THE PREPS : TRACK AND FIELD / IRVINE INVITATIONAL : Esperanza Pair Dominates

Esperanza distance runners Carrie Caulkins and Courtney Pugmire ran away with the show Saturday at the Irvine Invitational.

Caulkins, a senior, lowered her county-leading personal record by more than five seconds in winning the 800 meters in 2:14.3.

Pugmire, also a senior, won the 3,200 meters and came back to post county-best performances in the 1,600 and 1,600-meter relay.

The Aztecs won the girls’ team title with 153 points. Santa Margarita was second with 57 points.

For Caulkins, who ran the second leg on the winning 1,600-meter relay team, the 800 was an opportunity to showcase herself at a shorter distance.

Caulkins, a second-team all-county selection in cross-country, turned back ’94 State meet finalists Tiffany Boykin of Laguna Hills and Katie Nuanes of Santa Margarita to win the 800 meters.

“I knew that they hadn’t run the 800 much this year,” Caulkins said. “So, I didn’t really worry about either of them that much.”

Boykin, who later won the 400 meters in 59.8, finished second in 2:19.8. Nuanes was third (2:22.5).

Pugmire, usually more proficient at the shorter distances, ran 11:08.5 to win the 3,200 meters by more than eight seconds. She won the 1,600 in 5:04.0.

Pugmire, the Times Orange County cross-country runner of the year last fall, then anchored the winning 4 x 400 meter relay team (4:03.0).

“I didn’t want to run this much this early, but I am happy with the result,” Pugmire said.

The Aztecs won the girls’ team title with 153 points; Santa Margarita was second (57).

Other Esperanza winners were: junior Kelly O’Connor in the triple jump, with a county-leading leap of 38 feet; senior Kristy Kierulff in the long jump (17-4 1/4); sophomore Christine Ohaeri in the 100-meter low hurdles (15.60) and senior Inshirah Jones in the 300-meter intermediate hurdles (46.82).

Huntington Beach senior Eileen Dunaway ran away with both sprints, taking the 100 in 13.18 and 200 in 26.49.

Esperanza won the boys’ team title with 94 points. El Toro was second (66).

Dana Hills sophomore Bryan Harrison had county-leading marks to win the 100 (1.92) and 200 (22.01).

“My start was pretty much my problem last year,” Harrison said. “So I was pleased with the way it went today.”

Capistrano Valley senior Adalberto Sanchez continued to dominate the county in distance running with a meet-record 9:19.1 in the 3,200 meters. Teammate Jeremiah Lynn had a personal best 52 feet 2 inches to win the shotput.