SOUTHERN SECTION 2-A TRACK CHAMPIONSHIPS : Garden Grove’s Bernstein Proves Twice That Looks Are Deceiving

CERRITOS — Mike Bernstein of Garden Grove didn’t look great at the Southern Section 2-A prelims Friday at Gahr High School, but he got the job done.

Bernstein, a senior, qualified for Friday’s division finals by winning his heats in the 800- and 1,600-meter runs.

Bernstein, who initially planned to run only the 800 in the preliminary meet and has never qualified for the finals, won the 1,600 in 4 minutes 18.53 seconds, the fastest qualifying time of the day. Northview’s Joe Garcia was second in 4:19.95 and Brea’s Justin Curley qualified in 4:23.84.

After winning the 1,600, Bernstein came back about 1 1/2 hours later to win the 800 in 1:58.10, beating Covina’s Ricardo Guerra, who ran 1:58.33.

In the 800, Bernstein moved from fourth place at the 400-meter mark to third at 500 meters. At 600 meters he made his best move, breaking away from a tight pack and lunging into first place. He then battled Guerra in the final 20 meters.

What was Bernstein thinking at the 600-meter mark?

“I was thinking, ‘I want to win this and I’m a little tired,’ ” said Bernstein, who had a 1,600 best of 4:24 before Friday. “Obviously, I wanted to win the race a little more.”

Said Bernstein’s coach, Mark Mariola: “He looks a little awkward, but he’s a super strong, super competitive and he’s got speed.”

In the boys’ 3,200, La Habra’s Mark Gonzales won his heat in 9:26.10 and Los Amigos’ Linh Le was third in 9:32.59. Laguna Hills’ Chris Lynch (9:32.98) also qualified in another heat.

Among the boys’ qualifiers were Rancho Alamitos’ Ulysses Trammel in the 100 (11.15) and 200 (22.51) and Valencia’s Devon Edwards in the 400 (49.05).

In girls’ events:

Sonora’s Lisa Knott won her 100-meter hurdles heat in 15.10. Brea’s Dena Bloomfield was second in her heat (15.65) and first in the 300 hurdles (46.64), in front of Knott (47.18).

Sunny Hills’ Carrie Garritson and Valencia’s Heather Killeen were double qualifiers, in the 1,600 and the 3,200. Killeen won her 1,600 heat in 5:09.92 Garritson was second in the same heat at 5:18.77.

In the 3,200, Garritson won her heat in 11:03.50, but Killeen won the other heat in 11:01.87, which was the best time of the day.

In the boys’ 1,600 relay, Valencia won its heat in 3:20.59. Edwards ran an anchor leg of 47.9.

In field events: Walnut’ Juliana Yendork won the triple jump with a leap of 41 feet 6 1/2 inches. Danielle Brown of Sunny Hills was second (37-2).

Yendork also won the long jump at 18-9. Brown was third at 17-6 1/2 and Melissa McDonald of Mater Dei was fourth at 16-7. McDonald also qualified in the high jump at 5-0.

In the boys’ shotput: Valencia’s Paul Richard won with a mark of 55-1 1/2. Derek Sparks of Mater Dei also qualified at 49- 3/4. He finished in seventh place.

In the girls’ discus: Garden Grove’s Melanie Dear had the top throw among Orange County qualifiers at 125-10.