Newport girls stop Sea Kings, Marina

Bryce Alderton

Corona del Mar High girls track and field coach Bill Sumner prefers

to schedule nonleague meets against stiffer competition, such as the

likes of Back Bay rival Newport Harbor and Sunset League foe Marina.

So, the three schools battled Wednesday at CdM High in a tri-meet,

but in the end, the Sea Kings and Sailors made it to the final

frontier.

Newport had a few more weapons on hand to earn 58 points, with CdM

collecting 50 and Marina, 28.

“It’s more fun when you get 800 kids competing at a meet rather

than 30,” said Sumner, referencing the number of athletes schools

such as Newport and Marina bring. “This is what competition is like,

so we want to see who the best is.”

Newport was victorious in seven events, including the 400-meter

relay, in which the team of Elizabeth Clayton, Elda Hernandez, Amy

Klippert and Amy Burlingham combined for a time of 51.9.

Three Newport competitors each won two individual events. Clayton

won the 100 hurdles in 12.5 and the triple jump (32-4), while

Jillianne Whitfield captured the discus (119-9) and shot put (33-11

1/2). Sophomore Jackie Belida won the high jump (4-10) and long jump

(14-7 1/2).

“I did badly today. I’m mad at myself,” said Belida following her

long jump, longing to jump farther with increased training as the

season progresses. Many athletes at the track Wednesday felt the same

about their individual events.

Burlingham, a senior fresh from her return to the Newport-Mesa

area (she competed last week for the U.S. under-19 national soccer

team in Mexico), edged out her competition in the 100 (12.7), despite

not having trained much in the event thus far.

“I felt like I had a good start and stayed focused on being

quicker,” Burlingham said. “It’s OK. I’ve run faster before, but it’s

still early.”

Early on for CdM, senior Becky Cummins led off with a victory in

the 3,200 (12:03.5).

A pleasant surprise for CdM came from freshman Anne St. Geme, who

won the 1,600 (5:27) and the 800 (2:26.5).

“I felt better than I did last week,” said St. Geme after the

1,600. “(Sumner) said to get behind during the first lap, so I would

have energy at the end. Last week, I started fast, but fell apart at

the end. The third lap was the hardest, but in the end I gave it my

all.”

Melissa Swigert took first in the 200 (26:01) and was part of

CdM’s winning 1,600 relay team of Whitney Weidner, Sara Claster and

Nicole Parise that clocked a 4:13.9.

Kelly Morgan won the 400 in 1:00.7.