Expect the Unexpected at Orange County Meet
Not much is predictable about the Orange County Championships, which take place Saturday at Trabuco Hills High.
In the boys’ events, many of the top athletes are seasoned competitors, but others are coming on strong only recently, leaving the outcomes of many individual races--and the team title--in doubt.
“It’s going to be real close,” said Tustin Coach Tom Coffey, whose mock scoring sheet has his Tillers finishing second to Santa Margarita. “Something as simple as a dropped baton could make the difference for a team.”
In recent competitions, teams have benefited from having elite, multiple-event athletes who single-handedly racked up a majority of the points.
Mark Gleason practically won Mission Viejo’s first county title by himself in 1998, winning the 800, 1,600 and 3,200 meters in one of the meet’s best-ever performances. The same day, Mission Viejo sisters Ashley and Dana Bethel combined for 30 points to help the Diablos clinch their sixth girls’ title.
Last season, Santa Margarita’s Amanda Shanklin scored 26 of her team’s 48 points, leading the Eagles to a one-point victory over Esperanza.
But the parity that’s taken over much of the boys’ competition this season favors any team with depth. A lot of attention will be paid to the second- through sixth-place finishers, the remaining slots in the championship scoring system.
Tustin has the depth to make a run at the title Saturday. The Tillers have seven athletes with one of the county’s top six marks in nine individual events, as well as a 400 relay team that ranks among the county’s best. Only Santa Margarita has similar depth.
“We see Tustin ahead of us,” Santa Margarita Coach Dave Zeitler said, “but we think we have a chance if everybody comes through.”
Alonso Smith offers Tustin its best chance at a first-place finish. The junior ran a county-leading time of 1 minute 55.42 seconds in the 800 meters at the Surf City Invitational last month. He will be challenged by defending county champion Augie Escobar of Villa Park and Katella’s Tony Lozano, who finished third in the event at the state finals last season.
Smith is also entered in a competitive 1,600 field, which includes Esperanza’s Ryan Bousquet, who ran a nation-leading 4:09.37 at the FloJo Memorial Arcadia Invitational Saturday.
The Tillers also hope to score points in the sprints through the efforts of senior Allen Shumate, a late bloomer who has the county’s fifth-fastest electronic time in the 100 (11.33) and third-best in the 200 (22.18).
The dashes are also key events for Santa Margarita, whose top sprinter, Scott Langford, injured a hamstring during the Irvine Invitational last month and was only recently granted medical clearance to resume running.
Tustin also has one of the county’s top long jumpers in sophomore Denny Casupanan, who jumped a county-leading 22-4 at the Surf City meet. Tiller Dillon Hayes improved his personal best in the discus by nine feet with a 174-0 throw at Arcadia and is second among county throwers this season. Teammates Michael Colby (110 hurdles), Zach Bell (triple jump) and Alex Marbley (high jump) rank among the top five in their events.
CLEAR SAILING?
The Newport Harbor girls’ team hopes to follow the same route the boys’ team did last season, when the Sailors won their first team title in 22 years thanks to four runner-up and three other top-five finishes.
Newport Harbor is anchored by junior Amber Steen, who leads the county in the 1,600 (4:58.38) and is second in the 800 (2:17.53) and 3,200 (10:54.4). Krista Dill also has a top county mark in the shotput (41-10 1/2), and a second-best mark in the discus (131-1).
Affecting Newport Harbor’s title chances is the fate of Orange’s team. Because of disciplinary problems, Panther Coach Don Burnette said he is leaning toward keeping his girls’ and boys’ teams home. If that happens, that would mean standout sprinter Patrice Donaldson would not participate, opening the door for Newport Harbor’s Amy Burlingham to score some pivotal points in the 100 and 200.
Corona del Mar is expected to pile up points in the middle-distance events behind Liz Morse and Jenny Cummins. Morse is the defending county champion in the 400 and 800 and appears untouchable in those events among county runners. She ran a nation-leading 2:09.40 in the 800 at the Arcadia meet and also has the county’s fastest time in the 400 (56.18).
Cummins has the second-fastest time in the 400 (59.07) and third-best in the 800 (2:17.53). Corona del Mar’s title hopes could depend on how well it performs in the field events.
MEET CONFLICT
Because the prestigious Mt. San Antonio College Invitational will also be held Saturday, many coaches and athletes had to make a difficult decision regarding where they would compete.
El Modena Coach John Ahearn said Dwayne McCabe will skip the Orange County pole vault competition in favor of Mt. SAC. McCabe currently has the third-best mark in the county in the event (14-6). Ahearn also said discus thrower Samantha Meredith will opt for Mt. SAC. Meredith has the county’s fourth-best mark in that event (126-5).
If you have an item or idea for the prep track and field report, you can fax us at (714) 966-5663 or e-mail us at dan.arritt@latimes.com