Laguna Beach eyeing Fresno

The goal is the CIF State meet.

They missed it last year, finishing ninth at the CIF Southern Section Division IV final where the top seven teams advanced. But, since the Laguna Beach High girls’ cross country team returns six of seven runners, the trip to Fresno look more and more likely.

“Based upon our summer training, we are looking to have a very strong season,” Coach Steve Lalim said. “The girls have worked really hard this summer ... I’m really excited to see what these girls can accomplish. We are way ahead of where we were last year at this time.”

Key returners include the sister tandem of Kativa and Natasha Strickland. Kativa, a senior, was the runner up in the Orange Coast League last year.

Natasha, now a sophomore, finished third in league last year and was the league champion in the 3,200 meters (11 minutes, 38 seconds) during the track season last spring.

Senior McKenna Nokes, also playing tennis for the Breakers this fall, has an 11:54 in the 3,200 and Lalim said she’s rapidly improving.

“She worked really hard over the summer, putting in a lot of miles,” he said. “McKenna really set herself up for a great year.”

Seniors Parker Yamasaki and Gerry Artman are both all-league returners, as is sophomore Marisa Merchant.

Others who will compete for a varsity spot include junior Beverly Ronses, last year’s junior varsity league champion who was also the varsity track 800-meter league champ in the spring. Taylor Capobianco, a junior, and senior Bryn Valaika are also in the mix.

The Breakers opened their season Saturday at the Fastback Shootout at Mt. San Antonio College. Nokes ran a 12:58, good for fifth in the senior race, while Strickland ran 13:15, which placed her eighth in the sophomore race.

Other top times included Merchant (13:28), Ronses (13:56), Yamasaki (14:01), Capobianco (14:34) and Sophie Radach (14:36).

“I thought we started the season off strong,” Lalim said. “We had some really good performances and it looks like we’re in for a successful season.”

Like the boys’ team Laguna Beach is also running in the Woodbridge Invitational Saturday.

“We’re excited, we’ve been invited to compete in the varsity girls rated race, which is run under the lights starting at 8:40 p.m.,” Lalim said. “This will really be a test of where we are right now. The race will be fast; we should see some great times.”