Chemistry crucial for Mustangs

First-year coaches Sarah Nguyen and Mike Sciacca have no set goals for their Costa Mesa High girls cross country team.

During a five-day trip near Arrowhead Lake to camp, train in the high altitude and bond, the two coaches let their runners convene by themselves.

“We want them to come up with their own set of goals,” Sciacca said. “Cross country is supposed to be fun and teach you hard work pays off.”

There are no stars on this team.

Jasmin Day, who finished fifth at the Golden West League finals last season, graduated.

“You just can’t replace someone like that,” Sciacca said.

The talent pool is deep, with each runner just a little different from the next.

The team trip, which ended Sunday, was geared toward garnering the mental focus needed for this team to succeed.

“It’s going to take the girls consistently pushing themselves and believing they are faster than their body tells them,” Sciacca said. “If they continue to push themselves, they’ll see they can run harder and farther.”

Emily Cotton is the team’s top runner. Entering her fourth varsity season, she is also Nguyen’s sister.

“She’s an extremely coachable athlete,” Sciacca said. “She’s an amazing athlete. She’s the glue that holds this team together.”

Junior Arlene Sanchez makes the jump from track and field. She competed in the 800 meters, 1,600 and 3,200 at the league finals along with Cotton.

“She’s a very talented young lady,” Sciacca said. “We expect she’ll get faster and faster.”

Sciacca and Nguyen also got a surprise, in more ways than one, when twin freshmen Brittany and Wendi Way arrived. Both bring experience, having competed in distance track events in junior high.

“It’s a package deal,” said Sciacca, who is focusing on getting the Ways to make the transition from running two-mile races to three-mile races. “They get along great. They do a good job of pushing each other. You can see the competitive edge between the two.”

Junior Alyssa Nunez, entering her second varsity season, brings additional experience to the Mustangs.

“She’s a good, solid runner,” Sciacca said. “You can count on her for consistent times.”

Senior Emily Bowman, in her second varsity season and her fourth in the program, adds experience.

“Emily is really starting to break out,” Sciacca said. “In track [she finished ninth in the 1,600 at the league finals] we really saw she was starting to push her limits. When an athlete discovers, ‘I can run better if I try harder,’ the level of determination goes up. You have to go out there and not run a comfortable race. You have to run a painful race.”

Sophomore Cheyenne Lopez, who competed for the varsity last season, is the team’s spark plug.

“Cheyenne is such a motivational person,” Sciacca said. “She provides that energy for the team to keep everyone going.”

Costa Mesa has moved from the seven-team Golden West League to the four-team Orange Coast League, giving the Mustangs more hope for a winning season.

“We want to do as well as we can and go on to CIF,” Sciacca said. “This year, the team doesn’t have as much raw talent. But we have more team chemistry. We work well as a unit.”

The season begins Sept. 9 at the Laguna Hills Invitational.

THE MUSTANGS

Emily Cotton Sr.

Arlene Sanchez Jr.

Brittany Way Fr.

Wendi Way Fr.

Alyssa Nunez Jr.

Emily Bowman Sr.

Cheyenne Lopez So.

Co-Coaches: Mike Sciacca,

Sarah Nguyen (first year)