The Laguna Beach Trophy Invitational and the Triton Invitational track meets Saturday will have something for everyone.
That’s why some teams will have athletes entered in both meets, a group in the Trophy meet at Laguna Beach High and a group in the Triton meet at San Clemente High.
“We’re sending our distance group to the Trophy meet and we’re sending a group to the Triton meet,” said Foothill coach EJ Phifer. “We kind of have an elite distance group. We know what they can do and we want them to run in the elite tournaments, as we try to get them to Arcadia.”
Phifer was referring to the Arcadia Invitational on April 8-9 at Arcadia High School. It is the most prestigious regular-season meet in Southern California.
Foothill senior Grant Sweningson is in that elite distance group. He is entered in the 1,600 meters in the Trophy meet. Sweningson has the best 1,600 time (4:16.17) in Orange County this season.
“Our pole vault coach has his group going to Triton,” Phifer said, “because that’s a great environment for the pole vault.”
Both meets will feature many of Orange County’s top track and field athletes.
Servite’s Max Thomas is entered in the 100 and 200 at the Laguna Beach Trophy meet. Thomas, who signed with USC, was a CIF Southern Section champion in both events last season. He broke school records held by NFL star Matthew Slater in both events.
Dana Hills senior Jai Dawson’s name is on the Laguna Beach heat sheets for the 800. His time of 1:50.63 at the Irvine ASICS Invitational this past Saturday is fastest in California this season, and second-fastest in the nation.
Dana Hills senior Allura Markow is entered in the 3,200 at the Trophy meet. She was a CIF-SS champion in that event last season.
Crean Lutheran multi-sport athlete Jack Fairchild is entered in the 110 and 300 hurdles and in the long jump and triple jump.
San Clemente junior sprinter Caroline Hawkes is set to run on her home track in the Triton Invitational. She is this season’s county leader in the 100 (12.50) and the 200 (25.20).
Orange Lutheran senior Rebel Tuinuknafe, who is the county leader in the girls shot put (43 feet, 4.5 inches) and the discus (127-2), is entered in the Triton Invitational. Also entered is Santa Margarita junior Roman Mendoza, whose 39.61 in the 300 hurdles leads the county this season.
San Clemente sophomore high jumper Griffin Schwab will be on home turf Saturday. He is the county leader at 6-4.
The Trophy meet begins Saturday at 7:30 a.m., and the Triton meet Saturday at 7:45 a.m.
Admission to the Triton Invitational is $6 for adults, $4 for students (with valid student identification) and $3 for children.
Admission to the Laguna Beach Trophy Invitational is $10 for adults, $5 for students, and admission is free for children under 10 years old.
Parking can be difficult at both locations. Shuttle service will run continuously in Laguna Beach from Thurston Middle School to Laguna Beach High and back.
BIG WIN FOR MATER DEI BOYS VOLLEYBALL
The Mater Dei and Newport Harbor boys volleyball teams waged quite a battle Tuesday at Newport Harbor High. Mater Dei won in five sets, 15-25, 25-20, 16-25, 25-22, 15-11.
Monarchs senior Zach Berty and junior Brett Bruder had 10 kills each. Mater Dei sophomore Eli McGhee had nine kills. Junior setter Cole Schobel contributed five aces.
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Mater Dei is No. 2 in the CIF Southern Section Divisions 1 and 2 combined rankings. Beckman is No. 3 in the rankings, which include Corona del Mar (No. 4), Newport Harbor (No. 7) and Huntington Beach (No. 8). Loyola is ranked No. 1 after a 3-0 win over Newport Harbor on Saturday and a 3-0 win over No. 5 Santa Barbara last week.