TRACK AND FIELD / ORANGE COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIPS : Oettinger Is Foothill’s Ace, Finishing First in Four Events

Tara Oettinger’s four-of-a-kind outplayed every trump card thrown her way Saturday at the Orange County Championships track and field meet at Trabuco Hills High School.

The Foothill junior won four individual events while leading the Knights to a second-place finish in the team competition.

Oettinger began the day by posting a winning long jump of 18 feet 2 1/2 inches into a sizable head wind. The 400 meters, the event she has the least experience in, followed soon after.

Again, Oettinger did not disappoint, striding away from the field to win in 57.72, the county’s fastest time of the year and a personal best by three seconds.

“I just tried to stay with the fastest girl in the heat,” Oettinger said.

“I didn’t want to do it today because I was afraid it would affect my 200,” she said.

But it didn’t hurt. Oettinger won the 200 in a wind-aided 25.17 and also the 100 (12.43) and was selected sprinter of the meet.

Despite her efforts, the Knights could not catch eventual team champion Esperanza, which scored 78 points. Foothill finished with 56.

The Foothill boys’ team did win, beating Woodbridge, 55-47.

The Knights were sparked by victories from John Bain (pole vault), Ethan Taub (800 meters) and Tony Garcia (110 high hurdles), in addition to a 3:20.45 winning time in the 1,600-meter relay.

Woodbridge seniors Gary Young and Tony Muniz powered the Warriors into second, each scoring in two individual events and one relay.

Young defended his titles in the 100 and 200, winning in 10.76 and a wind-aided 21.60.

“I’ve been working on my turn,” said Young, who outdueled Orange’s Jeff Williams down the stretch. “If it came down to it, I wasn’t going to let him pass me.”

Young moved up to 12th on the all-time county list with his performance in the 100.

Muniz finished second in the long jump (21-10), fourth in the triple jump (45-0) and ran the third leg on the Warriors’ runner-up 1,600 relay team.

Other highlights included:

--Edison’s Julie Koudelka held off late-charging Tiffany Boykin of Laguna Hills to win the 800 in 2:16.41. Boykin was timed in 2:17.63.

--Esperanza junior Courtney Pugmire, voted the meet’s outstanding distance runner, outkicked teammate Carrie Caulkins to win the 1,500 in 4:41.98.

--Orange senior Jaime Martinez further established his claim as the county’s leading distance runner, dominating the 1,500 (3:56.89) and 3,000 (8:38.94).

--Tustin junior Reggie Curry rode the wind to a personal best 49-8 1/2 in the triple jump, winning by more than four feet.

--Saddleback brother combination Mel and Matt Lete swept the 300 intermediate hurdles, Mel taking first in 38.52; his twin, Matt, took second in 39.16.

--Esperanza’s Kristi Kierulff won the high jump (5-8 3/4) and was second in the long jump (17-9) and was selected field-event performer of the meet.

--Canyon senior Troy Langley, who leads the county at 6-10 1/4, won the high jump (6-6).