First time’s the charm for CdM

Chris Yemma

Call is beginner’s luck if you will, but just don’t tell it to the

Corona del Mar High girls distance medley relay team.

On their first outing with this assembled group of individual

specialists, the Sea Kings notched a school record, a meet record and

the third fastest time in state history in the distance medley relay

Saturday at the Arcadia invitational at Arcadia High.

Sophomore Hilary May, senior Melissa Swigert, freshman Allison

Damon and junior Annie St. Geme ran the race in 11:51.66 in front of an estimated 7,500 people, accounting for the fastest time in the

nation this year.

“It’s the biggest day of the year for us,” Sea Kings’ Coach Bill

Sumner said. “But when you have these kinds of kids, without trying

to sound like we’re getting over our heads, you’ve got to put them

together and do a couple relays.”

East, of Salt Lake City, scored the previous Arcadia invitational

record of 11:53.85 in 1996.

Consisting of 1,200 meters, 400, 800 and 1,600, the event tests

the overall strength of a running team. It is only held at certain

invitationals, the Arcadia of which being one of the most

prestigious, bringing the together the best high school athletes from

around the nation.

Corona del Mar cruised to the victory with extreme ease, with

second finisher Bishop O’Dowd, of Oakland, coming in about 60 meters,

or about 14 seconds, behind. Each leg runner widened the gap, with

Swigert appearing to account for the largest margin on her 400

meters.

Swigert said she had something to prove.

“I was sick a few days ago and coach [Sumner] was going to pull me

from the event,” Swigert said. “But I begged him to stay. I felt like

I had something to prove.”

Swigert didn’t seem to notice how far in front she was, saying she

thought her shadow at one point was someone about to pass her.

May ran the first 1,200, keeping pace for the first two laps and

then pulling ahead for the third. Swigert did her damage on the 400,

Damon provided a little more of a cushion, and by the time St. Geme

received the baton, she had only but herself to race against.

With the sixth fastest time in the state last year in the 1,600,

you’d think she’d be used to running lonely.

“It’s definitely hard to run alone,” St. Geme said. “Although,

it’s a lot like practice some of the time.”

And that’s why St. Geme and the rest of the distance and

mid-distance runners at CdM frequently practice with the boys team.

“Personally, I like to run with the boys; I like to have someone

to pace me,” she said.

Be it one event, the win bolstered the confidence of the team,

seeking a CIF Southern Section Division III title after capturing the

section cross country title in the fall. A clean sweep from the

runners this season is what Sumner is looking for.

Damon, in her first year with the powerhouse, said the team has

accomplished what it has set out to do so far.

“This is really exciting for us, especially being our first time,”

Damon said. “It’s really exciting getting CIF [in cross country] and

now this.” St. Geme and May also competed in the invitational mile

(an actual mile, not 1,600 meters), finishing third (4:55.19) and

sixth (5:00.75), respectively. Both St. Geme and May were confused

with the slow pace on the first two laps.

“This one felt a lot stranger than last year’s,” St. Geme said. “I

felt a lot stronger than last year, but the first half was too slow.”