Hoernig Gets High Marks in Pole Vault

Foothill pole vaulter Erica Hoernig had a change of plans after the Southern Section Division II track and field preliminaries Saturday at UC Riverside.

The senior again broke her Orange County record and matched the top prep mark in the nation, prompting her to reevaluate her goals. The senior vaulted 11 feet 8 inches, the day’s top qualifying height.

The top nine athletes in each event advance to next Saturday’s section finals at Cerritos College.

“Now [my goal is] 12 feet,” Hoernig said. “At the beginning of the year it was 10.”

Hoernig jumped 10-9 to win the county title, then 11-5 1/4 to win the Century League title.

Matt Blasdel of Santa Margarita was among the top qualifiers in three individual events. He had times of 15.11 seconds and 39.70 to win his heat in the 110-meter high and 300-meter intermediate hurdles. The senior also finished third in his 400 heat, running 49.86 to advance.

His teammates Matt Baier, Billy Newman, Matt Nickels and Tim Fitzgerald had the top time in the 400 relay (42.31). That also is the top time by a county team this season.

The El Toro boys’ 1,600 relay team of Ryan Conzelman, Ed Pollick, Jose Lopez and Tad Kaput also set a county mark, running 3:23.55 to win the heat and advance.

County athletes swept the top three spots in the boys’ shotput as Dan Noll of El Toro (53 feet 11 1/2 inches), Rich Nichols of Corona del Mar (53-2 1/4) and John O’Neil of Santa Margarita (52- 3/4) advanced.

Mission Viejo sophomore Ashley Bethel posted the top mark in the long jump (18-4). She also won her heats in the 100 hurdles (14.58) and 200 (25.19) and qualified in the high jump with a leap of 5-4.

Katie Nuanes of Santa Margarita won heats in the 800 (2:18.95) and 1,600 (5:05.92) and anchored the Eagles’ winning 1,600 relay team.

Heaven Yoshino of Woodbridge was a heat winner in the 400 (58.96) and 300 intermediate hurdles (46.86) and was the lead leg on the winning 1,600 relay team.

* RESULTS: C16