-time list. Mike Bain of Corona del Mar holds the record at 189-10 1/2, which was set in 1987.

In other events, Marina’s Vince Vu won the pole vault at 13-6, defeating University’s Andrew Middleditch, who finished at 13-0 after failing to clear 13-6. Vu, a senior who cleared 14-3 in last season’s Sunset League finals, failed three times at 14-0 in Friday’s competition, which lasted past 7 p.m.

“I was tired and hungry,” Vu said. “And I was surprised I made it because I felt myself slow down so much.”