WALNUT – While first-place finishes are nice, Orange County athletes took progression over wins at the Mt. SAC Relays on Saturday.
In the field events, Los Alamitos’ Mackenna Howard, who is fifth in the all-time county annals for girls shot put, recorded a personal best of 47 feet, 9 inches, which placed her third in the invitational.
“I think I still have a lot more in me,” Howard said. “I’m looking forward. I think I have a 50 (foot throw) in me. I just have to throw it the right way.”
Later in the night, Howard finished in third place in the discus with a throw of 136-11.
Garrett Corcoran proved himself in the boys 800-meter invitational. The Villa Park senior held the lead after one lap, but lost his grip to Stockdale standout Blake Haney, who came in first at a clip of 1:51.97.
Corcoran’s 1:52.98 put him third, but it was his personal record for the 800 and stands as the best time in the county.
“I was actually going for a little faster (time), but I was pretty proud of it (my race),” Corcoran said. “I got out really fast … I got myself in good position and I ran a pretty big personal record. I was happy I was able to do that. I think I got a good experience out of this race.”
Dana Hills had a stellar day for itself as well. The girls 1,600-meter relay team of Kimiko Tanaka, Chloe Deol, Hollis Donovan and Brenna McNulty broke the school record with a 3:52.36 and finished third.
“With the long day, and they all did two events prior to that, running late and having all those heats prior to them, all of that, I’m happy with how they handled all of that,” Dolphins coach Ryan Crane said. “They didn’t let that get in their head.”
Dana Hills had good performances early in the day. Michaela King finished sixth in her race, the girls invitational 300 hurdles, but there was a bright spot that came out of it.
She ran the event in 44.06, which replaces her previous time of 44.26 as the county’s best mark.
King narrowly missed out on her goal of cracking the 44-second barrier, which she did last season when she ran a 43.71.
“I felt good, until I hit that last hurdle,” King said. “I could’ve got that 43, but it happens. I just want to keep getting better.”
Deol also broke the school record in the girls 400 with a 56.95.
Contact the writer: amorales@ocregister.com
