Stone Applies New Mental Approach

It was the first real challenge Woodbridge High sprinter Meryl Stone faced last season, but it wouldn’t have mattered whom she was racing against. When an anxiety attack hit midway through the 100-meter dash, anybody could have beaten her.

Stone was leading Santa Margarita sophomore Meghan Atkinson by a step in their Sea View League dual meet last April, when her entire body suddenly flexed, both arms shot up, her vision grew foggy, and her breathing began to labor. Atkinson quickly blew past Stone, who somehow made it to the finish line.

“It was the scariest thing, I really couldn’t move. I kept going, but I totally tightened up,” Stone said. “The whole day I was nervous for some reason and I didn’t know why. At a meet before that I had gotten like that too, but I kind of shrugged it off. I got in the blocks and I started running and I freaked out. It was really weird.”

Fortunately for Stone, that experience has not reoccurred and the loss was the only one against an Orange County opponent last season. In fact, two days later she defeated Atkinson in a competitive field at the Orange County Championships and again a month later at the Sea View League finals. Stone’s accomplishments earned her all-county in both events.

“I’m so proud that I came back from that because a lot of people would have easily fallen apart,” Stone said. “It’s not worth it to do that to myself. I really need to calm down and not freak out so much.”

Stone, who also won an Orange County title in the 200, later finished second in the 200 and third in the 100 at the Southern Section Division II finals. With a new mental approach and some talented returning sprinters--including Atkinson--to push her, Stone has high expectations for her senior year.

“I have big goals,” Stone said. “Break the county record in the 100 and 200 and win CIF, like I should have last year.”

In the 100, Stone will be chasing a record time of 11.99 seconds set by former teammate Jackie Dix in 1997. Stone’s personal best of 12.08 puts that mark in reach, and her wind-aided PR in the 200 (24.47) is also close to the record legal time of 24.39 set in 1984 by University’s Annette Rogers (Michelle Kelly of Irvine ran 24.51 over 220 yards in 1979, which converts to 24.37 over 200 meters).

Stone got a glimpse, albeit from behind, of what it takes to have a sensational season. During Stone’s sophomore year, she not only watched Dix set the county record, but also witnessed Dix win Southern Section titles in the 100, 200 and both relays.

“I was running behind her pretty close and she won all four events, so that was such a good example for me,” Stone said. “Last year I didn’t have anyone on the team to push me quite the way that we fed off each other. But this year, there are a lot of pretty good freshmen that can run with me and push me during practice as much as I need to be pushed.”

In addition to Atkinson, there are a handful of other sprinters in the county who should keep Stone on her toes. One of those is Santa Ana Valley sophomore Crystal Davis, who came out of anonymity to finish third in the 200 and fourth in the 100 at the Division II finals.

“I really want to win CIF, but there’s always going to be people that are going to come in [and create competition],” Stone said. “I didn’t even know who [Davis] was until CIF. But it’s good to have that kind of competition to push you. You don’t have to go to these other meets, like Arcadia, to get that.”

Stone was a soccer player who decided to try track. Her top time in the 100 as a freshman was 13.3.

“She’s such as hard-working young lady,” Woodbridge Coach George Varvas said. “She pays a lot of detail to form and understands the body mechanics of sprinting. She also knows that her December workouts will pay off in May.”

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PRESEASON TOP 10

1. Esperanza, Strength lies in numbers.

2. Santa Margarita, Shanklin & Co. not far behind.

3. Mission Viejo, Just look at its history.

4. Brea Olinda, Won’t surprise anyone this year.

5. Woodbridge, Not much separates Nos. 1 through 5.

6. Edison, Not to be overlooked in league.

7. El Modena, Juanita Lawson adds to depth.

8. Newport Harbor, Strong in all jumps and distance.

9. Capistrano Valley, Returns key athletes from last 2 years.

10. Foothill, Closing in on El Modena.