Orange Coast’s magic number is six in ’06

Having won the last five consecutive state championships, it’s hardly a surprise the Orange Coast College women’s cross country team is once again one of the strongest teams in the state.

Earlier this month, the team displayed that strength by dominating the competition at the Orange Empire Conference Preview Meet at Irvine Park.

While only the top five of any team’s runners score, the Pirates managed to place six runners in the top eight spots and were just one point shy of a perfect meet score of 15 points.

But with the recent victory and eight of the past 10 state title banners, what does come as a surprise is that the team only has six runners.

“We’re known for having one of the bigger teams in California for a junior college,” said fifth-year coach Marco Ochoa. “We’ve always had 20 or twenty-something girls on our team every year. This year, when we started the recruiting list, it was pretty good, but along the line we just kept losing girls to different schools and for different reasons. Then when we started the season, it turned out we only had seven girls.”

The team lost Natalie Gonzalez to a season-ending injury after the first race of the season. That left the Pirates with just six competing runners: Claire Fleming, Kristin Glen, Elda Hernandez, Kimberly Jennings, Kelly Oelschlager and Erindira Uriostegui.

However, despite its lack of numbers, the team has been strong and has rallied together. The Pirates have captured team titles in three of four races in September and opened October with their standout performance at the OEC Preview Meet.

The team’s success can, in part, be attributed to the mental resilience of the runners, who don’t see their lack of numbers as an issue.

“I was surprised [at the small number],” said Oelschlager, one of three returners from last year, “But it hasn’t been an issue at all. We still have a really great team and we’re really, really cohesive.”

While Oelschlager and her teammates haven’t been fazed by their lack of numbers, their coach admitted he was surprised by the way his small group has competed.

“We lost a couple top girls who were supposed to be faster than some of the girls that we have here,” Ochoa said. “So, we kind of felt like we were going to be in trouble. Not only were we going to have to keep [the six runners] healthy, but the talent was not as good as the girls we lost.”

But the six runners left on the team have proved to not only be talented, but have also lived up to the program’s championship tradition.

“Everyone has taken their responsibility to contribute to the team,” Ochoa said. “They’ve set their places and the pecking order. They know what they need to do and they’ve taken their responsibility really well.”

With just six runners, the focus on the team has not only been on winning but, understandably, on preventing injuries and remaining healthy enough to compete.

“[Having a small team has] made a big difference,” Oelschlager said. “We all really want to stay healthy and hold each other accountable for that.”

With health on their side, Ochoa believes the team can still vie for the sixth consecutive state title.

“We have a good shot at winning the state meet with the team we have right now,” Ochoa said. “The way I look at it, we’re going to have to have a bad day and other teams are goint to have to have a good day in order for us to lose. But you never know. Anything can happen.”

The state finals are Nov. 18 at Woodward Park in Fresno, but Ochoa’s runners have also begun to believe their chances of a sixth state title look good.

“I think we have a good shot at winning state.” Oelschager said. “I don’t think the number of runners really matters, just the fact that we have all six is enough to win.”

Should the team win its sixth consecutive state title, Ochoa admits the win will be among the sweetest. But he won’t expect it to mean a bigger turnout next year.

“If our recruiting was based on our championships we have won, we would have a team of 50 girls,” Ochoa said. “Even though we have one of the best programs around — basically the best program in the state — we still have a hard time recruiting girls who are debating to go to Golden West or Santa Ana College. It takes more than just winning championships.”

But with state championship trophies lining his office walls, it’s seemingly clear that Ochoa doesn’t need the numbers to build a champion.

He simply needs runners who believe.