CdM celebrates two champions

Chris Yemma

The bus to the CIF Southern Section Division III girls track and

field championships made a quick pit stop Thursday at Irvine High,

allowing just enough time for Corona del Mar High to wrap up another

title.

And what has become almost a yawn, the Sea Kings rolled their way

to a first-place finish in the Pacific Coast League championships to

post a third straight league title and finish the season undefeated

in league, 10-1 overall.

The CdM boys, entering undefeated, finished second at the meet and

grabbed a share of the league crown with Northwood.

“I wouldn’t say we own this league, but we’re definitely the team

to beat,” Sea Kings’ Coach Bill Sumner said about his girls team.

“This isn’t their competition. This is good, but in two weeks is the

big deal. No disrespect to anybody here, but the girls side -- we’re

a runaway.”

The girls did run away in the finals, as Annie St. Geme strolled

to three victories -- a third straight time in the 1,600 meters and 800 -- Melissa Swigert won two events and a couple of sweeps gave the

Sea Kings a 201.33-95 victory over second-place finisher Tesoro.

Northwood was third with 93.66.

St. Geme won the 800 in a personal-record 2:13.47, the 1,600 in

5:05.72 and clocked in at 11:11.78 for a second straight 3,200 title.

But the league finals merely served as a warmup for the state’s

sixth best 1,600 runner last season.

“I kind of think of this as a stepping stone to bigger races,”

said the junior, who claimed the Orange County 1,600 title April 23.

“[Sumner] told me to relax, so I just had to make sure no one was

coming up on me [in the 1,600].”

St. Geme led the CdM sweep of the event Thursday, with Hilary May

(5:08.43) finishing second and Nichole Slykhous (5:09.93) finishing

third.

Senior Swigert took the 400 crown away from defending champion and

teammate Kelly Morgan, as Swigert clocked in with a blistering 55.95

for a personal record. Morgan (58.03) finished second. Swigert also

won the 200 in 25.82.

Taiki Sakai won the 200 in 23.25 and finished second in the 100 in

11.75 while Jack Turner won the 3,200 in 10:05.61 to lead the CdM

boys to 137.33 points, just shy of first-place Northwood (155.66).

“This was huge,” Sakai said after winning the 200. “I barely got

beat in the 100, so this is definitely a good thing. I was out for

vengeance.”