Axtell Leads Way as Mission Viejo Wins Track Title

There were many strong performances but little suspense at the sixth Mission Viejo Girls Track and Field Invitational Saturday at Mission Viejo High School.

As expected, Mission Viejo easily won the team title by scoring 153 points. Edison was second with 68 points and Upland third with 52 points.

Mission Viejo had six first-place finishes, five second-place finishes and three third-place finishes and was virtually assured of winning the 14-team meet at the halfway point.

Senior Allison Franke of Canyon was named the athlete of the meet for the second consecutive year. Franke broke her own meet record in the discus (149-10) with a throw of 151-7, finished second in the long jump (17-6) and triple jump (36-2 3/4) and was third in the 100-meter high hurdles (16.09).

Despite the award, Franke was subdued after the meet--in part because she did not have a personal best.

“I’m pleased with the record,” Franke said. “We just had a meet on Thursday so I was a little tired.”

Junior Allison Axtell of Mission Viejo also had an impressive performance. She had two first-place finishes, edging Franke in the long jump (17-9 1/2) and winning the 400 meters (59.67), and also contributed to Mission Viejo’s victories in the 400- and 1,600-meter relays.

“I kind of had it in my mind (to win the athlete of the meet award), but Allison Franke--she’s amazing.” Axtell said. “I really wanted to win my events.”

“She had an absolutely outstanding day,” Mission Viejo coach Fred Almond said. “She got my vote for athlete of the meet.”

Mission Viejo also had an excellent performance from senior Lisa Fager, who finished first in the triple jump (36-6 1/2) and the high jump (5-6).

“I expect Fager to be awesome every meet,” Almond said. “It’s probably not fair to do that, but she had a great day--she just missed 5-8 on the high jump and she went (36-6 1/2) into the wind.”

Edison freshman Shelley Taylor also won two events. Taylor, The Times’ girls cross-country runner of the year last fall, won the 800 meters in 2:21.29 and edged Mission Viejo’s Kathy Grayson to win the 1,600 meters in 5:25.18.