Robson shines in Sailors’ loss

NEWPORT BEACH — Jessica Robson’s strength was on display once again Wednesday, in Newport Harbor High’s track and field meet with Esperanza.

Robson, a senior, was powerful enough to finish third in the shot put against a field specializing in throws and carry the Sailors with three victories.

Robson won the 100-meter hurdles in 15.6 seconds, the long jump (17 feet, 1/4 -inch), the high jump (5-4) and her throw of 26-4 1/4 was third in the shot put, but the Sailors still lost to Esperanza, 72-63, in a battle for Sunset League supremacy. A young Newport Harbor boys’ team lost to Esperanza 77.5-45.5.

“You expect that from [Robson],” Newport Harbor girls’ Coach Eric Tweit said. “She’s really our No. 1 girl all around. In the shot, she just doesn’t have the time. I think she could be really good at it.”

Robson will have a chance to prove how good she can be in the shot put at Dartmouth University. Robson said she plans on competing in the heptathlon, a seven-event competition which includes the shot put.

“I did better in the shot than last week,” said Robson whose personal record in the event is 33 feet.

Robson, however, isn’t just an all-around athlete. She reached a height of 5-8 in the high jump earlier in the season which is tied for the highest in the state this year. An opportunity to establish a high jump hierarchy comes Saturday at the Arcadia Invitational, which draws the top athletes in the state.

Robson is not the only Sailors athlete that found success in multiple events. Senior Laura Clayton won the triple jump (34-10 3/4 ) and finished second in the long jump and the 100 hurdles, both times to Robson.

But there probably was no more dominant performance on the day than, as usual, Sailors senior Allison Stokke in the pole vault. Stokke eclipsed 13-0 and then proceeded up to 13-6, with her high for the season 13-1.

“I didn’t know what the height was,” said Stokke, who narrowly missed the height three times. “I don’t ask about it. It keeps me focused.”

Once again Stokke’s display of aerial acrobatics drew a crowd and the state champion as a freshman stayed around after finishing off the competition to assist the Sailors younger vaulters.

Melissa Mead came in a close second in the blowout department, taking the 3,200 by a near 20-second margin.

Cassidy Gayner continued to approach the school record in the 300 hurdles, which Tweit said is 45.2. Gayner won the event in 46.3.

Rex Nelson had the comeback of the day. Nelson was in fourth place in the 800 with 75 meters to go. Then he blew into first place for his second victory of the meet, his first in the 1,600.

For results of the meet, see high school roundup on Page B2.