Calling the Shots:

There are two simple rules to know when you run for Coach Bill Sumner.

The coach, in his 27th year at Corona del Mar High, informs his boys and girls cross country and track and field athletes of the following standards.

“Rule No. 1: Never quit,” he says. “Rule No. 2: Never forget Rule No. 1.”

Those who follow the rules know that there can be success. That was seen in Fresno Saturday when the CdM girls’ cross country team captured the CIF State Division III championship. It was the Sea Kings’ second straight and seventh overall, which tied with San Francisco University High for the most in the meet’s history.

Sumner has also guided his boys’ teams to two state titles in cross country. And the total of section titles in boys’ and girls’ cross country, as well as track and field is 15.

 Sumner used but one word to describe the Sea Kings’ state title.

“Incredible,” he said.

He used that word because he stressed that this year’s girls’ team did not have a “super stud, like [former standout] Annie St. Geme,” he said.

So with that, Sumner was extremely proud of his girls, especially because of the other feat they accomplished. They recorded the third-best team time in State Division III history. With its 92 minutes, 20 seconds, CdM now owns the top three team times.

 This year’s CdM girls’ cross country team featured six seniors.

Melanie Powers, Marisa Cummings, Kristina Funahashi, Ali Hummelberg, Sarah Keddington and Amanda Garrett were the seniors who provided leadership.

So what’s Sumner to do for next year?

“Oh well, we’ll figure it out,” he said.

The Sea Kings do have sophomores Kristen Rivera and Ashlee Powers, as well as freshman Shelby Perez returning.

CdM leaves Thursday to compete in the Nike Team Nationals Saturday in Oregon.

 Megan Munce experienced an opportune moment to visit her alma mater Saturday.

The Newport Harbor High product led the TCU women’s volleyball team to a four-game win over UC Irvine at Long Beach State. She then went to the girls’ volleyball match at Newport Harbor, where the Sailors swept Huntington Beach in a CIF State Division I Southern California Regional semifinal.