Coaches Are Cross Over Race

It was a cross-country meet that turned into a running battle Wednesday at Laguna Niguel Regional Park, and it left the Mission Viejo and Dana Hills coaches crying foul.

Coach Gene Gurule of Mission Viejo, the home team, said he was acting as the meet director when he awarded his team the 28-29 South Coast League victory.

“My kid, David Santos was on the heels of Devin Lindahl and was about to move up,” Gurule said. “That’s when the Dana Hills kid grabbed Santos by the jersey and pulled him back. You can’t do that, so I ejected the Dana Hills runner from the meet.”

The second violation, which turned out to be the determining factor in the Mission Viejo victory, was when a Dana Hills runner allegedly cut the course.

“He [Dana Hills Coach Tim Butler] even admitted that his kid cut the course,” Gurule said. “You just can’t cut the course like that. It’s not fair.”

Butler was shocked upon learning of Gurule’s decision from a reporter.

“You can’t do that,” Butler said. “You can’t go by a kid’s hearsay. There were no marshals on the course to verify if that happened. It’s just not right.”

Butler said his runner had cut the course because Mission Viejo runners got in his way. “He had to run around them and that was clearly a violation,” Butler said.

Butler said what is even more infuriating is that Gurule had congratulated him after the meet on his victory and handed him the score sheet, which showed Dana Hills as the winner.

According to the Southern Section rule, Article III, Section III, the meet referee or director has the final say concerning disqualifications. In Article II, Section VI, the meet referee will make the final rules in regard to interference between two runners.

“I’m going to appeal this. This is just too outrageous,” Butler said.

Mission Viejo’s Mark Gleeson finished first in 16 minutes 9 seconds.

In another South Coast League meet:

Mater Dei 19, San Clemente 41--Michael Zepeda from Mater Dei (1-0, 1-0) finished first in 16:05. Iman Ghasri of San Clemente (0-1, 0-1) was second in 16:12.

In the Century League:

Santa Ana Valley 19, El Modena 42--Senior Manuel Estrada was first for Santa Ana Valley (2-0) in 15:10 on the three-mile Centennial Park course. Teammate George Guttierz was second.

In South Coast League girls’ cross-country:

Dana Hills 21, Mission Viejo 34--Sydney Leonard of Dana Hills (1-0) ran 19:07 at Laguna Niguel Park to win the meet. Teammate Michelle Smith was second in 19:13.

In nonleague girls’ tennis:

Newport Harbor 13, Mater Dei 5--Newport Harbor’s No. 1 doubles’ team of Emily Barker and Brooke Taylor remained undefeated, winning their 15th doubles match this season.

Barker and Taylor, both seniors, defeated Elana Klau and Erin Herrel, 6-4, Terri Mansour and Megan Strenich, 6-0 and Meo Walker and Karen Vigen, 6-1. Newport Harbor (8-0), is ranked second in the county. Mater Dei (5-3) is eighth.

Dana Hills 18, Marina 0--Summer Tantee swept at No. 1 singles, 6-1, 6-0, 6-1, for sixth-ranked Dana Hills. Marina is 1-7.

Irvine 16, Connelly 2--Sarah Denson swept at No. 1 singles, 6-1, 6-0, 6-0, for No. 10 Irvine (7-2).

In nonleague volleyball:

Cypress 3, Villa Park 0--Michelle Woiemberghe had 14 kills to lead Cypress (2-1) in its 15-7, 16-14, 15-6 victory.

Saddleback 3, Costa Mesa 0--Elsa Melgoza had seven kills in a victory for Saddleback (2-3), 15-6, 15-12, 15-8.

In nonleague water polo:

Marina 7, La Habra 5--Jeff Larson and Justin Fassnacht scored three goals each to lead Marina (4-2).