Orange Lutheran’s Parkinson Wins, Places and Shows in 1-A : Girls: She takes third 800 and second in 1,600 before winning 3,200 to give her team its first title since 1978. Teammate Wright wins two events.

After placing third in the 800, second in the 1,600 and first in the 3,200 meters Friday night at the Southern Section 1-A track and field championships, Amber Parkinson had a revelation.

“I really like running now,” said Parkinson, an Orange Lutheran High School sophomore who’s only in her first year of track.

And running obviously likes Parkinson. The 5-foot-3, 100-pounder has posted several impressive times this season, but Friday night’s performance was something special. She scored 24 of her team’s 76 points to boost Orange Lutheran to the 1-A girls’ title--its first since 1978.

The other big Lancer point-scorer was senior Renee Wright, who won both the 100- and 300-meter hurdles. Unexpected points came from junior Kara Stephens (third in the discus), junior Megan Schulz (second in the high jump) and a second and third place in the triple jump by Kara Theis and Erika Ebel, respectively.

The first stop on Parkinson’s triple was the 1,600, which she finished in 5 minutes 0.82 seconds, just behind winner Nikki Shaw of Fillmore (5:00.00). About an hour later, she ran 2:24.10 in the 800--not her specialty, but anything to help the team, Parkinson said.

When the 3,200 rolled around, Parkinson could have been pooped, but she was pumped--”It’s my race,” she said. She let Fillmore’s Maribella Aparicro set an even pace (they cruised through 800-meter splits of 2:44, 2:43, 2:41 and 2:42), then sped past Aparicro on the final lap to win in a career-best 10:49.87. That time not only bettered her previous best by nearly five seconds, it moved her into the 12th spot on the county’s all-time list.

It was a good night for county distance runners. In other 3,200-meter races, Sunny Hills freshman Carrie Garritson won the 2-A (10:51.68) and Katella’s Martha Pinto was second in the 3-A (10:53.60). Valencia’s Heather Killeen won the 2-A 1,600 (5:06.02) after holding off Palos Verdes’ Nancy Heap in a down-to-the-wire finish, and placed second in the 3,200 (11:09.57).

In the 3-A 1,600, Edison’s Shelley Taylor (4:56.29) was second to Agoura’s Deena Drossin (4:53.86), but Taylor made up for the loss with a victory in the 800. In that race, Taylor started in the back, letting Sunset League rival Christie Engesser of Ocean View set the pace. With a lap to go, Taylor began reeling in her rival, passing her on the final turn to win in 2:12.68.

“I’m happy, I’m happy! Is that enough?” Taylor said as friends tried to rush her off the field after her race to get her to the school prom on time.

Track Notes

Fountain Valley’s Elinor Tolson wasn’t exactly in a festive mood after she placed third in the 3-A 100 hurdles in 14.65, but a victory in the 300 hurdles (43.85) improved her spirits. . . . In the sprints, Los Alamitos’ Cavetra Mitchell was second in both the 3-A 100 (12.08) and 200 (25.03). Mitchell was in fast company--Rio Mesa’s Marion Jones set Southern Section records in both those races and the 400. . . . Mater Dei’s Melissa McDonald showed her versatility by taking third in the 2-A long jump (18 feet 1 1/4 inches) and second in the high jump (5-5) and triple jump (38-1 1/2). The latter event would have been tough to win. Winner Juliana Yendork of Walnut set a national record in the event with a leap of 43-6. . . . Other county event winners included Villa Park’s Beth Byron (5-6 in the 3-A high jump), Mission Viejo’s Heather Sterling (17-4 3/4 in the 4-A long jump) and Edison’s 1,600 relay team (4:03.68).