Mission Viejo’s Bethel Has Memorable Day

LONG BEACH — One thing’s for sure, Ashley Bethel is learning about an honest day’s work at a very young age.

The Mission Viejo sophomore spent the day racing between events at the Southern Section track and field championships at Veterans Stadium, eventually qualifying for three Masters Meet events.

The nation’s top heptathlete a year ago, Bethel won the Division II long jump in 18 feet 7 inches, finished second in the high jump (5-4) and 100-meter high hurdles (14.21 seconds) in addition to a non-qualifying third-place finish in the 200 (25.26).

“I was expecting to do much better [in the hurdles],” Bethel said. “I was running back and forth all day and wasn’t really focused.”

The top nine athletes, based on performance combined from each of four divisions, qualify for the Masters Meet Friday at Cerritos College.

Marina’s all-around standout Sonya Bryant finished second and qualified for the Masters Meet in the Division I shotput, posting the best throw in the county this season at 43- 3/4. The senior’s seasonal best was 39-10 coming into the meet.

Katie Nuanes earned a qualifying berth by winning the Division II 1,600 in 5:01.36. University freshman Allyson Marquand also advanced, by virtue of a second-place finish in the Division III 1,600 (5:03.67).

Kelly O’Connor won the Division I triple jump with an effort of 39-4, posting the top jump by a section athlete. Edison senior Kerry O’Bric finished third in the same division with a jump of 38-1.

O’Connor also finished second in the long jump with an effort of 19-0, just inches ahead of fourth-place O’Bric, who jumped 18-9 1/4. Both athletes advanced to Masters competition in the event.

O’Bric also finished fifth in the 100 meter high hurdles, running 15.43.

Carrie Axton of Los Amigos was the Division III discus winner, moving to the Masters Meet as well with her effort of 137-6. The county champion earlier this spring, Axton was the event’s top qualifier.

Angie Winkler of Fountain Valley advanced to the Masters Meet in the 1,600 (4:59.15) and 3,200 (11:18.41), finishing fourth and sixth in the Division I races.

Christa Fitzgerald of Dana Hills (2:16.84), Maribel Delgado of Santa Ana Valley (2:18.32) and Jessica Dahlberg of El Modena (2:18.65) finished 2-3-4 in the Division II 800 meters and qualified for the Masters Meet in the process.

Erica Hoernig of Foothill won the Division II pole vault by clearing 10-3, earning a berth in the Masters Meet. Katie Rorem and Stephanie Heup of Marina advanced as well, jumping 10-9 and 10-6 for third and fourth in the Division I pole vault.

Notes

Joey Tilocco of Orange Lutheran was victorious in the Division IV 100-meter high hurdles, running 16.12. Marie Philman, who was seventh in the 100-meter high hurdles, finished third in the Division I discus with a throw of 129-2. Marina senior Sonya Bryant threw 124-1 and Newport Harbor senior Laura Wilson had a throw of 120-11. Brea Olinda’s 400-meter relay team ran a hand-timed 49.8 for fourth-place in the Division III race. Heather Culp of Orange Lutheran was second in the Division IV pole vault at 8-0. Corolar White of Esperanza finished eighth in the Division I 400 meters, running 57.07. Alicia McFall of Newport Harbor ran 11:21.99 for second place in the Division II 3,200 meters, earning a spot in the Masters Meet.