Newport Harbor’s Three Jumpers in State Meet

Newport Harbor’s high jumpers made history at the Masters meet Friday at Cerritos College. Tina Bowman, Misty May and Michaela Ross each advanced to the State meet next week, and each had to clear 5 feet 8 inches to do it.

Bowman, a sophomore, tied Tracye Lawyer of Carpinteria Cate at 5-8. Ross, a senior, was fourth, also at 5-8. May, a sophomore, cleared 5-8 twice in a jump-off to defeat Darci Morrison of Laguna Hills for the fifth and final qualifying spot.

It’s only the second time in the history of the Masters meet that three athletes from the same school qualified for the State meet in the same event. The first time was earlier Friday, when Inglewood Morningside had three runners advance in the girls’ 400 meters.

The marks were personal bests for May and Ross. Bowman has cleared 5-9 1/4, the top jump in the Southern Section this year.

Kristy Kierulff of Esperanza, the State champion last year, cleared 5-4, then passed to 5-6 but missed all three attempts and finished ninth.