California State Championship Preview

From: DougSpeck@aol.com
Date: Mon, 24 Nov 1997 12:43:37 -0500 (EST)
Subject: state cc preview article 

State Cross-Country Preview 
By Doug Speck - Arcadia High School 

	The Golden State's section champion prep harriers will again travel to
Fresno this Thanksgiving weekend to sort out the end of season "bragging
rights" in the hill and dale sport.  The splendid Woodward Park facility will
once again be the backdrop against which a number of fine team and individual
struggles will unfold.  
	Once again California has a strong crew in the sport with Yucaipa on the
Girls' side challenging as the best squad in the entire nation in
country-wide rankings during the Fall.  
	The Girls Division V contest starts the day with University (San
Francisco-NCS) interestingly the state's best ever at this level, with
impressive successes during the year moving up to compete against much larger
schools and a total destruction of teams at this this level.  Linden Bader,
Kira Morser, and Aliza Cohen return for the Uni group that will defend its
championship in fine style.  Behind Uni, from the south come strong groups
from Pasadena Poly (SS), led by Katie Newhall, Chadwick (Palos Verdes-SS),
with Veronica Herrera and Aggie Noble the team leaders, and Santa Clara
(Oxnard-SS), with Middletown (NCS) another formidable team after a team award
plaque.  Kate Saxton (College Prep-NCS) is the defending champ here, with
Angela Peterson (Francis Parker, San Diego) another strong individual.  
	In the Girls Division I race Yucaipa (SS) has once again been the beacon of
total success against which all other teams statewide can measure themselves.
 Coach Jim Clendaniel's Thunderbirds have traveled as far east as New
Hampshire this Fall during an undefeated year to show they are the country's
best, with no argument from Californians about that fact.  
	Kimi Welsh will lead Yucaipa to another stomping of the field, with this
team having scored 48 in last year's Division II win, and essentially the
entire team returns.  Esperanza (Anaheim-SS) is ranked among the top twenty
nationally, with Quartz Hill (SS), led by Danielle Day, also very strong.
 Valhalla (El Cajon-SD), led by Section individual champ, Andrea Clemons, has
dominated local competition.  Yvonne Liebig (Kennedy, Sacramento-SJ), Trina
Cox (Santa Rosa-NC), Lauren Fleshman (Canyon, Canyon Country), Latesha Jones
(Rialto-SS), Chris Gregory (Clovis, and Jennifer Burris (Ayala, Chino
Hills-SS) are strong individuals.   
	The Division V Boys contest will be an interesting one, with three teams
from the south, Maranatha (Sierra Madre-SS) led by James Avis, Flintridge
Prep (La Canada), with Doug Hall on top, and Crossroads (Santa Monica), led
by the twin combo of Jeff and Mike Tomlinson, challenged by a good group of
squads from around the state.  University (San Francisco-NCS), led by Max
Hanlin, took their Section Meet narrowly over St. Joseph/Notre Dame (NCS)
with Uni having good success around the state during a season of travel.
Local powerhouse Tranquility (Ce) showed strong potential during the Fall.
 Aaron Sharp (Santa Clara, Oxnard-SS) had a good Section Finals run, with
defending champ Ryan Downey (St. Margaret's, San Juan Capistrano-SS) also
qualifying.
	The Boys Division I race features a very strong group, with Long Beach Poly
(SS), led by Chad Durham, racing a 15:53 average in the Section Finals meeet
on a course running fairly close to Woodward Park timewise.  Nevada Union
(Grass Valley-SJ), led by Mike Gregg, is ranked in the top ten nationally,
with travels as far as Alabama this Fall to show they are the country's best,
with at least the honor as "nation's most improved program" over the last
year.  Belmont (L.A.) has had great big-meet success this season, with a
great Section Finals run. Del Campo (Fair Oaks-SJ), Bellarmine Prep (San
Jose-CCS), and Clovis (Ce) have great potential, with the first five teams
within thirty-two points here last year in a wide-open struggle.     
Steve Smith (Ayala, Chino Hills-SS), Mike Baskin (Mt. Carmel, San Diego), and
Paulo Carvalho (Modesto-SJ), had good Section runs, with Juan Chavira
(Hanford-3rd-Ce), Chris Farley (Del Campo, Fair Oaks-SJ), and Jason Taylor
(Peninsula, Rolling Hills-SS) in last year's top ten here.
	The Girls Division II contest could be an interesting one. Woodbridge
(Irvine-SS), led by Mary Moore, has been ranked #1 statewide, but Brea-Olinda
(Brea-SS), St. Lucy's (Glendora-SS), and Mission Viejo (SS), from its own
area are very dangerous.  A healthy Placer (Auburn-SJ) team, Scripps Ranch
(San Diego), and Mission San Jose (Fremont-NC), led by Katie Hotchkiss, could
threaten.  Jill Santibanez (Katella, Anaheim-SS), Desiree Davila (Hilltop,
Chula Vista-SD), Anna-Elyse Smith (Aptos), and Dani Rope (Santa Margarita,
Rancho SM-SS) are strong individuals.  
	The Boys Division III race will be another exciting one.  Don Bosco Tech
(Rosemead-SS) averaged 16:02 on a course similar to Woodward Park to take
their Section Finals run, with Armando Solis and Dan Phiffer outstanding up
front.  Newport Harbor (Newport Beach-SS) and South Hills (West Covina-SS)
have been outstanding from down south during the year.  St. Francis (Mountain
View-CCS) and St. Ignatius (San Francisco-CCS) have battled all Fall, with
Ryan Mack led Ukiah (NCS) taking that Section meet over College Park
(Pleasant Hill-NCS).  East Union (Manteca-SJ), led by strong Justin
Willingham, is another strong team that could surprise.  Celedonio Rodriguez
(Elsie Allen, Santa Rosa-NCS), David Jackson (Rim of World, Lake
Arrowhead-SS), Heriberto Sarabia and Fabian Ruelas (Sonora, La Habra-SS), and
Joma Dewald (Soquel-CCS) were individuals with good Section Finals runs.  
	The Girls Division IV race has season-long top-ranked Campolindo
(Moraga-NCS) coming in off a solid Section Finals run, led by Katy Berkes and
Laura Cherdack.  Nordhoff (Ojai-SS), led by 1996 runner-up Elaine Canchola
surprised with another Section title, with Corona del Mar (Newport Beach-SS),
and Costa Mesa (SS), led by Jamie DeNoewer, threats for team plaques from
that area.  Sarah Halles (Ursuline, Santa Rosa-NCS), Jenee Erickson (West
Valley, Cottonwood-No), and Laura Davis (McFarland-Ce) are strong individuals
here.  
	The Boys Division II field is headed by Jesuit (Sacramento-SJ), with
Ka-Akdema Yalpaala and Mike Altierri leading, ranked among the nation's top
twenty-five, and a strong De la Salle (Concord) team, both proven in
statewide travels this Fall.  Saugus (SS) had a fine peak at the Section
meet, averaging 16:02 for five on a course similar to Woodward Park.  Mission
Viejo (SS), led by Mark Gleason, Rubidoux (Riverside-SS), with Gabriel
Hernandez on top, and Katella (Anaheim-SS) are proven squads.  Jon Stevens
(Mission San Jose, Fremont-NCS), the State 1600m champ in track, Ronnie
Buchanan (Righetti, Santa Maria-SS), Jose Herrera (Loara, Anaheim-SS), Gary
Passanisi (Aptos-CCS), Marcus Chandler (Serra, San Diego), and Matt McInvale
(Ramona-SD) are strong individuals at this level.  
	The Girls Division III race will be next.  This has developed into a
"wide-open" contest with a number of squads capable of taking home the
championship plaque.  Season-long top ranked Palo Alto (CCS) took its section
title, but Southerners El Modena (Orange-SS), led by Jessica Dahlberg, South
Hills (West Covina-SS), La Canada (SS), led by Kim Garnic, and Newport Harbor
(Newport Beach-SS), led by Alicia McFall, all were sharp in their area
championship run.  Carondolet (Concord-NCS) edged a good Montgomery (Santa
Rosa-NCS) group in that area championship, with Montgomery's Sara Bei the top
"unknown" runner in the entire U.S. this Fall.  Foothill (Shasta-No), led by
Rachelle Hastings, is a top group from that area.  It will be a great
championship race here!!  Nicole Portley (Aragon, San Mateo-CCS), Lisa Gillis
(Moreau Catholic, Hayward-NCS), Jamie Witt (Folsom-SJ), Veronica Sanchez
(Wasco-Ce), Kyra Patterson (San Luis Obispo-SS), and Heather Garritson (Buena
Park-SS) are individuals who will challenge near the front.  
	The Boys Division IV race has two of the great traditional powers battling
up front once again.  Nordhoff (Ojai-SS) peaked mightily again in its area
championships, averaging 16:00 on a course similar to Woodward Park for its
scoring five.  Victor Ochoa, Dusty Herman, and Matt Torres can all finish in
the top half-dozen individually for Nordhoff.  McFarland (Ce), another of the
Golden State's great programs, has another strong team, with Jose Perezchica
leading the squad that moved up from Division V with the State realignment.
 Estancia (Costa Mesa-SS) and Morro Bay (SS), led by outstanding individual
Isaiah Festa, have been ranked highly all season long, with Notre Dame
(Sherman Oaks-SS) the other representative from that area.  Campolindo
(Moraga-NCS) and individual North Coast champ Steve Laurie (Maria Carillo)
look strong.  Half Moon Bay (Ce) and leader Louie White looked good at the
CCS finals, with St. Augustine (San Diego), Central Valley (No), and West
Valley (Cottonwood-No) challenging for a first three places team plaque on a
good day.  
	David Ulibarri (Sierra-SJ) had a strong Sac Joaquin Finals run.