Steve VirgenIt has been said that track...
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Steve Virgen
It has been said that track and field is more of an individual sport,
yet Corona del Mar High’s girls squad proved otherwise in winning the
Pacific Coast League championship Friday at Irvine High.
Freshman Anne St. Geme stepped up with two PCL titles in her
debut, winning the 800 meters (2:21.38) and 1,600 (5:14.81), while
sophomore Melissa Swigert won the 400 (59.22) and senior Becky
Cummins won the 3,200 (11:41.52). The Sea Kings also won the 400 and
1,600 relays. They scored 136.5 points to earn the PCL title, while
last year’s champion, University, finished second with 108.
“It was very much a team effort,” CdM Coach Bill Sumner said. “We
had a meeting [Wednesday), and I said, ‘Everybody counts, and if you
don’t think so, look back to last year. [University] beat us by one
point.]’ I think we did that pretty well tonight. Everybody
contributed.”
Swigert, who contributed to both relay victories, also finished
second in the 200 (26.91) to qualify for the CIF Southern Section
Division III preliminaries May 16 at Mt. San Antonio College.
“Melissa Swigert carried the bulk of the load for us,” Sumner
said. “[St. Geme, who finished third in the 3,200,] was also strong.
We got points everywhere.”
Freshman Kelly Morgan (400, 59.87), junior Sara Claster (800,
2:23.44) and sophomore Leigh Fransen (high jump 4-6) finished second
in their events to advance to CIF, while Jennifer Way took third in
the triple jump (33-7 1/2) to also advance.
CdM’s 1,600 relay victory included Claster, junior Whitney
Weidner, Morgan and Swigert, whom finished in 4:04.6.
Junior Kinzie Kramer, Lindsey Manning, Morgan and Swigert began
CdM’s run toward the PCL title, as they won the 400 relay (50.41).
Swigert brought home the victory, edging out a University runner by
two-tenths of a second.
Then, St. Geme won the 1,600, running a methodical race.
Sumner said she wasn’t out to achieve a personal record, but
rather to just win the race. Northwood senior Christie Farson started
the 1,600 with a sizable lead. St. Geme steadily moved to the front
and extended her lead over the final 400 meters.
“The [1,600] didn’t feel as good as could have been,” St. Geme
said. “I can do a lot better than that. I was nervous. But, I think
of all these meets the same way now. I’m excited and at the same time
nervous.”
St. Geme said she just began to take running seriously this year.
She grew up playing soccer, but running had also been a big part of
her life. Her mother, Ceci Hopp (now St. Geme), was one of the best
runners in the storied history of Stanford University and she is in
the Cardinal’s Hall of Fame.
St. Geme also said she experienced hip pain during the cross
country season, but overcame the nagging injury before the track and
field season.
Cummins, who will continue her education at Dartmouth, also
endured injuries throughout the cross country season.
Cummins said she is also capable of a better race and plans to
peak as the season ends.
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