Laguna Beach Trophy Invitational canceled amid coronavirus uncertainty in Orange County

By Andrew TurnerStaff Writer

Jan. 14, 2021 5:20 PM PT

Almost 10 months removed since high school sports were last seen in Orange County, the impact of the coronavirus pandemic is still being felt.

The CIF, the state governing body for high school sports, adjusted its sports calendar in July to try to accommodate its student-athletes. All CIF sports — normally contested over a fall, winter and spring season — were divided into just two seasons with delayed start dates.

Midway through January, the makeshift fall season has yet to begin, and sports designated to be part of the spring season are being affected.

The Laguna Beach Trophy Invitational, a destination track and field meet for distance runners who partake in the Eric Hulst 3,200-meter Invitational races, has been canceled.

Laguna Beach High School girls’ cross-country and track and field coach Steve Lalim, the meet director, confirmed that the meet was called off on Wednesday due to uncertainty caused by the coronavirus.

The Trophy Invitational had been scheduled to take place at Laguna Beach High School on April 17. The date coincides with a meet often held on the same day in the Triton Invitational at San Clemente High School.

“The reason that we decided to shut it down this year is just because there’s so many question marks,” Lalim said. “We don’t know what it’s going to look like, how big can it be, what are the restrictions going to be.”

Demonstrations using the theme “Let Them Play” are expected to be seen at high schools in Orange County and across the state on Friday. The movement comes as frustration mounts over youth sports remaining on the sidelines.

Orange County is in the purple tier for “widespread” virus transmission. Under that most restrictive tier, the only fall sport in the Southern Section that would be allowed is cross-country. The county would have to progress to the red tier for field hockey, the orange tier for football, gymnastics, water polo and girls’ volleyball, and the yellow tier for competitive cheerleading.

Current guidance also dictates that competition between teams will not be allowed in the state until at least Jan. 25.

“It really makes you appreciate what we had, and at this point, if it’s just dual meets, it’s going to be the greatest dual meets ever because we just miss it so much,” Lalim said. “If we can run some small invitationals, it’s going to be amazing.

“I just can’t wait until they give the ‘OK.’ I’m hopeful, I’m excited, and the kids just really deserve a chance to get out and compete. I think it’s just healthy for them.”

Orange County reported 16 deaths due to COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus, in updated numbers provided Thursday by the Orange County Health Care Agency.

There have been 2,195 lives lost due to the virus countywide during the pandemic. The county also reported 3,221 new infections, bringing the cumulative case count to 202,753.

Hospitalizations because of the virus in the county stood at 2,169, with 544 of those patients being treated in intensive care units.

The county also reported 28,387 additional tests for the virus within the last day, taking the total number of tests administered to 2,349,263. The health care agency estimates that 129,485 people in the county have recovered from a battle with the virus.