Local trio helps Orange Lutheran win state title

At Mt. San Antonio College, Orange Lutheran High watched as Corona del Mar won its fourth straight CIF Southern Section Division III title in girls’ cross country on Nov 17.

Taylor Dutch, a senior for the Lancers and a Newport Heights resident, looked on as well. Orange Lutheran came so close to becoming the new champion. The Lancers finished behind Corona del Mar, which had 49 points to Orange Lutheran’s 53.

As the Lancers’ top senior, Dutch longed for a championship, not a league title or a CIF section crown, but a state championship.

A week after coming so close to the title, Dutch and the Lancers captured a championship and made some school history, as well.

At the CIF State Championships, Dutch, as well as freshman teammate Ava Kent, a Costa Mesa resident, helped Orange Lutheran win the Division III title at Woodward Park in Fresno Nov. 24.

Dutch capped her high school career with a ninth-place finish in 18 minutes, 39 seconds, helping the Lancers bring home their first girls’ state title in school history.

Corona del Mar, which was seeking its third straight state championship, finished fifth.

Kent, the Lancers’ No. 4 runner who has great potential, finished 32nd in 19:18. The Orange Lutheran girls’ team also included junior alternate Anna Bray, a two-year varsity runner who lives on Lido Isle.

The three girls, who helped the Lancers win the Trinity League title, were excited to be a part of Orange Lutheran’s championship.

“Winning the state championship was one of the greatest experiences of my life,” said Dutch, who is one of only two girls in school history to run at the CIF State Championships all four years. “I was so proud of my teammates and coaches for the hard work that everyone put in to accomplish our goals this year.”

Dutch, who has received interest to compete at USC, Cornell, Pepperdine, Harvard and Cal, carries a 3.98 grade-point average. She also plays soccer and competes in track and field at Orange Lutheran. At the CIF State Championships, she was the Lancers’ No. 2 runner.

Dutch finished sixth in 18:15 at the CIF Southern Section Championships at Mt. SAC.

Kent, who was eighth in 18:27 at Mt. SAC, has a 4.0 grade-point average.

“It was a great experience and I had a great time with my teammates,” Kent said.

— From staff reports