Help wanted sign posted at Sage Hill

Steve Virgen

Nate Miller has given new meaning to the word busy, in regard to all

his duties as athletic director and coach of the track and field and

cross country programs. This season, he also put on his cap as

recruiter with the hopes of gaining more runners for his girls cross

country team.

“I have my hands full,” Miller said. “I also teach math at the

school for one class.”

Miller will do his best to improve a squad that had only six

runners last year and just one three years ago when the program first

started.

“Last year we struggled to get five in order to score,” Miller

said. “We are gradually building. I think we will be able to score

this year and hopefully that will attract more runners.”

Miller has set goals for his team this year, with the main focus

being on peaking toward the end of the season. If the Lightning build

with success this season, that would be the easiest way to gain

runners into the program.

For the moment, the future of girls cross country team has been

placed on this year’s team, which is led by sophomore Kelsey Rose,

who also plays soccer at the school. Rose returns for her second

varsity year and is expected to be the team’s No. 1 runner again.

Seniors Megan Curry and Elise Brito want to make sure they leave a

lasting impression at the school and within the program. Brito was

Sage Hill’s only runner on the team three years ago, while Curry

started running as a sophomore.

Newcomer Mollie McGann, a freshman, has moved from Vermont and has

quickly found a home with Sage Hill.

“She’s been really strong already,” Miller said. “She will be

great for us.”

The team also features three more freshmen, including Erica Faris,

Roya Rashtchi and Marissa Maliwana..

“Last year, we struggled with injuries,” Miller said. “There were

some meets where we didn’t score as a team. My goal was to field a

team for every meet. This year, overall, there is more talent than

there’s been in previous years. They finished fifth in the [Academy

League] last year and I think we can potentially be in the top

three.”

The Lightning opened their season at the Laguna Hills

Invitational.