Newport’s Steen Puts Herself in the Running

Amber Steen was no secret heading into the current track and field season.

But a favorite to win the 1,600 meters at tonight’s Arcadia Invitational? Even she would have thought that was a stretch.

“Until this season, I’ve never been considered an outstanding runner,” said Steen, a senior at Newport Harbor High. “Now people are actually saying, ‘Hey, look out for Amber Steen.’ ”

Steen gained national attention by defeating Glendale Hoover’s Anita Siraki three weeks ago at the Meet of Champions Distance Invitational at Azusa Pacific. Steen won the race in 4 minutes 50.1 seconds, covering the final lap in 1:04.9 and setting a meet record. Siraki, the defending state champion in the 3,200, finished second in 4:51.6.

“Now I feel like I can run with these girls,” Steen said of tonight’s talented field. “Beating one of the greatest national runners really boosted my confidence.”

Tonight’s 1,600, which begins at 6:30 p.m., will feature runners with six of the top 11 outdoor times in the nation this season.

Alicia Craig of Campbell County (Wyo.) won the Foot Locker West Regional cross-country championships at Mt. San Antonio College in December. Kelly Otstott of Virginia has a 4:56.28 indoor mile on her resume. Arizona’s Sally Meyerhoff was clocked at 4:56.95 for 1,600 meters two weeks ago. And Alejandra Barrientos of Felton San Lorenzo Valley High also boasts sub-five-minute credentials.

Another county athlete expected to challenge for a title is Tustin senior Alex Marbley in the high jump. Marbley has cleared a state-leading 6 feet 11 1/2 inches twice in the last 10 days.

Last week, he thought he became the fifth athlete from the county to clear 7 feet, but after a remeasuring, the bar proved to be a half-inch short during the meet against Saddleback.

Challenges in the high jump should come from UCLA-bound Chadd Smith of Camarillo, who went 6-10 last season, and junior Jon Wratten of Pasadena High, who went 6-9 two weeks ago.

Woodbridge sophomore Michelle Sanford is entered in the long jump and triple jump. Sanford made herself known at this event last season, finishing third in the triple jump with a mark of 39-7, the second-best effort in the state at the time and fifth-best in county history.

Her main competition in the triple jump will come from Long Beach Poly’s Candice Baucham and NaOnka Mixon. Baucham was runner-up at the recent National Scholastic Indoor Championships in New York City and Mixon was third.

Katella’s Cortney Stafford, who upset Sanford to win the triple jump at the Southern Section Division II finals last spring, is also entered in the invitational event.

Mission Viejo’s Dana Bethel is also entered in the long jump. Bethel went 20-1 at the USATF junior nationals in Denton, Texas last summer.

The sprints were supposed to be another showdown between Trabuco Hills junior Matt Bruno and Edison’s Darryl Poston, but Bruno scratched after injuring a tendon in his knee while weightlifting last week.

Tustin senior Alonso Smith is expected to be near the front in the 800. Smith won Southern Section Division II and Masters titles in the two-lap race, but will have to be at his best to catch Colorado’s James Hatch, who ran 1:52.12 last season, making him the nation’s No. 6 returnee in the event.

Mario Bassani of Irvine is hoping to become the first high school runner from the county to break 48 seconds in the 400 since 1991.

He will have plenty of speedsters to chase, including Jason Lovell of L.A. Cleveland, who ran the one-lap race in 47.43 last year.

Santa Margarita got its boys’ 400 and 1,600 relay teams into the invitational races. Jeff Jacobs, Bobby Braun, Sean Zeitler and Brad Slinkard will team up in the four-lap relay and Scott Langford will replace Jacobs in the short relay. Zeitler is also entered in the invitational 300 hurdles.