Hard work propels Aguilar

It was a first for Spencer Aguilar.

The junior, starting his first full season on the Corona del Mar High boys’ track and field team, was a triple-event winner for the first time when the Sea Kings defeated Newport Harbor last Wednesday.

The 6-foot-3 Aguilar won the triple jump with a distance of 37 feet, 7 inches, the 110-meter high hurdles with a time of 16.1 seconds and the 300 intermediate hurdles in 43.8.

Aguilar has become the type of track and field athlete who can win three events in one meet, not so much with pure athletic ability as through good old-fashioned hard work.

“It was a great thing for him to do what he did against Newport Harbor,” Corona del Mar boys’ track and field Coach Bill Sumner said. “He was fired up. He’s been working hard. He’s not the fastest guy in the world ? far from it, but he’s the hardest-working.”

Aguilar is the type of athlete who makes it easy for Sumner to coach year after year.

“There are a lot of kids with all the athletic ability in the world, but you can’t get anything out of them because they don’t want to work at it,” Sumner said. “So it’s nice to see a kid like this do well. He puts it on the line.”

Aguilar has also gotten a boost from a growth spurt and some weight gain. Aguilar grew about three inches since last season. He has also hit the weight room in an attempt to fill out his frame.

“I did a lot of offseason training that included weight lifting,” Aguilar said. “I’ve probably gained 15 or 20 pounds since last year. Now I can run through hurdles and keep going without slowing down if I knock them over.”

He’s also improved his technique since last year, when he joined the varsity toward the end of the season.

“He’s more technically sound,” Sumner said. “He’s a little bigger and faster and technically, he’s 10 times more sound.”

Sumner said Aguilar has been working on the high jump for about a year, and that he just learned the triple jump, but the 110 high hurdles is where he’s shown the most improvement.

“The 110 high hurdles is his best event,” Sumner said. “For the 300 hurdles, he needs a little more strength, but eventually that will be his best event.”

Not only does Aguilar put in the hard work, he has his share of fun, too.

“I probably goof off a little more than the coaches would like ? I could take it a little more seriously at times,” Aguilar said. “But I make sure to make it to every practice and every meet and work my hardest.”

Even then, Sumner says he looks like he’s having a ball.

“He’s a fun guy with an eternal smile,” he said. “He runs the hurdles with a smile. You see all these guys lined up looking all serious, then there is Spencer with a smile on his face.”

Aguilar was really smiling after his performance against Newport Harbor.

“It’s the first time I ever won three events in one meet, it was pretty cool,” Aguilar said. “I like the feeling of contributing to the team. Putting up 15 points for the team was cool.”

The Spencer Aguilar File

Hometown: Newport Beach

Height: 6-foot-3

Weight: 180

Sport: Track and field

Position: Hurdles, jumping events.

Coach: Bill Sumner

Favorite food: Tortellini Alfredo

Favorite movie: “Ocean’s Eleven”

Favorite athletic moment: “It would have to be last week. That was a good time, winning three events against Newport Harbor.”

Week in review: Aguilar led the Corona del Mar High boys’ track and field team to a 72-55 win over rival Newport Harbor by winning the triple jump (37 feet, 7 inches), the 110 high hurdles (16.1 seconds) and the 300 intermediate hurdles (43.8 seconds).dpt-maleathlete18.IMGGraphicInfo8R1P348C200603188R1P348CNo Captiondpt.18-aow-1-dz-CPhotoInfo7L1P39E020060318iwb0keknDOUGLAS ZIMMERMAN / DAILY PILOT(LA)