Breakers have experience

Going to the CIF state championship meet is old hat for the Laguna Beach High boys’ cross country team.

The Breakers have been going yearly since 2002, a span that includes a state title in 2004.

And the general consensus is that Laguna has a great chance to add to that latter category in 2009, after placing fourth in Division IV a year ago. This time around, the Breakers feel good about their numbers game.

They’re already ranked No. 2 in the state in Division IV, in preseason rankings released by DyeStatCal.com. McFarland High of the Central Section, north of Bakersfield, is ranked No. 1.

“We’ve got seven varsity runners, and six of them are seniors,” Laguna Beach Coach Dave Brobeck said. “Three of the runners are top-tier runners in the state.”

That includes senior Blake Hofmeister, who didn’t run at the state meet last year after an emergency appendectomy. But Hofmeister, the No. 3 runner a year ago, had a strong spring track season that ended with him qualifying for the CIF Southern Section Masters meet in the 3,200 meters. He has gone nine minutes, 14 seconds in the two-mile race and 4:21 in the mile.

Senior Tommy Newton-Neal is another to look out for. Last year, he finished third at the state meet for the Breakers.

“He’s running basically stride for stride with Blake,” Brobeck said. “Those two will contend for individual state titles if they stay healthy.”

Junior Matt Neev is possibly the most naturally gifted of all. The Orange Coast League individual champion two years ago as a freshman, Neev was 15th in the state in Division IV a year ago but has battled injuries, specifically in his hip.

“He’s just a few strides behind Blake and Tommy,” Brobeck said.

Senior Andrew Shapero has the fourth spot, leaving seniors Richard Mattingly and Jake Johnson to battle it out for the fifth spot.

“It’s a really senior-driven team,” Brobeck said. “These are guys who are very mature and very motivated. They’re as determined as any team in my 12 years here.”

A significant loss from last year is graduate Casey Finnerty. Last No. 2 or 3 runner last year who is now up at UC Berkeley.

A good early test will come this Saturday when the team competes at the Woodbridge Invitational, a night race at 9 p.m. Laguna Beach also wants to take back the Orange Coast League title, after Estancia took it last year.

But the date Brobeck said is circled on the Breakers’ calendar is Nov. 28 “” the day of the state meet.