Wind or not, Sailors brush off Laguna Hills

Bryce Alderton

A brisk wind engulfed the track at Orange Coast College Thursday,

providing a lift for the Newport Harbor High girls and boys track and

field teams on their voyage toward the Sea View League finals and

subsequent CIF competitions.

Coast administrators were kind enough to let host Newport Harbor

and visiting Laguna Hills use the synthetic track for Thursday’s

league dual meet, a change from the dirt track at Harbor.

Inevitably, running on a track that should yield quicker times,

athletes had to contend with the wind blowing across the field.

“You’re really running against the wind during that final turn,”

said Newport’s Stephanie Lambrakis, pointing toward the back stretch

of the track that points north.

Not even the wind could deter several Newport runners from

crossing the finish line first.

Courtney Marshall tripled, winning the 800 meters (2:25.8), 1,600

(5:26.1) and 3,200 (12:03.1) while senior Amy Burlingham doubled in

the 200 (26) and 400 (58.5). Burlingham set a personal best in the

400 and has been racing better the past few weeks since she began

concentrating more on weightlifting and strength training, said

Newport girls coach Eric Tweit.

Burlingham was named first-team all-league for the third

consecutive year for the girls soccer team and will play for the

University of Texas next season.

“Before, she was more of a sprinter doing the 200, 100 and [1,600]

relay. But, this year, she has done the 800 and 400 and run more

races than she’s used to. She has gotten in better shape.”

Senior Alec Urtusuastegui regained his form Thursday, winning the

800 (2:03.9) and 1,600 (4:41.5) while also participating in the 1,600

relay alongside Johnny Marino, Ryan Rippon and Nick St. Andre.

Urtusuastegui battled illness last week, but still won the 800 in

a dual meet against Irvine and finished 15th at the Trabuco Hills

Invitational in 2:02.61 Saturday.

“My times are pretty usual,” Urtusuastegui said.

The Sailor girls (5-1, 2-1 in league), who notched an 84-54 win,

also took first in the 1,600 relay (4:18.1), though Laguna Hills

didn’t field a team for that event. Elda Hernandez teamed with

Klippert, Hall and Burlingham.

Junior Jillianne Whitfield continued her dominance of the shot put

and discus, winning both with throws of 31-feet-10-inches and 118-7,

respectively.

Newport’s Jon Szecsei won the shot put (45-10) and discus (131-0),

while Nick Miller crossed first in the 3,200 (10:27.3).

Laguna Hills took every other event in winning the boys meet,

90-48.

Rhett Hartsfield took second in the long jump (18-8), triple jump

(37-1 1/2) and 110 high hurdles (17.1). Miller in the 1,600 (4:43.8),

Ricky Nott in the high jump (5-4) and Jack Skahen in the shot put

(43-10) all placed second for Newport (2-4, 0-3).

The injury bug has reared its head within both Newport teams of

late.

Junior Elizabeth Clayton finished second in three events Thursday:

the 100 low hurdles (17.9), the long jump (14-11 3/4) and triple jump

(32-9 3/4), but sat on the grass with an ice bag over her right calf,

tending to shin splints that have resurfaced again.

“I didn’t even compete the last two weeks,” said Clayton, who

broke the school record with a 38-4 1/2 in the triple jump at last

year’s CIF Southern Section Track and Field Finals. “It really

stinks, but I’m going to keep on going. I’ve done a lot of cross

training ... no-impact stuff like swimming and biking. I’m just going

through all the options right now with physical therapy, orthotics

... anything. I’ve had [shin splints] for three years and it has

never been this bad.”

Junior Matt Tracey took third in Thursday’s 400 (52.9) but limped

off the track after completing his race, favoring a sore right ankle.

Junior Joel Walker has a pulled quadriceps muscle that is taking

awhile to heal, said Newport boys coach Nowell Kay. Walker and Tracy

were both named first-team all-league for the Sailors’ boys soccer

team that finished second to Woodbridge in league and advanced to the

CIF Southern Section Division II Playoffs.

‘“Injuries are no excuse, they are going to happen in any sport,”

Kay said. “We want everyone to be at their best toward the end of the

season.”

Lambrakis, Hall and Hernandez each took second for Newport in the

200 (27.8), 400 (61.9) and 800 (2:29.5), respectively.

The Sailors do not have a meet next week because of spring break,

but will resume against host Woodbridge April 24.