MISSION VIEJO — The JSerra girls track team, on the strength of its battle-tested corps of distance runners, captured the team title at the Orange County Championships on Saturday at Mission Viejo High School.
The Lions placed four runners among the top five in the 1,600 meters and two among the top three inthe 800 and 3,200 to finish with 88 points.
Los Alamitos’ Bailey Naldll, left, takes the baton from teammate Janaa Guiness for the final leg of the 4×100 relay final, which Los Alamitos won, during the Orange County Championships on Saturday, March 26, 2022. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
Orange Lutheran’s Kennedy Cunningham clears a height of 5ft during the Orange County track and field championships in Mission Viejo on Saturday, March 26, 2022. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)
Brea Olinda’s Daniela Garcia competes in the varsity 300m hurdles during the Orange County track and field championships in Mission Viejo on Saturday, March 26, 2022. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)
Corona del Mar senior Caroline Glessing lands in the sand while competing in the long jump at the Orange County Championships on Saturday, March 26, 2022. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
Crean Lutheran’s Elina Oh, right, competes in the varsity 100m dash during the Orange County track and field championships in Mission Viejo on Saturday, March 26, 2022. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)
From left, Fountain Valley’s Matthew Malone, Capo Valley’s Calvin Chapman and Sage Hill’s Jesus Iraheta compete in the varsity 100m dash during the Orange County track and field championships in Mission Viejo on Saturday, March 26, 2022. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)
Pacifica’s Charis Wandercheck, left, who won the race, and Villa Park’s Lauran Meredith are neck and neck as they approach their last hurdle in the 100-meter hurdles final at the Orange County Championships on Saturday, March 26, 2022. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
Mission Viejo’s Jada Gatlin competes in the varsity triple jump during the Orange County track and field championships in Mission Viejo on Saturday, March 26, 2022. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)
Capistrano Valley’s Alexa Thomas competes in the long jump at the Orange County Championships at Mission Viejo High School on Saturday, March 26, 2022. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
JSerra’s Ashley Gallegos, left, races against Dana Hills’ Allura Markow in the 1,600 meters at the Orange County Championships on Saturday, March 26, 2022. Gallegos pulled away in the final 200 meters to win the race, and she also won the 200 meters. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
Jason Plumb, of Corona del Mar, competes in the long jump at the Orange County Championships on Saturday, March 26, 2022. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
Cypress’ Saeed Abdulalim leads in the varsity 800m during the Orange County track and field championships in Mission Viejo on Saturday, March 26, 2022. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)
Mater Dei’s Madison Forbes competes in the long jump at the Orange County Championships at Mission Viejo High School on Saturday, March 26, 2022. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
Mission Viejo’s Reuben Lopez competes in the long jump at the Orange County Championships on Saturday, March 26, 2022. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
Canyon’s Evan Sandoval celebrates after competing in the varsity 400m race during the Orange County track and field championships in Mission Viejo on Saturday, March 26, 2022. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)
Mater Dei’s Brandon Gorski clears 6ft 2in during the Orange County track and field championships in Mission Viejo on Saturday, March 26, 2022. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)
Dana Hills’ Jai Dawson competes in the varsity 800m race during the Orange County track and field championships in Mission Viejo on Saturday, March 26, 2022. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)
Josh Jornadal, of JSerra, competes in the long jump at the Orange County Championships on Saturday, March 26, 2022. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
Mission Viejo’s Reuben Lopez competes in the long jump at the Orange County Championships on Saturday, March 26, 2022. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
Capistrano Valley’s Alexa Thomas competes in the long jump at the Orange County Championships at Mission Viejo High School on Saturday, March 26, 2022. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
Fountain Valley’s Jonathan Yu competes in the varsity triple jump during the Orange County track and field championships in Mission Viejo on Saturday, March 26, 2022. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)
Josh Jornadal, of JSerra, competes in the long jump at the Orange County Championships on Saturday, March 26, 2022. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
Tesoro’s Tyler Poltl competes in the varsity 100m during the Orange County track and field championships in Mission Viejo on Saturday, March 26, 2022. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)
Mater Dei’s Logan Lyght, center, who won the race, is trailed closely by Crean Lutheran’s Jack Fairchild, left, as they near the finish line of the boys’ 110-meter hurdles at the Orange County Championships on Saturday, March 26, 2022. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
Mater Dei’ Scott Deng, left, takes the baton from teammate Quincy Craig for the final leg of the 4×100 relay final, which Mater Dei won, during the Orange County Championships on Saturday, March 26, 2022. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
Northwood’s Justin Paulson cheers for his classmates competing in the varsity boys 800m during the Orange County track and field championships in Mission Viejo on Saturday, March 26, 2022. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)
Girls compete in the 100-meter hurdles at the Orange County Championships at Mission Viejo High School on Saturday, March 26, 2022. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
Varsity boys compete in the 1,600-meter final at the Orange County Championships at Mission Viejo High School on Saturday, March 26, 2022. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
Boys compete in the 110-meter hurdles at the Orange County Championships at Mission Viejo High School on Saturday, March 26, 2022. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
Boys compete in the 1,600-meter rated race at the Orange County Championships at Mission Viejo High School on Saturday, March 26, 2022. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
Boys compete in the 110-meter hurdles at the Orange County Championships at Mission Viejo High School on Saturday, March 26, 2022. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
Boys compete in the 110-meter hurdles at the Orange County Championships at Mission Viejo High School on Saturday, March 26, 2022. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
Varsity boys compete in the 1,600-meter final at the Orange County Championships at Mission Viejo High School on Saturday, March 26, 2022. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
Girls compete in the 100-meter hurdles at the Orange County Championships at Mission Viejo High School on Saturday, March 26, 2022. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
Varsity boys compete in the 1,600-meter final at the Orange County Championships at Mission Viejo High School on Saturday, March 26, 2022. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
Also finishing first for JSerra were Siena Lambert, who finished first in the discus with a throw of 123feet, 8 inches, and the Lions 4×400 relay team, which won in 3:58.30.
“We had to make some choices this year,” said JSerra coach Chase Frazier, a Mission Viejo alum whoalso won the O.C. Championships three times as the coach of Diablos’ girls team. “We had to back out of some of our dual meets to be able win this title. To be Orange County’s best track team is very rare and it takes a group.”
Most of JSerra’s distance runners were also part of the Lions’ cross country team that won the CIFDivision IV state championship in the fall.
The Lions also celebrated some individual accolades, with Ashlee Gallegos winning the award foroutstanding distance runner of the meet.
Gallegos won the 1,600 in 4:55.41 by catching Dana Hills’ Allura Markow, who led most of the race, with200 meters to go.
The senior then came back and won the 200 in 2:12.68.
Both victories were firsts in the O.C. Championships for Gallegos, who holds the county’s top marks inboth races (2:11.41) and (4:53.27) this season.
“I would never have expected this to happen,” Gallegos said. “This has always been a big goal of mine.I’m glad I got to do it, especially in two events.”
Markow also come back later in the meet to win the 3,200.
Field event MVP honors went to Mackenzie Kirk, of Los Alamitos, who won the triple jump (39-feet, 4 ½-inches) and took second in the long jump and high jump.
The Los Alamitos foursome of Selah Toler, Summer Allen, Sanaa Guyness and Baily Hartman won the 4 X100 relay in 49.50, edging Villa Park which took second in 49.95.
“We’ve just been kind of thrown together,” Allen said. “We have good chemistry as a team. We all wantto win as a team and for Los Alamitos.”
San Clemente’s Caroline Hawkes, who came in as the county leader in the 200 and 400, was shooting fora school record in the 400.
Hawkes not only accomplished that goal, easily winning the 400 in 55.23 to set a school record, and thenwon the 200 in 24.75.
“That was my goal and I got it,” Hawkes said. “So, I’m really proud of myself for that. I’ve just alwaysloved this meet,” Hawkes said. “It’s a good track. You definitely see some of the same competition so it’sgood camaraderie.”
Corona del Mar also came away with multiple winners.
Corona del Mar’s Caroline Glessing won the long jump in 17 feet, 9 ¾ inches.
Ava Simos won the 100 in 12.32, putting her a quarter second behind Hawkes’ county leading time of12.16.
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Hawkes didn’t compete in the 100 Saturday.
“I just kind of wanted to try for a PR with big competition,” Simos said. “I think it really helped me tohave people around me to push me to do better. I was really grateful to be able to run with all thesegirls.”
