Girls track: Sailors roll past Irvine

Tony Altobelli

IRVINE - Perhaps an easier question might be, “What event DIDN’T

the Newport Harbor High girls track and field team do well in?”

Winning all but one event, the Sailors had little trouble with host

Irvine in Thursday’s 105-29 Sea View League win.

“We had great weather and we got to see a ton of girls get out there

and put some decent times up,” Newport Coach Eric Tweit said. “So far, so

good.”

Good might be the understatement of the day when it came to describing

the Sailors’ performances throughout the meet.

Sophomore Amy Burlingham had quite a busy day, winning the 100-meter

run (12.7) and the 200 (26.8), she ran anchor on the victorious 400 relay

team of Patty Vasquez, Ashley Harrison and Lauren Hanson (51.5) and

teamed up with Hanson, Vasquez and Amber Steen to win 1,600 relay team (4:18.5).

Steen was her usual dominant self, winning the 800 (2:21.89) and 1,600

(5:13.9), each by wide, wide margins.

“Our top runners did what they normally do,” Tweit said. “Sometimes,

they get pushed aside because we expect that all the time from them.”

Vasquez led a 1-2-3 Sailor sweep in the 400 with a 1:02.73, bettering

teammates Hanson (1:02.96) and Natalie St. Andre (1:04.63).

“Those are both personal-best times for Vasquez and Hanson, which was

nice to see,” Tweit said. “We’re looking to further strengthen our 1,600

relay team and that’s a great way to do it.”

Evita Castillo pulled out wins in both the long jump (15-3) and triple jump (33-1), while Elizabeth Clayton placed second in both events with

marks of 14-5 and 32-9, respectively.

Also pulling out double wins was Jillianne Whitfield. She took care of

the shot put (31-9) and discus (88-3). “She had her PR in both events, so

she really threw well,” Tweit said.

The Sailors’ duo of Claire Allen and Amy Ross helped Whitfield and the

Sailors sweep the throwing events. Ross placed second behind Whitfield in

the shot put (27-10 1/2), while Allen took third (25-1). Allen was

runner-up in the discus (75-10 1/2), ahead of Ross (69-5).

Another personal-best time came in the 3,200, where Lauren Paul

clocked in with an impressive 11:55.3. “That was the first sub 12-minute

time all year,” Tweit said.

The Sailors also made history at Irvine, competing in the girls pole

vault (at the frosh-soph level) for the first time ever.

“We got the pits and poles ordered, so we’re pretty serious about

getting into this event,” Tweit said.