Tarver Hangs On for Woodbridge Title

Sophomore Kauren Tarver of Phelan Serrano, who won the state Division II cross-country title as a freshman last year, outsprinted Manhattan Beach Mira Costa freshman Kevyn Murphy to win the girls’ sweepstakes race Saturday night at the Irvine Woodbridge Invitational.

Tarver finished the three-mile course in 16 minutes 37 seconds, two seconds ahead of Murphy, who was competing in her second high school race. The time was also seven seconds off the girls’ course record sent by Lauren Fleshman of Canyon Country Canyon.

Junior Lauren Saylor of Clovis Buchanan, who was second in this race a year ago and fifth in the state Division I finals, finished third in 16:48 to lead Buchanan to the team title with 57 points. Murrieta Valley was second with 130 points and Orange Lutheran was third with 147 points.

Senior Diego Mercado of West Covina won the boys’ sweepstakes race in 14:13. His time broke the course record of 14:17 set by Mohamed Trafeh of Duarte in 2003.

Michael Cybulski finished seventh in 14:40 to lead Simi Valley Royal to the boys’ team title with 69 points. Pico Rivera El Rancho was second with 162 and Upland was third with 183.

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Corona del Mar was one of the favorites to win the Division III state girls’ cross-country championship this season, but the addition of transfer Shelby Buckley could turn the Sea Kings into one of the best teams to come out of Orange County in a long time.

Buckley, who won the Division III individual state title as a freshman at Fullerton Rosary last season, has fit in nicely with senior Annie St. Geme -- she placed seventh in state last year to help Corona del Mar finish fourth overall -- juniors Sarah Cummings and Hilary May and sophomore Allison Damon, who were also among Corona del Mar’s top four finishers at the state finals.

“This is the best team we’ve ever had,” said Coach Bill Sumner, who has led Corona del Mar to 10 Southern Section titles and five state titles since 1983.

Even though it was only a training race, the Sea Kings dominated the competition Saturday at the Laguna Hills Invitational.

St. Geme won the Division III senior race, Cummings won the junior race and Damon edged Buckley to win the sophomore race. Corona del Mar’s collective team time of 92:16 was nearly 6 1/2 minutes faster than the next closest team.

Next up for the Sea Kings is the Stanford Invitational on Sept. 24.

-- Dan Arritt

Girls’ Volleyball

Ashton Basch had 12 kills and Ashley Boza had five blocks to lead Lake Forest El Toro past Placentia El Dorado, 25-20, 25-23, in the semifinals of the Dave Mohs/Orange County Championships at Huntington Beach Edison.

El Toro will meet Anaheim Esperanza at 8 p.m. Monday in the Division I championship match. Esperanza defeated Valencia, 25-20, 25-23, in the other semifinal. The Division II final at 6 p.m. Monday will match San Diego Parker against Morgan (Utah).

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Manhattan Beach Mira Costa came within one game of defending its Las Vegas Durango tournament title, but Louisville (Ky.) Assumption defeated the Mustangs, 33-31, 23-25, 15-11, in the final Saturday.

Assumption, the top-ranked team in the nation, beat Los Alamitos, 22-25, 25-7, 15-8, in the semifinals.