Esperanza Girls Finally Get Victory Against Edison

All good things must come to an end, and Esperanza was happy to put a stop to the Edison girls’ winning ways in track and field.

The Chargers have dominated the area in the sport the past decade, last losing a dual meet in 1989, to Marina.

But Esperanza, behind a combined seven victories by senior Corolar White and sophomore Sarah Pfeifer, gave Coach Al Britt his first dual-meet victory, a 73-63 decision, in three tries against Edison since joining the Sunset League. Britt, who has compiled a 15-year record at Esperanza of 87-5, had suffered two losses to the Chargers, once in 1995 and 1996.

“What makes this feel so good is the year that we had [Times Orange County Athlete of the Year Courtney] Pugmire, we lost to them,” said Britt, whose 1995 team won the Orange County title. “That was probably the best team this county has ever seen. To win with this young group feels really good.”

White won four events to lead the Aztecs (1-0). The defending county champion in the 400 meters won her specialty in 1 minute 1.3 seconds, the 200 (27.5) and 800 (2:26.8) and anchored the 1,600-meter relay (4:15.0).

Pfeifer, in her first year of competitive track and field, had a hand in three Esperanza victories. She took advantage when Edison’s Erin Zimmon fell over the final hurdle to win the 300-meter intermediate hurdles in 49.3, then ran on the 400- (51.9) and 1,600-meter relays.

The Chargers stayed close, winning five of six field events.

Senior Jenny Shutt won the shot put (39 feet 9 1/2 inches) in a county-best effort after winning the discus (121-1).

The Edison boys, ranked No. 3 in the county, used strong sprinting and jumping events to beat Esperanza, 81-55.

Ray Bardone won the 100 (11.1) and long jump (21-1), and teammate John Moos won the 200 (23.4) and 400 (51.1).

Cody Jones and Luke Stokes posted county-best marks in winning their respective events for the Chargers.

Jones won the triple jump with a personal best of 44-9; Stokes won the pole vault with a 15-4 effort.

In other Sunset League boys’ meets:

Marina 84, Huntington Beach 47--Huntington Beach’s Scott Moser won the discus with a throw of 207-3, the second best all-time distance in Orange County and the state.

Marina’s Arthur Odden won the high jump (6-2), long jump (21-0), triple jump (43-3) and the pole vault (14-0).

Fountain Valley 83, Los Alamitos 53--John Sanders won the 100, 200, 300 hurdles, and led the winning 400 relay team for Fountain Valley (3-0, 2-0). Travis Vandrovec won the 110 hurdles, pole vault, and anchored the winning 1,600 relay team for Fountain Valley.

In other Sunset League girls’ meets:

Fountain Valley 79, Los Alamitos 54--Kristin Deatherage won the 400, 100 and 300 hurdles, and anchored the winning 400 relay team for Fountain Valley.

Marina 87, Huntington Beach 49--Noel Dula won three events in a victory for fifth-ranked Marina (6-0, 2-0). Dula won the 100 (12.6), 200 (26.6) and the long jump (17-2).