Amber Parkinson

School: Orange Lutheran High

Sport: Track and field

Events: 3,200, 1,600 and 800 meters

Class: Sophomore

Parkinson, in her first season of track and field, posted an impressive triple Saturday to help her team win its first Southern Section 1-A title since 1978. Parkinson won the 3,200 meters, finished second in the 1,600 and third in the 800, contributing 24 of Orange Lutheran’s 76 points, as the Lancers easily outdistanced second-place Pius X (58). It was the third time this season that Parkinson has run the three events in a single meet. She started with a personal best of 5:00.82 to finish second in the 1,600. She then finished third in the 800 (2:24.10)--her weakest event--and about an hour later won her specialty, the 3,200, with a personal best 10:49.87. It was the second fastest time of the day and the 12th fastest in Orange County history. “We’ve been training really hard preparing for this since the season started,” Orange Lutheran Coach Jonathan Zimmerman said. “So we’re peaking where we want to peak.”

Other top performers:

Elicia Chad, who pitched a no-hitter and drove in two runs in Cypress’ 3-0 victory over Garden Grove and pitched a two-hitter in beating Marina, 2-0, in 5-A playoff games.

Cheryl Longeway, who pitched a perfect game with 18 strikeouts for Kennedy in a 8-0 victory over Paramount in a 5-A wild-card game.

Rae Rice, who struck out 22 as Fountain Valley defeated Loara, 3-2, in a 5-A wild-card game and pitched a two-hit shutout in a 4-0 first-round victory over Cerritos.

Elinor Tolson, who won the 300-meter hurdles (43.85) and finished third in the 100-meter hurdles (14.65) in the section 3-A championships for Fountain Valley.

Renee Wright, who won the section 1-A 100- and 300-meter hurdles in times of 15.19 and 46.47 for Orange Lutheran.