Girls track and field: Woodbridge wins showdown, 77-59

Joseph Boo

NEWPORT BEACH - It was a given that Newport Harbor High’s Amber

Steen would win her three events. But the scramble behind her was another

matter.

On a day when both teams turned in strong performances, visiting

Woodbridge earned a 77-59 Sea View League victory in a battle between the

league’s two favorites. The Sailors entered as Orange County’s top-ranked

team, while Woodbridge was No. 8.

“It’s too bad we didn’t get the win,” Newport Harbor Coach Eric Tweit

said, “but it was still a good meet. I knew it was going to be close.”

As expected, Steen put up huge points for Newport with three victories.

She used a late kick to hold off Woodbridge’s Jessica Kanin twice, in the

800 meters (2:25.9) and the 1,600 (5:20.7). She also held off a challenge

in the 3,200 and won in 11:32.

But the Warriors (3-0, 2-0) got second and third place in the 1,600 and

3,200. Newport freshman Tricia Orth slipped into third place in the 800

with a time of 2:04.5, to stem off some of Woodbridge’s points.

“That’s a really good time or her,” Tweit said, “and that was important

in terms of standings at that time. She did a very nice job.”

Another freshman, Amy Burlingham, racked up points for the Sailors. She

came close to setting a personal record in the 200 with a winning time of

26.1. She was second in the 100 by one tenth of a second, clocking in at

12.6. And Burlingham gave Newport’s victorious 1,600 relay, which also

featured Steen, Natalie St. Andre and Laura Kauth, a big lead en route to

a triumph in 4:18.

“She was very good. She ran very good races,” Tweit said of Burlingham.

“Her opening leg in the relay was a second better then her previous best.

It’s going to be exciting to see what she does in the Orange County

Championships next week.”

In the field events, Newport’s April Ross had a PR in the high jump with

a winning mark of 5-6. She finished second in the long jump (16-1 3/4)

and triple jump (35-6) to Woodbridge’s three-time winner, Michelle

Sanford. Newport’s Krista Dill won the discus with a throw of 130-7, and

the shot put with a 39-10 1/4.

After a one-two finish in the 100 hurdles, Woodbridge threatened again in

the 300s. But the Sailors’ Valerie Day and Breonna Tiffany finished

second and third in 49.8 and 51.4, respectively. Day just lost to the

Warriors’ Veronique Roberts by one tenth of a second.

“I knew the hurdles were going to be pivotal,” Tweit said. “I was happy

with our two main (hurdlers). After a disappointing 100, Valerie and Breonna came back in second and third.”

SEA VIEW LEAGUE

Girls

Woodbridge 77, Newport Harbor 59

100 - 1. Sanford (W), 12.5; 2. Burlingham (NH), 12.6; 3. Topalovic (NH),

13.5. 200 - 1. Burlingham (NH), 26.1; 2. Lazurus (W), 26.6; 3. Hernandez

(NH), 29.2. 400 - 1. Lazurus (W), 59.5; 2. Davis (W), 1:02.7; 3. St.

Andre (NH), 1:04.2. 800 - 1. Steen (NH), 2:25.9; 2. Kanin (W), 2:28.4; 3.

Owen (W), 2:32. 1,600 - 1. Steen (NH), 5:20.7; 2. Kanin (W), 5:24.6; 3.

Belloti (W), 5:38.7. 3,200 - 1. Steen (NH), 11:32; 2. Berglas (W),

11:38.2; 3. Kredel (W), 12:03.31. 400 relay - 1. Woodbridge, 50.5; 2.

Newport Harbor, 51.7. 1,600 relay - 1. Newport Harbor (Burlingham, St.

Andre, Kauth, Steen), 4:18; 2. Woodbridge, NT. 100 LH - 1. Robert (W),

16.8; 2. Boughey (W), 18.0; 3. 18.0; 3. Days (NH), 18.2. 300 LH - 1.

Robert (W), 49.7; 2. Day (NH), 49.8; 3. Tiffany (NH), 51.4.

HJ - 1. Ross (NH), 5-6; 2. McInerenex (W), 4-10; 3. Marks (W), 4-8. LJ -

1. Sanford (W), 16-8 3/4; 2. Ross (NH), 16-1 3/4; 3. Titterud (W), 15-8

3/4. TJ - 1. Sanford (W), 37-6 3/4; 2. Ross (NH), 35-6; 3. Titterud (W),

34-4 3/4. SP - 1. Dill (NH), 39-10 1/4; 2. Stewart (W), 33-2 1/2; 3.

Lawyer (W), 30-2. DT - 1. Dill (NH), 130-7; 2. Lawyer (W), 108-4; Gerlach

(NH), 97-11.