GIRLS’ TRACK / SOUTHERN SECTION CHAMPIONSHIPS : Esperanza’s Pugmire Dominates Distance Races

For Esperanza senior Courtney Pugmire, winning races is becoming second nature, no matter how fast she must run.

The Aztec standout won the Division I 1,600 and 3,200 meters, turning back the area’s finest distance runners at the Southern Section track and field championships Saturday at Cerritos College.

Pugmire, the defending Division II champion in the 800 and 1,600, used a blistering kick over the final 100 meters of each race to best Agoura’s Amy Skieresz and come away a double victor.

“If I’m still in the race with 400 meters to go, and it’s a distance race, I know my kick will get me there,” the Brigham Young-bound standout said.

Pugmire posted personal bests in both races, winning the 1,600 in 4 minutes 51.33 seconds, then outdueled Skieresz again to win the 3,200 in 10:38.46.

“She’s such a great runner, and has been for such a long time, that if I lost to her, I’d still be happy with myself,” added Pugmire, who advanced as the top qualifier in both events for Firday’s Master’s Meet.

The top nine athletes in each event, no matter the division, advance to the State qualifying meet, the Master’s, at Cerritos College this week.

Saturday also marked the re-emergence of Foothill senior Tara Oettinger, who has been suffering from lower back injuries all spring.

The defending State champion in the long jump, Oettinger has not jumped over 18 feet until the section finals.

Oettinger leaped over 19 feet three times Saturday, winning the Division II title with a best of 9 feet 5 1/4 inches and advanced to the Master’s Meet.

Kelly O’Conner of Esperanza and Kerry O’Bric of Edison, both juniors, continued their duel in the triple jump. O’Conner again won after coming from behind.

O’Conner, the county and Sunset League champion, edged O’Bric with a 39-6 1/4 leap, although the Charger jumped 39 feet. O’Bric qualified in the long jump earlier with an 18-9 1/2 effort.

Four of the nine qualifying spots in the girls’ 100-meter hurdles represented county schools, led by Mission Viejo freshman Ashley Bethel, who ran a wind-aided personal best 14.28 to finish second in the Division III race. Bethel also placed second to Oettinger in the long jump with a seasonal best 19-1.

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Notes

Huntington Beach sophomore Summer Shaw won the 800 meters in 2:14.00.

Meisha Wilson-Duval of Woodbridge won the 400 in Division II in 55.40.

Marina sophomore Sonya Bryant won the Division I shotput with the second-farthest effort of the day, throwing 40-3 to advance. . . . Laguna Hills senior Tiffany Boykin defended her title in the Division III 800, running 2:16.42 to advance.