Despite Forfeits, Marina Girls Can Run in Prelims

The Marina girls’ cross-country team will be allowed to compete in the Southern Section Division II prelims, Southern Section Commissioner Dean Crowley said Wednesday, despite a paperwork error that resulted in the Vikings forfeiting three league victories and a league final finish.

An administrative error in the paperwork for senior Jennifer Spahr, who transferred from Huntington Beach High last fall, was uncovered this week by Marina Athletic Director Larry Doyle. Spahr was the winner in the Sunset League girls’ finals last Saturday.

The transfer eligibility form, which must be completed for an open-enrollment district transfer, was overlooked.

“[Spahr] had been participating all year long and the school didn’t realize that it hadn’t filled out a transfer eligibility form,” Crowley said.

Under section rules, Marina will be allowed to remain in postseason competition because the error was discovered after the regular season had been completed.

“They are forfeiting the whole season but are OK for postseason because once the entries are into CIF, we only deal with the individual,” Crowley said.

The Vikings will forfeit three Sunset League dual-meet victories and their second-place finish in the league finals.

Spahr’s eligibility was reinstated Wednesday by Crowley after his office “received a letter of forfeiture from the school admitting fault in the matter,” he said.

If the matter had come to light before Saturday’s league finals, Marina’s season would be over and Fountain Valley would be heading to the section prelims Saturday at Mt. San Antonio College. But because of the timing of the discovery, most of the Barons will not be running Saturday.

“I was hoping we would get into CIF on our own merits,” Fountain Valley Coach Dan Moran said, “but now for this to happen makes it really unfortunate.”

Fountain Valley will be represented in the Division I prelims by senior Kim Green, who was awarded the league individual title after finishing runner-up to Spahr.