Day blows away field

Melanie Neff

The roll through the Golden West League continued Monday for the

Costa Mesa High girls track and field team.

The Mustangs, who went undefeated in league dual meets, dominated

the field in the league preliminaries at Orange Coast College.

Sharon Day led the way, easily posting top qualifying times in the

100 and 200 meters. She will also compete in the high jump at

Thursday’s finals at Orange Coast College. The senior normally runs

the 400 meters, but she was moved to the 100 to benefit the team.

She recorded a 13.15 in the 100, more than a second slower than

her personal best of 12.30. Teammate Toshia Bryant won her heat and

was the second fastest qualifier in 13.59. Rachel Hughes and Rachel

Ronquillo also qualified for Costa Mesa. Erica Plietez recorded at

13.95 to qualify fifth for Estancia.

In the 200 meters, Day clocked a 26.5, blowing away the rest of

the field in her heat.

“I wasn’t really pushing it today,” Day said. “I just wanted to do

well and get a good lean.”

Day, who holds the Orange County record in the high jump at 6

feet, 2 inches, said the competition, or lack of it, had a lot to do

with the Mustangs’ success.

“I think [the Pacific Coast League] was tougher,” Day said. “I

think it is kind of bad that we moved. If we were in the PCL we would

be even better, because we’d be pushed harder.”

Senior Rhondi Naff, running her first year of track for the

Mustangs, had the fastest qualifying time in the 400 meters at

1:01.95. Freshman Tracy Bjelland, junior Stacy Kirkorian and freshman

Ana Rodriguez also qualified for Costa Mesa. Senior Ludi Valdez was

the fourth-place qualifier for the Eagles (1:03.37) and Elise Carroll

moved on in seventh place.

In the 1,600 meters, junior Christine Bjelland took top honors

with a time of 5:25.85 for the Mustangs. Sophomore Okairy Lomeli

qualified sixth in 5:55.55 for Estancia.

In the boys’ competition, it was Estancia that had a field day and

continued on its undefeated league season.

Senior Humberto Rojas was the only Eagle to earn a top qualifying

spot. Despite suffering from a strained hip muscle, Rojas easily put

away the field in the 800 meters with a time of 1:55.42. Raul Lara of

Orange tried to keep pace, but in the last 300, Rojas pulled away,

finishing three seconds ahead of Lara. Junior Panfilo Elias and

senior Abel Flores also qualified for Estancia.

“I feel comfortable,” Rojas said. “I’m happy with my time. It was

a [personal best] for me. The runners just let me go and didn’t go

after me. In the PCL everyone tried to beat me.”

Rojas, who finished ninth in the state meet in the 1,600 last

season, said his injury shouldn’t affect his performance in

Thursday’s league finals.

“It’s not going to be a problem in league,” he said. “But at [the

CIF Masters Meet] and state I have to work three times harder, so it

might be a problem.”

Costa Mesa senior Zach Powell posted the fastest time in the 400

meters (51.83). He was second in the 300-meter hurdles, which could

prove to be the most competitive race Thursday.

Francisco Olivas of Santa Ana recorded a 42.45, Powell finished in

42.47 and Estancia’s Jason Johnston (42.57) and Zack Novack (43.58)

took the third and fourth spots, respectively.

The top two finishers from each event will qualify for next week’s

Southern Section preliminaries. Third-place finishers will also move

on if they post CIF-qualifying times.