Prep track and field: Tars at Division II prelims

WALNUT - The Newport Harbor High boys and girls track and field

teams will continue their postseason runs today at the CIF Southern

Section Division II preliminaries at Mt. San Antonio College. The field

events begin at 3, followed by the running events at 3:30.

The Newport boys, who won their first league title since 1979 by topping

the field at Sea View League Finals, will be led by versatile senior

Trevor Jones.

The two-time league champion in the 110-meter high hurdles and the 300

intermediate hurdles, he was third in Division II in the latter last

season. The UCLA-bound standout also will run the 100 and will anchor the

1,600 relay. He won league titles in both last week, becoming the first

Sailor since 1974 to pocket four first-place finishes at league finals.

Coach Bim Barry’s squad will also rely on two-time Sea View high jump

champion John Peschelt, who added a league crown in the 800 and

contributed to the 1,600 relay triumph in this, his junior year.

Other league champions from Harbor include junior Chris McMillen (1,600),

senior Ryan Brill (triple jump) and sophomore Rion McKinney (shot put).

Junior Amber Steen, who won league titles in the 800, 1,600 and 3,200

last week, spearheads Coach Eric Tweit’s girls contingent.

Steen was second in Division II in the 1,600 and 3,200 last year, then

went on to place fifth in the Masters Meet and 10th at state finals in

the 3,200. She has won three straight Sea View 1,600 crowns and is the

two-time defending 3,200 league champion.

Senior Krista Dill, who defended her league shot put and discus titles

last week, is another stalwart, as is senior April Ross.

Ross, league champion in the high jump this spring and the national high

school girls volleyball player of the year who will play at USC next

fall, won the Division II section high jump title as a freshman.

Freshman Valerie Day, the league champion in the 300 hurdles, is another

expected to fare well.

The top nine qualifiers in each event advance to the Division II Finals,

scheduled May 20 at Cerritos College.