NOTE: Times listed in preview are from the 1995 CIF Championship Meet, unless designated otherwise.

Carlsbad
Division: Two.
Coach: Tom Tarantino. Assisted by Joe Fogelstrom.
Home course: Calaveras Park, near campus (boys 3.0, girls 2.5 to 3.0).
BOYS: 15 runners.

Best runner: Reed Steele (11), a transfer from Michigan. Steele is a quality runner. He made an impact almost immediately, with a win at the Bronco meet, and then he raced well at Mt. Carmel, posting the ninth fastest time by a San Diego area runner. He's got that Midwestern cross country look to him and he'll bear watching as the season unfolds.

Returning: Chris McCann (12) 19:02; Gerardo Ibanez (12) 19:23. McCann has very good speed.

New: Colin Steele (9), Chad Francoise (9), Dave Schwartz (9), Joe Sheffer (9), Jose Perez (12), Oscar Gonzales (11). Colin Steele, younger brother of Reed, looked good at Mt. Carmel, running 17:04, and taking second in the Division II frosh race. Schwartz and Sheffer ran 18:54 and 18:59 in the same race. It's a very good frosh class.

The outlook: This could a good team next year, if there is some continuity (that is, if school officials leave the coaching in place). Even this year, the team should be representative thanks to a quality number one runner. If the pack can be developed, the Lancers will be competitive. Watch this team late in the year. "We're way behind," assistant coach Fogelstrom said. "We had no summer camp, and the training was real sporadic."

GIRLS: 10 runners.

Best runner: Angie Van Dyke (11) 17:10. She's been held out of early meets with an injury, but she is almost ready to go. Last year, with little background and a late start, she moved right into the number two spot. She could develop. Off-season, she competes in triathlons.

Returning: Amanda Johnson (11) 17:21; Deanna Wright (11) 18:06; Eva Lund (11) 18:38; Destiny Stapleton (10). Of that group, Lund and Stapleton had the best summer training. In the Mt. Carmel meet, Lund had the fastest time of the Lancers (18:44), with Johnson (19:05) and Stapleton (19:10) not far back.

New: Becca Carnes (11), Amanda Solie (10), Adelle Deir, Renee Hasan (9).

The outlook: This could be a solid team, but they need a few things to go right. If Van Dyke continues to improve, if the pack gets solid, if one or two of the new runners can contribute, then Carlsbad could be a surprise team.

El Camino
Division: Two.
Coaches: Jerry Young and Ellie Young.
Home course: Guajome Park (boys 3.16, girls 2.47).

BOYS: 12 runners.

Best runner: David Romero-Young (11) 16:51. Romero-Young has been among the county's best at each grade level in his first two years in the sport. As a soph last year, he was 9th in Division II, and in track he ran 9:53 for the 3200, an excellent soph time. He should continue his development this year, after a "very, very good running summer." Coach Young said, "things look pretty good."

Returning: Jason Verostek (12) 19:21; Ramon Morales (11) 19:34; Dullani Waterman (12); Brian Perkins (10). Coach Young expects big improvement from Verostek.

New: Jorge Carmona (10).

The outlook: It's a small group at El Camino, but the coach's philosophy is to stress improvements by individuals. If his top runner improves much more, he's going to make a mark.

GIRLS: 7 runners.

Best runner: Angel Reed (12) 16:33. Reed has been a very good runner at the county level for three years, but is now involved in a number of activities that will take away training time. That includes such activities as honors classes, serving as a class officer, and involvement in the school's ASB. Still, she should be a presence.

Returning: Erin Glazer (11) 17:04; Kenya Pickett (10) 18:15; Ann Clawson (10) 21:56. Glazer is regarded by Young as "a strong, steady workhorse," who could develop into the team's leader. Pickett is a talented track athlete (400 in 60 as a frosh).

New: Stephanie St. Laurent (9), Patricia Pomare (9), Katie Downey (11). St. Laurent is "looking good," according to Young. "She needs a little maturity and base, and she could be a jewel." Downey is a converted basketball player giving the sport a try.

The outlook: The numbers work against the Wildcats on the girls team, too, especially when measuring them against teams such as Torrey Pines, San Pasqual and Ramona. But the runners that are there will give respectable accounts of themselves.

Escondido
Division: Two.
Coach: Lonnie Morrow. Assisted by Jarid Meek, and Brady Clay.
Home course: Jesmond Dene Park (boys 3.1, girls 2.5).

BOYS: 15 runners.

Best runner: Steven Meek (12) 17:10. He's not a year-around runner; he plays basketball in the winter, and doesn't run track. But he's got talent, and is very effective in this sport.

Returning: Mike Miller (12) 17:50, Brandon Miller (12) 18:34, Dave Cordes (12) 20:17; Eric Moreno (11) 20:32. The Millers, who are twins, are "a year older, a year wiser, and are really hard workers," Morrow said. Cordes is "much improved. He worked real hard."

New: Frederico Filares (10), Joe Baumgartner (12). Filares, said Morrow, "looks like he has a lot of talent. He's unbelievably gifted." Baumgartner, a 2:05 800-meter man in track, is in his first year of cross country, but is a "real competitor."

The outlook: If the Cougars can shore up their pack, they could be competitive with most of the teams in the league. Some of the new additions will have to contribute to make it work.

GIRLS: 15 runners.

Best runner: Lanele Cox (10) 15:29. She has special talent. As a frosh, she was 4th in CIF Division II, but was injured in the spring (a soccer injury), and she missed the track season. She's back now, and, said Morrow, "I think she's ready. She's got a tremendous base. I really believe that Lanele is a potential league and CIF champ, as long as she stays healthy."

Also very good: Shawnele Cox (12) 16:18; and Marissa Leivas (10) 16:55. Shawnele is the older sister of Lanele, and is a very good runner on her own. Leivas was good at the end of the last cross country season, but came on in track and ran 12:01 for 3200. "She gets better and better," Morrow said.

Returning: Michelle Wagner (12) 17:46; Bonnie Kelley (11) 19:25; Sherry Geiman (12); Kim Kirby (11). Geiman ran the 800 in 2:35 in track, is looking to improve in this sport. Wagner was solid last year.

New: Lorraine Martinez (9) is this year's best frosh runner. She's only been out for one week, but has already made an impression on Morrow, who said that she has "an incredible attitude. She's tenacious, competitive and could be a big surprise. She has a lot of talent."

The outlook: "It seems every year, we have three top quality girls," Morrow said. "But we never seem to have a four and five." This year, there are some solid candidates for those spots, and Morrow is, "kind of excited about it." It might be near the end of the year before some of that talent proves out, so this is not a team to be judged too soon. Last year, they were fourth in CIF Division II, behind Scripps Ranch, Valhalla and Torrey Pines. It's not a real deep group, so health is a key issue for this team.

La Costa Canyon
Division: One.
Coach: Matt Cunningham. Assisted by Laura Ricks.
Home course: On campus, near Stagecoach Park (boys 3.1+, girls 2.3).

What's the deal?: La Costa Canyon is a brand new campus, with most of the student body coming from San Dieguito High. There are two important differences. First, the student body is down in numbers from the San Dieguito days, although the enrollment is larger than expected. Second, freshmen are in attendance on campus, which they weren't at San Dieguito. In a sport in which years of development and continuity are keys to success, a full complement of frosh runners will be a big boost to the Mavericks.

BOYS: 18 runners.

Best runner: David Dennis (11) 18:09. Dennis had a good summer, and "he looks unbelievable," Cunningham said. He's got the number one position at present.

Returning: Carlos Rios (11) 18:21; Jiduh Bezares (11) 18:51; Misial Aguilar (12); Blake Dorsey (12). The top four are Dennis, Rios, Bezares and Aguilar. "They look very strong," Cunningham said. "But, I'm looking for a couple more runners."

The outlook: Of course, the biggest change at La Costa Canyon is their placement into the Avocado League. The Mavericks should be competitive with most of the teams in the league. In CIF, the school was originally placed into Division III, but the large enrollment has caused the CIF to make an adjustment and put La Costa Canyon into Division I.

GIRLS: 26 runners.

Returning: Jessica Bray (10) 17:25; Erin Colling (12) 18:52. Bray was a strong frosh runner last year, and has already returned from some injuries to run well early this season, with a 10th in the Soph Division II race at the Mt. Carmel Invite (she was the fourth local girl in the race). Colling, said Cunningham, "looks good, too."

New: Tori Gartrell (12), Laura Schaefer (12), Julia Cormano (9), Sarah Goetz (9), Cara Payne (9). Cunningham is high on his frosh group. "All three of them are faster than any girl we had at this time last year," he said. Payne was 5th in the Mt. Carmel Division II frosh race (3rd local), and Goetz was 11th (7th local). Cormano, according to Cunningham, has comparable talent. Frosh make the difference, especially on the girls side.

Two who could help: Last year's top runner was Krissy Wilhelm (16:21 at CIF), and last year's best track runner was Heather Mathe (a frosh who ran 2:22 for 800). Both are playing soccer, but Cunningham is hoping they'll agree to run for the team this year. If they are added to the mix, it could be a pretty good team.

The outlook: It's basically a young group, and much will depend on how the talent develops. If the frosh are as good as Cunningham thinks, they'll be fine. If Wilhelm and/or Mathe run for the Mavs, this team could be better yet. At this early point of the season, it's hard to tell what will happen with this team.

Oceanside
Division: Three.
Coaches: Shannon Christ, boys; Shelby Watson, girls.
Home course: Guajome Park (boys 3.1, girls 2.5).

BOYS: 12 runners.

Best runners: Alvaro Quintanar (12) 18:20; Sherwin Arce (12) 17:18. Quintanar was the team's ace most of last year, but was ill at CIF time and ran a sub-par race. He ran the CIF course in 17:44 as a soph in '94. "He looks as strong as ever," Christ judged. The coach indicated that Arce is basically right behind Quintanar at this point, giving the team a strong pair right at the front.

Returning: Delfino Romero (12) 18:28, Jose Elena (12) 18:28. Team lost a key runner when third man George Martinez moved to Orange County. Romero and Elena were team's five and six at CIF last year. David Matias (12) ran for the team two years ago, and is now back on the squad. Cody Fine (12) has moved up from the JV team.

New: Victor Arango (10), Eugenio Arce (12). Arango is new to the sport, but, "shows promise," said Christ. "He's very determined." Arce, no relation to Sherwin, is trying the sport for the first time, but looks, to Christ, like a "very strong runner."

The outlook: Last year, Oceanside had a young team that made some waves in the Avocado League and in CIF Division III. The core of that team returns, a year more experienced and a year faster. They realistically will have a hard time matching up with monster teams like Torrey Pines in the league, but they should be a good team. They could be dangerous in CIF, as well. A lot depends on how well some of the developing runners can blend into the top five. There's not much depth, so they'll have to stay healthy. "It's a fun group of kids," Christ said. "We have a lot of team chemistry."

GIRLS: 15 runners.

Best runners: Miriam Mendez (11) 17:34; Gloria Sanchez (10) 18:25; Leticia Matias (11). Mendez was a good runner last year for the Pirates and Sanchez was a respectable frosh. Matias only ran part of the season. All three return in better shape, healthy, and are working hard. The team hasn't had a meet yet, but Watson thinks the three are fairly close together.

New: Cathy Weter (11).

The outlook: Numbers and interest are up at Oceanside, which means the program is in good health. "It's what every coach wants to see," Watson said. "The girls work together as a group. It's amazing that they can be so connected as a team, especially taking into account their different age levels, grade levels and backgrounds. They support each other." This is a big step in the right direction for a school that only had five runners last year. "They have definite talent," Watson said. "Oceanside is back in the race!"

Ramona
Division: Three.
Coach: Dave Wilson. Assisted by Jerry Reid, Linda Phillips and Linda Cunningham.
Home course: Oaks Park, in San Diego Country Estates (boys 3.1, girls 2.4). Includes a bit of everything, according to Wilson, including a hill, a creek, dirt, grass, pavement, and a trail.

BOYS: 32 runners.

Best runner: James Adams (12) 16:42. Adams was eighth in the CIF Division II race last year, and continued running well during track, with times of 1:57, 4:21 and 9:52, and he was the leadoff runner for the nation's fastest distance medley relay team. In his most recent race, at Mt. Carmel, Adams ran 15:39 for the 2.95-mile course, which was the fastest of any local runner in the meet.

Returning: Jorge Ramos (12) 17:25; Fernando Gonzalez (10) 17:34; Josh Stein (11) 17:40; Alvaro Reyes (11) 17:54; Tim Miller (12) 17:59; David Shofstall (12) 18:05; Bob Denny (12), George Escobar (12). Wilson has been touting this senior group for a few years, now, and now they are seniors. After Adams, the team leader, Ramos might be the best of the bunch. Miller, Shofstall, Denny and Escobar are all solid. Reyes, a junior, is pushing for the number two slot right now, and soph Gonzalez, who is off to a slow start, was one of the best frosh in the county last year.

New: Juan Rubalcava (12). This is his first year of cross country. In track last year, his first experience at running, he was the 800 man on the distance medley team that won at Arcadia. It might take most of the season for him to near his potential, but Wilson thinks he'll help out. Also, Kyle Phillips (10), who is much improved.

The outlook: This team is a little hard to read right now. On paper, the team has many strengths. But a lot of the key runners were unable to get a good summer of training for various reasons, and that means a slow start. This is not a team to judge by early meets. "We are quite a ways from being fit," Wilson said. "I know where we are right now. Nobody else does." In league, Ramona must contend with Torrey Pines, one of the county's best teams. In CIF, however, Ramona is now in Division III. They seem the class of that group at the local level. If some key runners get going, they could be a factor at the state level as well.

GIRLS: 30 runners. They could add 6 more.

Best runner: That's the key question here. Veronica Clark (12) is back and working hard. At various points in her sophomore and junior years, she was at the level of the best runners in the county. Suddenly, she lost her focus, and she was out of running at one time. If she can get her fitness and intensity back, she is a tough and talented runner.

Returning: Sarah Shepherd (11) 16:20; Jenny Roane (11) 17:10; Audrey Harrison (11) 17:34; Jessie Anderson (12) 17:36; Melissa Mitchell (11) 17:42; Ellen Rymer (12); Shonte Tarbell-Sellers (12); Kennie Kwok (10); Lauren Beresford (10). Shepherd was last year's number one runner at the end of the season. Roane is a 2:21 800-talent. Kwok, who spent most of her frosh season on the injury list, was the fastest Ramona girl in the Mt. Carmel Invite.

New: Jennifer Wilcoxson (9), Kirsten Spivey (9), Leslie Mitchell (9), Danielle Hennessey (10. Mitchell and Spivey were the fastest of this group at Mt. Carmel, taking 14th and 15th in the Division I frosh race.

The outlook: "The girls worked more than in past years," Wilson said. "It will be an interesting year. The main thing is to keep them healthy." A back-to-form Clark obviously would have a big impact. Health is also key. If this team goes into the big meets ready to compete, they will be a factor. The Avocado League will not be won in September or October.

San Pasqual
Division: Two.
Coach: Pat King. Assisted by Evelyn Kibbe. It's only been a matter of time until King got a head coaching job somewhere. Other area coaches know King as a knowledgable coach who will get the best from his material. Lately, he's been an assistant at Rancho Bernardo. The San Pasqual job is a great opportunity for this Valhalla grad.
Home course: Kit Carson Park (3.1 boys; 2.5 girls).

BOYS: 36 runners.

Best runners: Ismael Pena (12) 16:41; Ezra Ash (12) 17:24. Pena was seventh in CIF Division II last year, but has been held back this year by a job conflict. "That means missed workouts, and that means no fitness," King said. Ash might be the team's number one until Pena gets back on track. King wasn't named as coach in time to get a summer training program on track, and it will take a while for the runners to catch up.

Returning: Jarod Holtz (12) 17:50; Kendall Richardson (10) 18:02; Kyle Combe (10) 18:09; Tad Crowe (12). Richardson has looked good early in grade level races, with a 16:58 in the Mt. Carmel Division I soph race last week. Combe ran 17:35 in the same race.

New: Adam Van Wart (10), who ran on the track team but is new to cross country. He ran 17:33 at Mt. Carmel. Also new is a crop of nine freshmen. Among the best of those are Joe Dupee (18:16 at Mt. Carmel), and J. C. Martinez (18:33 at Mt. Carmel).

The outlook: Continuity. King seems settled at San Pasqual, and the school has a chance to get back to top quality. It won't happen overnight, of course, but just give this guy a chance to scout, recruit, develop and train the talent and San Pasqual will be a force in the sport. If King can get his top runners on track, this year's team could be good. There seems to be a nice core of young talent already on hand. "We aren't real fit right now," King said. "But we have the ability to come on late."

GIRLS: 27 runners.

Best runners: Erin Berhman (12) 16:56, and Jane Brian (11) 16:56. Brian also added a 5:26 for the 1600 in track. Berhman has started off well, with a sixth place finish in the Mt. Carmel Division I senior girls race last week (she was the fourth local).

Returning: Serena Grippo (12) 17:55; Amber Trzinski (12) 19:03; Vanessa Myron (11) 19:15; Sara Sullivan (12) 19:27. Sullivan seems the most improved of this group, with a good race at Mt. Carmel last week.

New: Amber Smith (11), who played field hockey last year. King thinks she'll be in the top seven. Also, the team has a freshman crop of at least seven girls. Best of that group could be Natalie Turner, going by the Mt. Carmel results.

The outlook: Most of the team returns from last year, and you can look for some sharp improvement in a number of runners. "We can be competitive," King said. "We can be okay." At the very least, San Pasqual will be a darkhorse.

Torrey Pines
Division: One.
Coach: Brent Thorne. Craig Balsley will coach the boys team, replacing Mick Gieskes, who is now at UCSD, as an assistant.
Home course: San Dieguito Park (boys 3.0, girls 2.25).

BOYS: 20 runners, expected to add a few more in first weeks of school.

Best runners: Charley Hulsey (12) 16:27; Jason Lopresti (12) 17:30; David Burke (12). Hulsey was third in the CIF Division II race last year (behind Abdusalam and McQuitty) and ran the 1600 in 4:20. So far this season, he's been struggling. Lopresti, who transferred from Carlsbad, ran track for the Falcons and clocked 2:00 and 4:33 times. He's continued his improvement this fall, and is now one of the top local runners. Burke ran the 800 in 1:58 in track, and has made big improvement in this sport, to the point where he is right behind Lopresti. At Mt. Carmel, Lopresti ran 15:47, and Burke ran 16:06. If Hulsey can return to form, Torrey's top three can match up with anybody in this section.

Returning: Wes Austin (11) 18:26. Austin was the seventh man on last year's senior-dominated CIF champs.

New: Noah Lidman (11), Alan Asbeck (11), Ian Feder (11), Steven Branson (10), Michael Breining (10). Lidman came over from La Jolla Country Day and ran 16:35 at Mt. Carmel, so he'll be a big help. Branson ran 17:22 in the same meet and might be the front-runner for the fifth spot. Any of the others could also emerge as the season develops.

The outlook: Torrey Pines has moved up to Divsion I this year, and they'll be more than competitve. In fact, they seem to match up well with any team, although much will depend on how well their four-five runners develop between now and CIF. In the league, Ramona is prepared to offer a serious challenge.

GIRLS: 40 runners.

Best runner: Jaclyn Nolan (11) 16:07. Nolan has "gone through the roof," Thorne said. "She has emerged as our number one; she's accepting her place, and is really determined." The early results prove those statements true. For instance, at the Bronco meet, Nolan ran the course in 12:38, just one second off what Torrey's Devon Straitiff did on the same course in the same meet when she was a junior. Nolan was also in with a tough field in the Mt. Carmel Division I junior race last week, and she finished second to Orange Glen's Kendra Goffredo. She's in for a good year.

Returning: Jill Coad (11) 16:54; Bethany Bogart (11) 17:47; Becka Instone (11) 17:51; Kristin Roth (12), Kristin Branson (12). Most of this group has good track credentials. Branson is a 2:19 800-meter runner, and most of the rest are 400/800 types. Of course, the juniors can be remembered as part of a great freshman class that helped Torrey to a near state championship in 1994 (they missed by four points in the closest team race in state meet history). One missing ingredient is Danielle Valentino (who ran 15:42 last year). She is not out for the team. Coad is recovering from a stress fracture that caused her to miss the track season.

New, or up from JV: Laura Hilton (12), Torey Connor (11), Emily Young (11), Kathy Read (10), and a good group of frosh. Hilton, said Thorne, is "getting it together." Young showed up for track last year and ran a 2:24 for 800. Read has not run cross country before, but had a "good summer of running." The freshman group, which Thorne thinks is "almost as good," as the 1994 bunch, includes Brenna Mullen, Jen Morris, Emily Butler, Samantha Lankford, Monica Vasquez and "four others who are running great." Lankford ran the best of this group at Mt. Carmel, taking sixth in the frosh race.

The outlook: "The girls had their best summer ever," Thorne said. "The whole attitude is better." Without Straitiff and Valentino, and with the inclusion of a large number of new runners, there seems to be a bit of an upheaval in progress. You can count on Nolan to be up at the top, but after that, "You might see some strange things out of us," Thorne said. In early meets, the Torrey girls seem to be still finding their way. There is way too much talent here, it seems, for this team not to end up the year as a strong group. But the county is overloaded with great girls teams this year. Where the Falcons will fit in remains to be seen.