Santibanez Has Insatiable Thirst for Success

ANAHEIM —  Jill Santibanez’s desire, which led her to race for a soda pop in junior high, has brought her to compete in the state cross-country finals.

Santibanez, a senior at Katella High, won the Southern Section Division II individual championship at Mt. San Antonio College last Saturday.

This Saturday, she will compete in the state finals at Woodward Park in Fresno.

“We ran for sodas in P.E. class and the top five would get a soda,” Santibanez said. “I used to think that was the greatest thing and I always wanted to win.”

But her goals have grown as has she. After wrapping up her prep career at Katella, Santibanez has her sights set on the Olympics.

“I want to make a difference because I plan to go to the Olympics in the year 2000,” said Santibanez, who is thinking about running the mile for the U.S. team. “American runners aren’t perceived as good distance runners, so I want to make a difference. That’s why I work so hard and I know it’s reachable.”

The confidence to achieve such a goal is already obvious in Santibanez.

“I know I’m going to win [the state title] because I desire it a lot,” she said. “With all the training and coaching I’ve had, it’s all decided in my mind. I have the ability to do it.”

Said Katella Coach Mike Cochrane: “[Winning the section and state] has been a part of her series of goals all season. She’s run with confidence all year long and she’s been focused on reaching those goals.”

Santibanez achieved all her goals last season and sees no reason she can’t do the same this season.

“Last year, making it to state was my goal,” she said. “I wanted to place in the top 10 and I was 10th, so I accomplished that goal.

“I want to win, so that’s my goal this year.”

Santibanez’s confidence shouldn’t be misread as cockiness.

“It’s not an arrogant confidence,” Cochrane said. “It’s a confidence of feeling sure of yourself, knowing you’ve prepared yourself to achieve your goals. It’s a quiet confidence and she stays focused in her workouts. She doesn’t let any doubts take her out of that focus.”

Said Santibanez: “When someone asks me if I’m going to win the next race, I say ‘yeah’ because I know I can because I desire it a lot.”

She won the section Division II title Saturday in 18 minutes 33 seconds. She also was Empire League runner of the year for the second consecutive season after winning the league’s individual title and helping Katella to a 5-0 record and the league championship.

Though none of her teammates qualified for the state meet, they will be in Fresno to cheer her on.

“The girls look up to her and she sets a great example,” Cochrane said. “She’s been a real good leader. She set the standard that they all tried to maintain.”

But it will be Santibanez’s desire and confidence that will determine her fate.

“I’m going up there to win,” she said. “If something happens, then I guess it was meant to be or not to be. I’m not going to have any doubts in my mind.”

Said Cochrane: “I think she has a tremendous chance to win her state meet. Unless she has something physically wrong with her, she’ll be tough to beat. She’s very determined. I wouldn’t bet against her.”

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Cross-Country State Finals

* When: Saturday, 9 a.m.

* Where: Fresno’s Woodward Park

* County boys’ teams/individuals participating: Division I--Santa Ana/Danny Lee (El Toro); Division II--Mission Viejo, Katella/Jose Herrera (Loara), C.J. Marciales (Tustin); Division III--Newport Harbor/Heriberto Sarabia (Sonora), Fabian Ruelas (Sonora); Division IV--Estancia/Bruce Hancock (Costa Mesa); Division V--Ryan Downey (St. Margaret’s).

* County girls’ teams/individuals participating: Division I--Esperanza/Michelle Basanda (Aliso Niguel), Melissa Hady (Dana Hills), Jessica Howard (University); Division II--Woodbridge, Brea Olinda, Mission Viejo/Lisa Dunn (Troy), Dani Rope (Santa Margarita), Jill Santibanez (Katella); Division III--El Modena, Newport Harbor/Heather Garritson (Buena Park), Natalie Perkins (Pacifica); Division IV--Corona del Mar, Costa Mesa; Division V--Kipp Downey (St. Margaret’s).