The Dana Hills girls track and field team put forth an impressive overall showing in a 110-26 victory over South Coast rival San Clemente on Wednesday.
But it was the Dolphins’ effort in the high jump that was truly noteworthy.
Dana Hills had nine girls clear the bar at 5 feet. Senior Taylor Eljenholm finished first at 5-foot-2.
She was followed by senior Skylar Johnson, junior Jenna Allen, senior Brenna Barker, junior Megan LaRocca, senior Shaye McClory, junior Katie Campbell, sophomore Natalie Lord, and freshman Emma Tremblay, all of whom cleared 5feet.
Renowned longtime Dolphins high jump coach Vern McGarry said he has never seen a performance quite like the one Wednesday.
“The 5-foot barrier is the gold standard in girls high school high jumping,” McGarry said.
O.C. could have big day at Arcadia
The invitational portion of the Arcadia Invitational could be a showcase today for some of the county’s top field athletes.
Santa Margarita sophomore Kaitlyn Merritt will headline the girls pole vault. Merritt enters the meet as the state leader with a seasonal best clearance of 13-6, which is the No. 3 mark in the nation this season.
The girls triple jump will feature Dana Hills’ Barker and Edison senior Michaela Schaeffer. Schaeffer has the second-best mark in the state to date under all conditions at 39-53/4. Barker recorded the third best wind-legal jump in the state this season (37-103/4) in a winning effort at last week’s Trabuco Hills Invitational.
Newport Harbor senior Marty Taylor will look to be the second consecutive Sailors thrower to win both the discus and shot put. Ethan Cochran won both at last year’s meet. Taylor is the state leader in the discus and has the second best mark in the state in the shot put.
Orange Lutheran junior and county triple jump leader Myles Hawkins will look to continue his stellar season. He has a seasonal best of 46-41/4 under all conditions.
Mission Viejo senior Sage Stone will seek to win the high jump. Stone currently ranks third in the state with a clearance of 6-9.
The boys pole vault will feature five county vaulters who have cleared 15 feet this season, led by Mater Dei senior and county leader Michael Rovzar, who is third in the state with a clearance of 15-10.
BENOIT TO COMPETE IN WORLD YOUTH TRIALS
San Clemente junior Kelsey Benoit continued his breakout season Wednesday, as he threw a lifetime best 59-61/2 in the shot put in a dual meet against Dana Hills.
Benoit’s throw ties him with Crespi of Encino’s Amir Patterson for the best distance among all juniors in the country.
Tritons throws coach Kevin Corbett confirmed that Benoit will compete in the shot put and the discus at the 2013 World Youth Trials, which are scheduled to be held June 25-26 in Edwardsville, Ill.
That meet is the qualifier for the 2013 IAAF World Youth Championships, which take place July 10-14 in Donetsk, Ukraine.
BOYS TRACK- UNDERCLASSMEN STANDOUTS IN THE FIRST MONTH OF THE TRACK SEASON:
A.J. Beynon, Edison, So.
Malik McMorris,Mater Dei, So.
Jake Ogden, Dana Hills, Fr.
Quintin Pounds,Cypress, So.
Austin Tamagno,Brea Olinda, Fr.
Gabe Warner,Woodbridge, So.
GIRLS TRACK- UNDERCLASSMEN STANDOUTS IN THE FIRST MONTH OF THE TRACK SEASON:
Taylor Eddleman, Huntington Beach, So.
Amanda Gehrich, Tesoro, Fr.
Kennedy Gillian, Mission Viejo, Fr.
Megan Miller, Mission Viejo, So.
Hilary Ojinnaka, Cypress, So.
Ashley Willingham, Los Alamitos, Fr.
Contact the writer: jeichelberger@ocregister.com
