Local Athletes Ready to Chase Division Titles

Orange County track and field athletes have dealt with less-than-ideal weather conditions all season, so they should be prepared for the Southern Section championships Saturday at Cerritos College.

Cool temperatures and a chance of showers are predicted for the event, which begins with the girls’ pole vault at 10:30 a.m.

The county’s best shot at individual and team titles should be in Division II, where 13 athletes and all four relay teams had the top qualifying marks.

Brea Olinda junior Claude Melvin is the favorite to win the 100 and 200 in Division II and local athletes should sweep the distance events. Santa Ana senior Alfonso Leon tripped and fell during the 1,600 last weekend and didn’t finish among the top nine qualifying spots, but was later added to the field by section officials.

Santa Ana Valley and Santa Margarita have a chance to win team titles in the girls’ Division II competition. Santa Ana Valley sophomore Crystal Davis had the top qualifying mark in the 100 (12.12), and was also on the 400 and 1,600 relay teams, which also produced the top qualifying marks.

Santa Margarita senior Amanda Shanklin qualified in the long jump, triple jump and both hurdles, junior Meghan Atkinson had the top qualifying mark in the 400 and freshman Sommer Owen ran the fastest qualifying time in the 800 (2:14.73).

Esperanza junior Travis Pendleton will be trying for his second consecutive Division I title in the discus. Huntington Beach senior Sam Lightbody is also expected to be among the top throwers.

Mission Viejo sophomore Dana Bethel has the best shot at a girls’ Division I title. Bethel had the second-fastest qualifying time in the 100 hurdles (14.12) and fifth-best mark in the long jump (17-9 1/2).

In Division III, University’s Allyson Marquand dropped out of the 1,600, but is still entered in the 3,200. Marquand has a State Cup championship soccer game at 3 p.m. in San Juan Capistrano and is hoping to make it back to Cerritos in time for the 3,200 scheduled at 5:30 p.m.