I didn’t forget about cross-country

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HaIf the time, us Inlanders can’t drive three miles in 15 minutes, but if you head down to the Irvine Woodbridge Invitational Saturday night, you’ll see several high school kids who can run that fast.

Scanning the entries in the boys’ sweepstakes race, Murrieta Valley is one of the top Inland Empire teams, but the Nighthawks, ranked No. 7 in Southern Section Division I, will be up against a deep and talented field led by Trabuco Hills. The defending Division I state champions are again ranked No. 1 in the state and will be led by individual contenders Scott Blair and Riley Sullivan.

In the girls’ featured sweepstakes race, looks like the best local team to watch is Phelan Serrano, ranked No. 6 in the state and No. 5 in Southern Section Division I. The Diamondbacks are (still) led by senior Kauren Tarver, a four-year, multi-sport, heavily-decorated athlete who should be well-rested after sitting out last weekend’s Laguna Hills Invitatational.

The favored team is defending Division I state champion Saugus, which returns as the state’s top-ranked team, and Christine Babcock of Woodbridge will try for three titles in a row.

Not a bad way to spend a Saturday night. And a helpful hint, park by the Lamppost Pizza off Barranca Parkway and you can sneak back and forth for college football scores. That’s what I heard, anyway.

- Dan Arritt