Boys cross country: Sailors looking to add to continued success

Tony Altobelli

NEWPORT BEACH - After a grueling preseason workout camp in Mammoth,

the Newport Harbor boys cross country team is not quite where Coach Bim

Barry wants to be in terms of physical shape, but the veteran coach isn’t

worried.

“It isn’t where you start, it’s where you finish,” Barry said. “Sure,

our training wasn’t as consistent as we would have liked, but this group

will be ready to go once the season gets underway.”

The four-time Sea View League champion Sailors have six returning

runners from last year’s squad and should still be the team to beat.

“Woodbridge, Laguna Hills and Aliso Niguel will have some weapons, but if

we run the way we’re capable of running, we should be fine,” Barry said.

“Our goals are to win league again and qualify for state (finals) at the

end of the year.”

Senior Joel Furman placed sixth at last year’s league finals, but with

a strong summer workout, Barry believes that 2001 is his year to shine.

“He should make quite an impact for us,” Barry said. “He’s a returning

letterman with some great big race experience. His workouts have been

very strong in the off-season, he’s one of our captains and he’s running

very well.”

Another captain for the Sailors is senior Chris Negrete, who is still

looking to improve on his success as a freshman. “He was league champion

as a freshman and we’ve been trying to get him back to that type of

stature ever since. His success could parallel the team’s success.”

Another runner looking to have a breakthrough year is senior Ivan

Romero, who placed 40th at the Southern Section finals and was seventh at

the league finals.

“Ivan has been a solid cross country runner for two years now, but

this year, I’d like to see him take his running to the next level,” Barry

said. “We need more leadership responsibility out of him; to be a pusher

instead of being pushed.”

Senior Jesus Santana is Newport’s top returner, but his status in

question due to his future living arrangements. Santana was league

champion in the 3,200 meters last spring and he was Newport’s top

finisher at last year’s CIF Southern Section Division II finals with a

time of 16:13.0, good for 38th.

Rounding out the list of returning standouts is junior Alec

Urtusuastegui, who placed 60th at the Southern Section finals last year

(16:37.0.).

NEWPORT HARBOR BOYS CROSS COUNTRY

Geoff Doody So.

Joel Furman Sr.

John Kerr Jr.

Matt Meredith Sr.

Nick Miller So.

Chris Negrete Sr.

Juan Rios So.

Ivan Romero Sr.

Jesus Santana Sr.

Nick St. Andre Fr.

Anthony Urquidez Fr.

Alec Urtusuastegui Jr.

Coach - Bim Barry