HONORING CREAN LUTHERAN: Girls track and field team had promising start

Crean Lutheran’s girls track and field athletes and coaches gathered for a picture before the season. (Photo courtesy Crean Lutheran High School)

Crean Lutheran’s girls track and field team had a 1-1 record in dual meets before the season was stopped short.

“Our girls team was maybe one of the strongest all-around teams we have ever had,” said Coach Robby Cherry. “In the short season our girls team set 19 top 10 marks for our program and was on pace to contend for a league title this year. Our top six scorers this season were Leah Ellwein (junior), Kaela Brenner (sophomore), Kylie O’Rourke (senior), Marisa Maas (sophomore), Julie Koyamatsu (senior) and Elsa Ashmon (freshman).

“Leah was undefeated in our league in both hurdle events and Kaela was undefeated in league in the 1,600-meter and 800-meter, both athletes would have had a chance to be league champions in their events.

“Our girls team also would have had a chance to contend for a top-three finish at CIF Finals this season as a team.I was very proud of how our girls team rallied together in the face of difficult situations early in the season. The girls worked together and sacrificed for their teammates. Even when our team was missing several scoring members due to the basketball post-season our team never gave up and nearly pulled off an upset against Cypress despite missing many key scorers.

“Our team did a great job of living out our team verse for the year, which says, ‘Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves, a threefold cord is not quickly broken.’ Ecclesiastes 4:12.”

Cherry also talked about his seniors:

Julia Bharwani: “First year track athlete as a senior and we wish she could have joined us much sooner. Julia was just discovering her abilities as a distance and middle distance runner as the season prematurely came to an end.”

Megan Diaz: “Megan was one of our top two girls throwers and was a four year veteran on our team. Megan was a natural leader on our team, especially amongst our throwers. Megan had a very good start to her season in the discus event, breaking into the top ten on our team’s records.” 

Julie Koyamatsu: “Julie is a four year veteran as well for us, specializing in the pole vault and hurdles. Julie tied our school record in the pole vault with a jump of 9 feet. Julie is a team captain and an outstanding leader to have on our team.” 

Jasmine Lopez-Powers: “Jasmine was one of our team’s fastest sprinters and contributed to our 4×100 m relays as well. Jasmine was always kind and hard working and was showing great improvement this season already.”

Kiley O’Rourke: “Kiley has had a tremendous impact on our team over the past two seasons. Kiley was one of the best 400-meter sprinters in the Empire League and was an outstanding relay runner as well. Kiley competed in CIF finals last season in the 4×400-meter and would have likely returned this year.”

Christina Volz: “One of our top female throwers this year. She managed to be in our top 10 all time in both the shot put and the discus. Christina was just beginning her second season with us and was improving quickly.”

SEND US YOUR PHOTOS!

If you took pictures before the season, we would like to share team pictures of spring teams with our readers. These can be pictures of seniors or the entire team and we will run these throughout the coming months to salute the dedicated athletes of Orange County who have had their seasons cut short. Please email pictures, names of the players and some highlights to timburt@ocsportszone.com so we can share with our readers. Horizontal pictures similar in size to the one above work best. Please do not take pictures now for us.

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