Costa Mesa looks at a new era

Joseph Boo

COSTA MESA - Eric Davies ran cross country at Newport Harbor High

until he graduated in 1983, and then he ran at OCC. He ran at Arizona

State University, which was a national powerhouse during the late 1980s,

but it was intramural. And that pretty much sums up Davies’ running

experience.

“I’m afraid I’m don’t have a whole lot of experience,” he said.

Nevertheless, that hasn’t stopped Costa Mesa from hiring him as its new

cross country coach for both boys and girls team.

The chemistry teacher, who was briefly an assistant track coach at OCC

before coming to Costa Mesa to teach, has the unenvious task of replacing

Joe Busi and continuing his success. That includes taking the reins of a

powerful girls program that is considered the class of the Pacific Coast

League, which won the state title in 1997 and just missed out on the

state meet last year, finishing fifth in the CIF Southern Section’s

Division IV.

“Any time a new coach comes in,” he said, “Change is inevitable. I

would like to keep the same philosophy, and I would like all of them to

perform to their fullest potential.”

If he wants to duplicate past success, then he needs all his runners

to run at their full potential. Not only is Busi gone, but so is last

year’s Daily Pilot Newport-Mesa District Female Athlete of the Year,

Jamie DeNoewer, who is now running for New Mexico State. Last year, she

won the CIF Division IV meet and finished fourth at state to cap off an

illustrious high school career. It is an understatement to say the

Mustangs have a hole to fill. But fill they must, and Davies remains

optimistic.

“To tell you the truth,” he said. “The team have the capability to

fill in [her] shoes.”

To do it, Costa Mesa must do it with depth, which it has loads of.

Eight girls return from last year’s squad to give them a deep and

experienced squad. One of them is senior Sarah Cotton, who assumes the

role of No. 1 runner. She was an All-PCL runner last year and finished

10th in the CIF. Another key runner is senior Jackie Nguyen, who,

according to Davies, looks great this year. She finished 29th in the CIF

final and will be counted upon to provide leadership and depth.

The team has plenty of depth behind Cotton and Nguyen. With 10 girls

expected to make the team, this will be Costa Mesa’s largest team yet.

Other runners being counted on are seniors Michelle Barnett and Julie

Hitt. Davies said they look good in summer training, and he needs all of

them to step up.

Whether team depth is enough to fight off the rest of the PCL is

questionable though. Defending CIF Division IV champion Corona del Mar

has moved over to the PCL, and seniorless Northwood reportedly acquired

the top three runners from Irvine.

But the stiffer competition has yet to bother Davies. He knows of

CdM’s abilities, but nothing more. Without enough time to get familiar

with his team’s competition, he will be more concerned with learning on

the job, while helping his team grow. And if his team does reach its

potential, then Davies should find a pleasant welcome to Costa Mesa

Roster

Sarah Cotton Sr.

Jackie Nguyen Sr.

Julie Hitt Sr.

Michelle Barnett Sr.

Alice Ho Jr.

Cindy Ramirez Jr.

Cindy Tran Jr.

Stephanie Landeros