Laguna athletes shine at county meet

Mike Sciacca

A contingent of 43 track athletes representing the city of Laguna

Beach Recreation Division traveled to Trabuco Hills High to compete at

the Orange County Municipal Athlete Assn. track meet, and the chance to

advance to the upcoming Southern California finals.

Twenty of those athletes earned a spot in the May 25 Southern

California Municipal Athlete Federation Championships at Gahr High in

Cerritos by virtue of their outstanding performances at the county meet.

In addition, three Laguna Beach athletes set new city records.

Chrispin Collins ran a 2:36.4 in the Division 1990 800 meters. He beat

the old mark, set in 1997 by Brendan Bowler, by five seconds.

Stephanie Ross set a new city mark when she hit 12-feet, five-inches

in the Division 1991 long jump. That mark broke a city record that had

stood for 27 years -- by a full two feet. In 1975, Kim Imbour set the

city standard at 10-feet, five-inches.

The third city record was set by Desmond Smith, whose 58.2 in the

Division 1987 400-meter dash bettered the previous mark of 1:03 set by

Matt Sheridan in 1992.

Collins finished seventh overall in a fast 800-meters field but

qualified for the Southern California championships by taking first place

in the 200-meter dash in 29.4. He also holds the city record in that

event with a time of 1:05.4.

Smith finished fourth in the 400-meter dash and also qualified in the

shot put with a heave of 35-7, good for a second place finish.

Ross’ long jump of 12-5 bettered the 17 other competitors in the

Division 1991 event.

Travis Kelly secured the city’s third first place medal by winning the

Division 1993 400 meters in 1:20.9.

Colby Ammerman, who tied the city Division 1990 high jump record of

4-5 set previously in 1985 by Eric Fegraus, finished in third place at

the county meet to advance to the Southern California meet.

Scott DeYoung, who set the city Division 1989 1600-meter record at

6:03.19 at the recent city meet, qualified for the championships in the

long jump with a personal-best leap of 13-9, which was good for third

place.

Other boys qualifying for the finals included Jonah Erickson who

finished second (40.81) in the Division 1995 200 meters; Xavier Babadur

who was third in both the Division 1994 400 meters (1:25.4) and softball

throw (83-7); Chris Bailey who was fourth (3-9) in the Division 1991 high

jump; Steve Demille who was third (12-8) in the Division 1990 long jump

and Justin Rovin was second (15-7) in the Division 1988 long jump.

Other girls to qualify for the Southern California meet include Kelly

Cassidy who finished third (17.54) in the Division 1995 100 meters; Taylor Weiss who was second in both the Division 1994 200 meters (40.8)

and 400 meters (1:31); Isabella O’Neal who had a personal best and

finished fourth (8-10) in the Division 1994 long jump); Grace Esslinger

who was fourth (31.47) in the Division 1991 200 meters; Megan Robel who

was third (2:58.5) in the Division 1991 800 meters; Marissa Adamay who

was third (4-1) in the Division 1988 high jump and Katherine McIntyre,

who hit a personal best and fourth place (12-8) in the Division 1988 long

jump and finished fourth (3-11) in the division’s high jump.