Several local scholastic track and field teams look to jump past the competition this spring.
At La Jolla High, the Lady Vikings under head coach Roger Karnopp went 6-0 last spring and won their second straight league crown.
Key returnees include Melia Plotkin and Rosie Jaye (pole vault), Ashley Fu and Allyn Meyer (jumps), Nihal Kayali and Courtney Avvampato (two-mile), Tess Plant-Thomas (800) and Meghan Forrey (hurdles).
Karnopp also will look to strong performances from Callan Parra in the sprints and relays; Kylie Henry in the sprints, relays and jumps; Nicole Bakke in the 400 and 800 and relays; Jessica Armstrong in the 400, 1600 and hurdles; and Heather Martin in the triple jump.
“We should do extremely well again this year,” Karnopp said. “The big competition for the league will be with Scripps Ranch and Cathedral Catholic.”
On the boys side, La Jolla under head coach Danny Kung went 6-0 last spring.
Key members this season should include John Jackson in the sprints, Kevin Miller in the hurdles, Trevor Dorne and Michael Conroy in distance events, Jose Aviles in the throws and Andrew Farkas (400, distances).
“The seniors provide a tremendous amount of leadership to the team,” Kung said. “They work very hard on the track and perform well in the pressure situations. They have made huge gains during their junior campaigns and you should see them at the top of their game for their senior years.”
Kung added he believes the team has a shot at another Western League title and hopefully a top five finish at CIFs in Div II.
At The Bishop’s School, head co-coaches Jim Green and April Guinchard have some strong talent to work with.
The Lady Knights last season won the 2007 Coastal Conference Championship Meet, while the boys placed third.
“This year we have 81 athletes on our roster, 52 of which are girls and 25 of which are freshmen,” Guinchard noted. “We should have a successful season this year with several strong veterans returning, in addition to a very promising group of younger athletes.”
Top boys should include Saron Hood (200m, 400m, 4×100, 4×400), Jacob Kelly (200m, 400m, 4×100 and 4×400), Alfredo Corral (400m, 4×400), and Andy Morgosh and Henry Su (distances).
“Andy Morgosh and Henry Su are demonstrating great motivation in leading the distance team,” said Adam Weiner, distance coach. “The school record in the 3200 is set to fall as soon as we have an official track meet.”
On the girls side, key members include Kelsey Gold (discus, shot put), Elizabeth Schultz (3200, 1600), Laura Wyatt (800, 1600), Danielle Tucci (hurdles, high jump) and Marjorie Lancombe (100, 200, long jump).
“The girls distance team has great depth,” Weiner added. “With junior standouts Elizabeth Schulze and Laura Wyatt, along with a solid group comprising last year’s Division IV CIF cross-country champion team, the team looks to do extremely well in the conference this year.”
Guinchard noted that “Along with strong returning sprinters Lancombe, Annie Kadota, Stevie Griglak and Laurel Casey, there are many new members who show great promise.”
At La Jolla Country Day School, head coach Kevin Reaume has another strong squad to work with.
“The boys team, although very young, should have an excellent opportunity to repeat an undefeated dual meet season and Coastal Conference championship,” Reaume said. “The girls team, a bit short in numbers, especially early on in the season, is looking forward to strong team and individual performances at the Coastal Conference championship and invitational meets, especially in the field events.”
On the boys side, LJCD will look to Jason McCallum, Alistair Dobke, Sage Hagstrom, Alex Kim, Mikey Salas, Alberto Yanez, Montell Allen and Bruno Garcia (sprints); Mason Boxer-Capitano (hurdles, jumps); McCallum, Dobke and Dennis Roth (jumps); Ryan French and Philip Poyhonen (pole vault); Alex Poyhonen, Alex Fleischhacker, Lee Klitzner (distances) and Andy Altman, Steve Fackler, Indi Lavarias and Junior Togiaso (throws). Reaume added that Ryan Watt and Mitch Amelio have shown early potential in the high jump.
On the girls side, LJCD will look to Kira Mesman-Hallman, Courtney Rockwood, Francesca Ressa (sprints); Mesman-Hallman (hurdles); Tricia Decker (pole vault, long jump); Alexis Samuels (400, 800); Jewels Johnson, Tiffany Hoffman, Mollie Rogers (throws) to lead the way.