Cross country: Newport Harbor boys sweep; girls win three

Steve Virgen

IRVINE - Now in its second year, the Sea View League Dual Cross

Country Meet has some coaches complaining and others smiling.

Newport Harbor High Coach Bim Barry would be one who is smiling,

especially after his Sailors swept the field in the boys competition and

the girls placed second with Amber Steen earning first place Friday at

Woodbridge.

Last year, Barry proposed the new format to the league and the coaches

voted “yes” to the invitational-style competition because it would be

beneficial to the five-team league.

“We have the perfect cross country schedule,” Barry said. “I think the

format is amazing. The only (negative): it’s hard for the press to

understand.”

The scoring method of the meet is hard for most to understand as

points are tabulated and transferred into dual matchups. Next Friday’s

league meet at Irvine Park will be the finale and will determine the

champion.

Newport’s boys beat each league opponent head-to-head Friday. And the

girls lost one matchup against Woodbridge.

The invitational format has its positives and negatives. Laguna Hills

Coach Rich LaRue voted “no” on the format.

“The new format places less importance on the early season

invitationals,” he said. “We never have a home meet now. And there’s less

of a chance for younger runners to succeed.”

Laguna Hills girls coach Stacia Pollock mentioned another drawback to

the league’s format.

“If you have a runner sick, it can really hurt your team,” she said.

“But, (the format) is good because they’re getting invitational

competition training. If your team goes to CIF, they’ll be ready.”

The runners have mixed opinions as well.

“I liked it a lot better how it was before,” said Harbor senior Chris

McMillen who finished second at 15:43. “We were more relaxed with the

dual meets. Now, it’s a more stressing race. Every race is a like a

league final.”

McMillen finished behind Woodbridge freshman Michael Haddan (15:24),

who led from the start, increased his lead at the one-mile mark and

maintained it to the finish.

McMillen’s teammates finished among the top-13. John Peschelt (15:52)

came in behind McMillen and Jesus Santana (15:57) followed in fourth.

Ivan Romero (16:19), Joel Furman (16:23) and Alec Urtusuastegui (16:31)

finished sixth, seventh and eighth, respectively. And Chris Negrete

(16:41) came in 13th.

Harbor approached the race with confidence and remains in first place

in the Sea View League.

“Chris (McMillen) and I really don’t get warmed up for the race,”

Peschelt said. “Our mindset for the race doesn’t kick in until a mile and

a half into the race. Then we get comfortable.”

Said McMillen, “We were all expecting to win. We’ve been pumped up for

this race. And we were ready.”

The Harbor girls team was just as fired up. At the last league meet,

Oct. 6, Woodbridge beat Harbor, 24-31. The Sailors were determined to

make a better showing with the intent of coming out on top.

Woodbridge had too much strength and speed, this time defeating

Harbor, 26-30.

Harbor had six girls compete instead of the normal seven because of

Coach Eric Tweit’s decision. He is studying junior varsity runners to

fill his seventh spot.

“This was easily our best race of the year,” said Tweit. “Sonya

Mechkor finally moved up . If she starts doing that we’re going to be

pretty ... decent.”

Harbor freshman Lauren Paul (19:09) finished sixth, while Erin

Friedman (19:21), Sonya Mechkor (19:29) and Lynn Rinek (19:36) earned 11,

12 and 13 finishes, respectively. Natalie St. Andre (19:48) finished

15th.

Steen ran the course in 17:45.

“I was looking to have fun because this is my last year,” said Steen,

who has narrowed her future options to the University of Arizona, Brigham

Young or UC Irvine. “I had a lot of fun today because everyone here is so

nice. I have a lot in common with most of the runners from the different

schools. We all like to compete.”