Cross country: CIF prelims set for today at Mt. SAC

Tony Altobelli

WALNUT - The CIF Southern Section boys and girls cross country

preliminaries are set for today at Mt. San Antonio College and for those

who enjoy watching high-quality running, this one is worth the trip.

On the girls side, the Division IV pack is led by Pacific Coast League

champion Corona del Mar High.

Dominating the field throughout the season, the top-ranked Sea Kings,

had all seven of their runners finish in the top 20 at last weekend’s PCL

finals and had four place in the top 10.

Katie Quinlan led the way for CdM. She took second place with a time

of 18:01. Season Meservey was fifth in 18:21, Diana Hossfeld eighth in

18:37 and Jennifer Long ninth in 18:40.

The Sailors, who placed second to Woodbridge in the Sea View League

finals last week, are led by senior standout Amber Steen.

The defending Division II champion will take to the hilly three-mile

course on the heels of last week’s Sea View League individual title, her

second such title in two years.

Steen overcame serious flu-like symptoms to lead the pack at Irvine

Park with a time of 17:07.

On the boys side, the Sailors won their fourth straight Sea View

League title and look to carry that momentum into this weekend’s Division

II competition.

Five Sailors, led by Chris McMillen’s first-place time of 15:15,

finished in the top seven at league finals and Coach Bim Barry hopes that

same united attitude will carry them beyond the prelims.

“Our goal this year is to qualify for the CIF finals and beyond with a

team-first attitude,” Barry said. “We’ve trained all season in

preparation for this very course and we’re ready to go.”

The Eagles, ranked No. 2 in Division IV, captured the PCL crown last

weekend despite the team’s season-long battle with injuries.

Luis Segoviano bettered his personal-best time by more than a minute

and came in third with a 15:31 at the PCL finals, while Humberto Rojas

hobbled his way to sixth with a 15:51.

Winning that PCL finals’ race was CdM’s Travis Beardslee (15:14). Sea

Kings’ teammate Josh Yelsey was runner-up in 15:22.

The top four schools from each of the three division heats advance to

next weekend’s CIF finals, also set for Mt. SAC.

TIMES FOR TODAY’S RACES (in order of appearance)

Corona del Mar girls (Division IV) 7:56 a.m.

Estancia girls (Division IV) 8:23

Newport Harbor boys (Division II) 10:00

Corona del Mar boys (Division IV) 11:21

Estancia boys (Division IV) 11:21

Newport Harbor girls (Division II) 11:32