Boys Track and Field: And it’s CdM down the stretch

Steve Virgen

LAGUNA BEACH - Losing is strong motivation for Corona del Mar High

senior Travis Beardslee. The Sea Kings had locked up victory over host

Laguna Beach in their Pacific Coast League opener, Thursday, but that

didn’t stop him from sprinting a 54.2 on the anchor leg of the

1,600-meter relay, giving CdM the win in 3:43.6.

Just 11 minutes earlier, Beardslee won the two-mile run (10:41.03) and

secured the team victory along with Dustin Hodges who finished third

(10:48.27).

The Sea Kings had a 64-58 lead going into the two-mile, and after the

last two events they won, 75-61.

“We had already won,” Beardslee said. ‘But, I hate losing.”

The 1,600 relay was, perhaps, the most exciting race of the meet. Sea

Kings Blake Dillion, Alex Vincent, Jon-Luke Del Fante and Beardslee

provided the excitement as CdM and the Artists traded leads four times

during the race.

Laguna’s Ryan Wolfe was ahead of Beardslee in the first 50 meters.

Beardslee, however, drew even at the half-way mark, but didn’t pass Wolfe

until the last 100 meters.

With a freakish kick, Beardslee picked up the pace, inching past Wolfe

as the Sea Kings cheered under the lights.

“That was just after the two!” CdM Coach Bill Sumner said, reminding

everyone Beardslee had just ran the 3,200.

Beardslee also won the 400 (52.57) to finish as a triple winner.

The Sea Kings (2-2, 1-0 in league) almost lost because of some

mistakes, Sumner added.

“It’s like we wanted it to be hard,” he said. “But, after shooting

ourselves in the foot, it looks like we survived.”

CdM senior Taumata Grey might have finished second in the shot put,

but an intense free-weights workout before the meet caused his demise and

he fell to fourth.

Grey redeemed himself in the discus when he took top honors with a

145-foot-6 effort. Joe Barber was third (117-1). Barber also chipped in

with a third-place finish in the shot put (35-9 1/2).

“I’m just trying to win (the discus event) for the team,” Grey said.

“We’re (Grey, Barber and Justin Wald) trying to sweep (the throws).”

Grey regretted completing an “intense” workout before the meet, but it

really didn’t surprise his coach, Steve Tartaglini, who noted the senior

has grabbed first place in the discus in all of the Sea Kings’ meets this

season.

“He takes his job very seriously,” said Tartaglini, “And he’s very

determined to get better.”

Despite a nagging hip injury, CdM senior Josh Yelsey, who will attend

Yale University in the fall, won the 800 (2:06.65) and the 1,600

(4:45.17).