Irvine’s Bassani Qualifies Despite Stinging Setback

Irvine High senior Mario Bassani expected the competition to make his weekend difficult at the state track and field finals.

But a honeybee?

Turns out that was Bassani’s biggest obstacle during the preliminaries Friday at Sacramento College. A bee flew into his mouth as he rounded the final curve in his 400-meter heat and stung him on the tip of his tongue.

The initial shock and ensuing pain caused Bassani, the state leader in the event, to lose the lead to Carson’s Damaine Reed, but it didn’t keep Bassani out of today’s final. Bassani crossed the line second in 47.82 seconds, slightly off his state-leading time of 47.01, but good enough to be among the top nine qualifiers.

“That’s one in a million,” Bassani said of his collision with the bee.

Other than that unfortunate meeting, most county athletes performed up to expectations.

Trabuco Hills junior Matt Bruno won his 100-meter heat in a wind-aided 10.50, the third-fastest qualifying time behind Phillip Francis of Los Angeles Fairfax and Carlos Moore of Inglewood Morningside, both at 10.48.

Newport Harbor’s Chris McMillen and Corona del Mar’s Josh Yelsey qualified in the boys’ 1,600. In the first heat, McMillen made his move with about 400 meters to go, passing several runners and then settling into second behind Big Bear’s Ryan Hall. Carmichael Jesuit’s Brandon Collins blew past McMillen coming out of the curve, but McMillen held off Piedmont’s Tom Phelps for third. McMillen finished in 4:17.99, the slowest time among the nine qualifiers.

Yelsey, running in the second heat, was in fourth to start the bell lap, but moved past Placer’s Stuart Eastman and Burbank Burroughs’ Tony Ahr, just as he was getting passed by San Francisco University’s Sean Drake. Yelsey finished in a personal-best 4:14.36, the third-fastest qualifying time overall.

Edison’s Denny Flanagan earned the final qualifying spot in the 110 hurdles, finishing third in his heat in 14.40. Flanagan edged out Fairfield’s Andre Wright (14.45) for the final berth.

Tustin’s Alex Marbley was one of six who cleared 6 feet 8 inches and qualified in the high jump, but teammate Alonso Smith failed to qualify in the 800 meters.

Katella junior David Giang was one of seven who cleared 15-0 and qualified in the pole vault.

Newport Harbor’s Amber Steen cruised to victory in one of two heats in the 1,600, finishing in 4:57.12, about 14 seconds slower than her national-leading time set last week at the Masters, but still faster than all of today’s qualifiers.

Woodbridge sophomore Michelle Sanford, defending champion in the long jump, qualified second with a wind-aided 19-9 1/2, and second in the triple jump at 40-0.

Mission Viejo senior Dana Bethel also will compete in two events today. Bethel won her heat in the 100 hurdles in 14.01 and qualified in the long jump with a wind-aided 19-1 3/4. It’s the fourth consecutive season Bethel has reached the state finals in both events.