Playing Second Fiddle Is Fine With Yelsey

Josh Yelsey called it a victory among mortals.

The Corona del Mar High senior finished second in the 1,600 at the state track and field finals Saturday at Sacramento City College, but he didn’t include winner Ryan Hall of Big Bear High among his competitors.

Not before, during or after the four-lap race.

While Hall was setting a state meet record of 4 minutes 2.62 seconds, Yelsey was patiently working his way through the field of nine. He sat in seventh through the first lap, moved up to fourth by the start of the fourth, then caught Brandon Collins of Carmichael Jesuit on the final curve.

Yelsey then closed on Ben Aragon of Santee West Hills, running up to his back just meters before the finishing line and then turning his shoulders as he went past him at the tape. Yelsey finished in 4:14.09, Aragon was third in 4:14.24 and Collins fourth in 4:14.94.

“I was counting on Ryan to kill everyone on that first lap,” Yelsey said. “That’s what happened and then I just started picking people off.”

Corona del Mar Coach Bill Sumner said he gave Yelsey one goal for his race. Come through the first 300 meters in 46.5. Sumner said he hit it right on the nose.

“I didn’t want Josh going through the lap under 62 seconds,” Sumner said. “I knew a lot of guys would try and run with Hall early on.”

Yelsey’s finish was the highest for a Corona del Mar runner at the state meet, Sumner said, and was the best by a county athlete this year.

Irvine’s Mario Bassani has the state’s fastest time in the 400 this year, but he managed only a third-place finish Saturday. Bassani made up the staggered start on the backstretch, but lost steam on the final curve and finished in 47.87, well off his state best of 47.01. Jason Lovell of L.A. Cleveland won the race in 47.51 and Damaine Reed of Carson was second in 47.82.

Bassani said his quick start had nothing to do with his slow finish.

“If anything, I didn’t go out hard enough,” Bassani said. “But as far as I’m concerned, there are no excuses.”

Trabuco Hills junior Matt Bruno had the county’s other third-place finish, coming in behind seniors Phillip Francis of L.A. Fairfax and Rodney Landingham of Sonora in the 100. Bruno crossed the line in 10.62, a tick behind Francis (10.53) and Landingham (10.59).

“In a way I’m disappointed,” Bruno said. “But it gives me a lot of confidence for next year. I’m going to train really hard.”

Tustin senior Alex Marbley had the state’s best mark in the high jump, but finished fifth after failing to clear 6-10. Marbley said he hasn’t had the same hop in his legs he had while clearing 6-11 3/4 earlier in the season.

“I rely on my vertical because I don’t have the best form,” Marbley said. “It wasn’t working for me today.”

Teak Wilburn of Chico, who defeated Marbley at the Arcadia Invitational on April 7, won the event at 6-10. Justin Nelson of Murrieta Valley also cleared 6-10 and finished second.

“That was a big surprise,” Marbley said of Nelson’s finish. “He kept missing at 6-2 during warmups.”

Katella junior David Giang failed to clear 15-0 in the pole vault and finished seventh at 14-8. Giang had cleared 15-0 in the prelims Friday. Santa Margarita capped the meet, finishing fifth in the 1,600 relay (3:18.29).