University Boys Win Pacific Coast Finals

University High won the Pacific Coast League boys’ track and field finals Thursday at Irvine High, earning a share of its first league title since 1982.

The Trojans won only two of 16 events, but scored 119 points to edge Northwood (111) and Corona del Mar (102). Because the Sea Kings went undefeated in league dual meets this season, they will share the league title with University, which lost to Northwood in a head-to-head meet last month.

“I never expected this,” University Coach Dan Wroblicky said. “But we’ve always done well at this meet.”

The winners for the Trojans were Jeff Ballard, who cleared 6 feet 4 inches to win the high jump, and Greer Illingworth, who won the 300 hurdles in 40.91 seconds.

Corona del Mar senior Josh Yelsey was the top individual performer, winning the 800 in 1:58.42, the 1,600 in 4:25.60 and the 3,200 in 9:57.55.

In the girls’ competition, Corona del Mar made up for its loss to University last season, scoring 166 points to the Trojans’ 145.

Corona del Mar junior Julie Allen won the 1,600 in 5:04.11 and the 3,200 in 11:14.33. She also ran a personal best 2:17.72 to finish second in the 800.

Corona del Mar earned big points in the 800, taking the top three spots.

Jenny Cummins won in 2:17.38 and Diana Hossfeld took third in 2:21.76.

Hossfeld also finished second in the 1,600 in 5:08.24.

University’s Erica Malouf leaped a lifetime-best 5-6 in the high jump, finishing second to Costa Mesa’s Sharon Day, who also went 5-6, but had fewer misses at lower heights. Day was fourth in state in the high jump as a freshman last season.