Division II Boys’ Meet May Be County Domain

The Southern Section Division II boys’ track and field finals are shaping up to be a rerun of the Orange County Championships, with Santa Margarita, Edison and Tustin expected to compete for the team title Saturday at Cerritos College.

Santa Margarita won its first county championship three weeks ago, Edison was second and Tustin was third. In the latest Division II rankings, the Eagles are No. 1, followed by the Tillers and the Chargers.

Santa Margarita will count on its relays to score big points and its relay members to produce in their individual events. Sean Zeitler is the top qualifier in the 300 hurdles for the Eagles and also qualified in the 110 hurdles. Steven Murray (800), Jeff Jacobs (400), Scott Langford (100) and Matt Johnson (high jump) also qualified.

The Eagles had a setback in the prelims when Brad Slinkard, one of the county leaders in the pole vault, didn’t get a qualifying height. Slinkard, who injured his back in the Serra League prelims, is also a member of both relays, but should be well enough to run Saturday.

Edison has suffered some key losses in the postseason. Darryl Poston, the time-time Orange County champion in the 100 and 200, didn’t qualify for either at the Sunset League finals after suffering a groin injury during the long-jump competition, but gained entry into the 200 at last week’s prelims with a unanimous vote from Sunset League coaches. Poston took advantage of the opportunity and qualified for the finals.

“It helped that Darryl is well liked by everyone,” Edison Coach Erich Moreno said of the USC-bound running back.

The Chargers didn’t get through the prelims unscathed either. Chuckie Linman, runner-up to Poston in the sprints at the county championships, pulled up in the 200 and didn’t qualify.

Tustin is banking on the twosome of Alonso Smith and Alex Marbley to score a majority of its points. Smith is the top qualifier in the 800 and 1,600 and Marbley is the state leader in the high jump.

The county’s next-best hope for a division title is the Corona del Mar girls’ team in Division III. The Sea Kings, defending champions in the division, are ranked second to Pasadena Muir.

Corona del Mar will count heavily on junior Julie Allen, the top qualifier in the 1,600 and 3,200, who will also try for points in the 800, where she qualified second. Diana Hossfeld is expected to score in the 800 and 1,600, and Jenny Cummins was runner-up in the 800 at this meet last season.

Woodbridge is ranked fourth in girls’ Division II, Santa Margarita is ranked fifth, Mater Dei is sixth and Newport Harbor seventh.

The Fountain Valley boys’ team, led by top qualifier Jason Graney in the 800, is ranked fifth in Division I.