TUSTIN RELAYS : In Shotput, Mancuso Has It Sized Up

TUSTIN — Tony Mancuso of Newport Harbor isn’t very big--that is, for a shotputter.

But Mancuso, who was an All-Sea View League nose guard in football, makes up for his 5-foot-10 height with speed and strength.

At the 33rd Tustin Relays at Tustin High School Friday, Mancuso had the best mark in the boys’ shotput at 54 feet. Matt Stewart of Esperanza was second at 50-8.

“I wish I had more throws today,” said Mancuso, who made three attempts. “And I wish I was a little taller because it might be an advantage.”

Mancuso, a senior, has some lofty goals this season in the shotput, including a 60-foot put. Mancuso had a personal best of 56-1 against Saddleback in a dual meet Thursday.

“It is not out of my reach,” Mancuso said. “I’ve been hitting 58s in my warm-ups.”

Mancuso, who in football suffered a separated shoulder that still bothers him when he throws the discus, didn’t place in the top three in that event Friday. Esperanza’s Jim Stewart, a sophomore, had the longest throw at 149-7 1/2. Teammate Travis Kirschke, who has thrown more than 163 feet, had trouble; he fouled the first two attempts and then made 134-3 from a standing position to avoid fouling again. His problems helped Mission Viejo beat the Aztecs in the team event.

In the long jump, Mater Dei’s Chris Jackson had one of the best jumps of the day at 20-10 1/2.

In the girls’ competition, Irvine’s Tracy Broughton had the best marks of the day in the long jump (16-5 1/2) and triple jump (35-3). Orange Lutheran’s Kara Stephens had the top mark in the discus at 115-8.

The meet will continue today with running events.