Laguna athletes head to Arcadia

The Laguna Beach High track and field team will be well-represented Saturday at the prestigious Arcadia Invitational meet at Arcadia High.

The Breakers have five individuals competing, Coach Steve Lalim said, plus a talented distance medley relay team of seniors Tommy Newton-Neal (1200 meters), Brett Linkletter (400), Sean Pigden (800) and junior Matt Neev (1600).

In addition, Linkletter will be competing in the long jump, and Pigden in the 800. Newton-Neal and Neev will be in the 3,200-meter race tonight, and senior Blake Hofmeister is entered in the seeded 3,200 race Saturday night.

The distance medley relay team qualified for Arcadia on the strength of a third-place, 10-minute, 37.98-second time at last weekend’s Trabuco Hills Invitational. Newton-Neal, Linkletter, Pigden and Hofmeister competed in that race, and Lalim said he was happy with the time, which may be approaching a school record.

But, he added, Laguna could be even faster on Saturday.

Among other highlights from the Trabuco Hills Invitational, sophomore Natasha Strickland was ninth in the 3,200 invitational in 11:31.27. Hofmeister was fourth in the boys’ 1,600 in 4:25.36, followed closely by Neev (4:26.27, sixth) and Newton-Neal (4:37.51, 12th).

Linkletter was 13th in the long jump, touching down at 20 feet 6.

After Arcadia this weekend, the Breakers prepare to go back into Orange Coast League dual meet action when they host Estancia on April 22.

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BOYS’ GOLF

Coach Scott Finn reported that the Breakers are cruising along in league. They improved to 9-0 in the Orange Coast League after topping Costa Mesa, 195-256, on March 31 at Aliso Viejo Country Club. Tim Peterson was medalist, firing a 37.

Laguna Beach is 9-4 overall and returns to action Wednesday, facing Orange at Aliso Creek Golf Course.

A big match with Estancia is set for April 22 at Mesa Verde in Costa Mesa.

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BOYS’ VOLLEYBALL

The Breakers have no matches this week for spring break after easily defeating Calvary Chapel, 25-16, 25-16, 25-17 in their last match at home April 1.

Laguna Beach, ranked No. 2 in the CIF Southern Section Division II poll, is 13-7. The Breakers return to action at Estancia on Thursday.