Disiena is top qualifier

MISSION VIEJO - Running in the same competition that featured the defending state and Division I champion proved to be the perfect motivation for Fountain Valley junior Anja Disiena.

The 800-meter Orange County champion finished as the top qualifier in a star-studded field at the CIF Southern Section Division I track and field preliminaries at Trabuco Hills High.

"My coaches stressed that I had to win the heat," said Disiena, who finished in 2:14.30. "Next week is going to be a fast race, but I will do what I have to do to win."

Defending CIF champion and current county leader Emily Dunn of Esperanza was the second overall qualifier, winning her heat in a time of 2:15.02.

"There are good competitors in the field this year," said Dunn, who also qualified for the 400 finals in a personal best and county-leading time of 55.04. "I won CIF last year and want to do it again."

Aliso Niguel senior Haley Lawrence, the defending state champion in the 800, carried over her momentum from winning the South Coast title, winning her heat and grabbing the third overall seed with a time of 2:15.52.

"Each week it gets harder," said Lawrence. "Next week will be another challenge for me."

Mission Viejo senior Natalie Roy emphatically overcame her second-place finish at the South Coast League finals, finishing as the top qualifier in the 100 hurdles race (14.55).

"I'm really excited to have the opportunity to win CIF," said Roy.

Fellow Diablos hurdler Chelsea Taylor ran a strong 300 hurdle race, winning her heat in a tight battle and finishing with the fourth-best qualifying time (45.07)

"I'm really excited," said Taylor. "The main thing I have to do for next week is to stay focused."

The girls pole vault was a showcase for Los Alamitos, as senior Katelyn Beighton and junior Alexa Ward qualified for the finals by finishing tied for first with three other vaulters who cleared 10 feet, 6 inches.

In the 3,200, Alex Dunne of San Clemente (10:57.80), Elizabeth Coe of Fountain Valley (10:58.32), and Megan Meyer of Tesoro (11:11.40) all qualified for next week's finals.