Agnew leaps into the record books at Beach Cities Invitational

HUNTINGTON BEACH- After her first attempt in the long jump competition produced a less than satisfactory result, Los Alamitos junior Jordan Agnew made conscious decision to trust her instincts.

It proved to be a successful choice for Agnew, who produced a big lifetime best and new school record of 18-10½ to win the event at the 2012 Beach Cities Invitational Saturday at Huntington Beach High.

“On my first jump, I stuttered on the board because I didn’t trust my mark,” Agnew said. “Afterward, I trusted my mark and I got a great jump out of it, which was awesome.”

Agnew’s first attempt of the meet produced a mark of 16-8, but on her second attempt, she surpassed her lifetime best of 17-8 and the previous school record of 18-4½ set by Thelma Viagar in 1980.

“When I landed, I knew that I had PR’ed,” Agnew said. “But I had no idea I had done it by a foot and a couple of inches. I had some doubts coming into this meet, and this boosted my confidence.”
    
Earlier in the meet, Agnew (47.93) finished second in the 300 hurdles.
    
It was a busy day of competition for Dana Hills junior Brenna Barker.
    
She began the day by winning the high jump competition with a clearance 5 feet, six inches.
    
“I had some really good competition and that motivation really drove me to clear that,” Barker said. “I really need to focus on my form, leaning back, and my run-through.”
    
She also placed second to Edison’s Michaella Schaeffer (38-1½) in the triple jump with a distance of 37 feet, nine inches and closed the day with a fourth place finish in the long jump (17-5).
    
Estancia sophomore Persis Williams proved to be the top sprinter of the meet, taking home victories in both the 100 (12.62) and the 200 (26.32).
    
“I just put my head down, looked at the ground, and kept going,” Williams said. “This season, I feel a lot more confident in myself.”

Dana Hills sophomore Michaela King was also a double winner in the hurdles races, winning both the 100 (15.42) and 300 (47.40).
    
“I’m really competitive and I like the hurdle races,” King said. “Winning makes me confident and I just try to beat my times each race.”

Edison senior Lauren Grego and Laguna Hills junior Alana Jones were nearly stride for stride down the final 50 meters of the 800 before Grego pulled out the win in a time of 2:16.67.
    
“I was telling myself to pick up my knees, pump my arms, and focus on the finish line,” Grego said. “This shows the progress that I’ve made so far.”

Jones, who finished second in a time of 2:16.78, turned the script around in the 1600, out-sprinting Grego and Edison junior Haley Seward to win in a lifetime best 5:11.39.
    
“My goal was to stay behind the girls and keep the pace,” Jones said. “I felt really good through the entire race and told myself that I wasn’t going to kick until later, which worked out.”

Dana Hills junior Paige Canterbury (11:36.64) led for most of the 3200 before out-kicking Marina sophomore Emily Stressling (11:37.00) down the final 60 meters of the race to pull out the win.

Irvine senior Tawny Hanna won the discus with a distance of 118-7, Huntington Beach junior Ashley Donohoe (39-11) claimed the shot put title, and Edison senior Karen Snapper (11-8) was first in the pole vault.

Dana Hills finished first in the 400 relay in a time of 50.09.