Nelson, Furst Turn Up Heat in Division III 800 Meters

When Brea Olinda’s Maika Nelson and Laguna Hills’ Ashley Furst chose to concentrate on the 800 meters during Friday’s Southern Section Division III preliminaries at Veterans Stadium in Long Beach, they made the event at next weekend’s divisional championships twice as competitive.

Both passed on the 400 meters, even though Furst has the county’s fastest time (57.10 seconds) and Nelson the fifth best (58.65), to focus on qualifying for the 800 at Cerritos College next Saturday.

Nelson won her heat easily while posting the top qualifying time of 2:14.31, more than seven seconds ahead of second-place finisher Michelle Basanda of Dana Hills (2:21.70). Jen Hall of University was third (2:22.42) and Furst fourth (2:22.48).

“The 400 was my favorite race, but I think the 800 presents me with a better chance of advancing,” Furst said.

Nelson, who placed eighth in the 800 at the state meet last year, also thinks she has a better chance of improving that result if she concentrates on one event. Although four athletes who finished ahead of Nelson in the state meet were underclassmen, including Corona del Mar’s Liz Morse, one of those competitors is no longer a factor.

Angelita Green of Long Beach Wilson, who finished second in state, was disqualified from the 800 after cutting out of her lane too early during last week’s Moore League finals. The disqualification prevents her from competing in the event in the postseason.

“I really want to focus on the 800,” said Nelson, who ran a personal-best 2:14.15 last season. “I’ve been training better than I’ve been racing this season, so I just wanted to get out as fast as possible today.”

Another runner who appears to be peaking at the right time is University’s Allyson Marquand, who posted the top time in the 1,600 (5:10.20) and the second fastest in the 3,200 (11:03.09).

Sunny Hills’ Sunny Nicholas qualified second in the 100 hurdles (15.78) and fourth in 300 hurdles (46.16), but suffered a foot injury while winning her heat and posting the fourth best time in the 300 hurdles.

Antoinette Herrera of Los Amigos had the top mark in the girls’ discus (123 feet 11), and Alain Nicasio of Aliso Niguel had the best mark in the boys’ long jump (21-9).