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

Granite Hills
Division: One.
Coach: Dave Yarbrough. Assisted by Dennis Hudson and Jaime Gilbert.
Home course: Griffen Park (boys 3.1, girls 2.3). Also will run a home meet at West Hills.

BOYS: 25 runners.

Best runner: Jason Finch (10) 17:37. Even as a frosh last year, Finch was running as high as two or three on the Eagles' varsity. Then, in track, he ran the 1600 in 4:33, a most excellent frosh time. After a good summer of training, his level has jumped. He dominates grade-level races, and is one of the better runners in the Grossmont League (which is tough this year). In short, he is on a roll. "He's really hopped up about it," Yarbrough said. In the Mt. Carmel meet, he pulled away from Valhalla's Matt Theisen (who is also an excellent soph), and won the Division I soph race in 15:56. That was the eighth fastest time of the day by a San Diego area runner. It also puts Finch into fourth place on the meet's honor roll (for sophomores).

Right behind: Mike Gilmore (12) 19:00. He was sick at the CIF meet last year, so you can throw out that time. He ran the 3200 in 9:54 in track, and clocked a 16:12 to finish ninth in the Division I senior boys race at Mt. Carmel. That's a pretty classy number two runner.

Returning: Nick Rivera (11) 17:23; Danny Buxton (12) 18:13; Nick Sabala (12) 19:59; Paul Petrea (11) 20:10. Rivera was the team's first finisher at last year's CIF. He ran 17:05 at Mt. Carmel and is a good number three. Sabala is much improved; he ran a 17:27 at Mt. Carmel. Buxton might be the team's fifth after an 18:29 at the same meet.

New: Toss Peabody (10), Brandon Vielguth (9), Gary Beasley (9), Dave Rivera (10). Peabody ran a 2:10 for 800 as a frosh but came back this season in "real strong shape. He was a real surprise," Yarbrough said. Of the frosh, Vielguth was the fastest at Mt. Carmel, with an 18:35.

The outlook: The Eagles have the front-runners, and some good depth. They are a quality team, but the Grossmont League this year has a number of quality teams. Right now, this team is a bit too spread out to beat a team like Valhalla. By the end of the year, who knows? Granite coach Dave Yarbrough likes to lay low, but Finch and others have gotten the Eagles some attention. "We'd just as soon hide a little bit," Yarbrough said. Sorry, the secret's out. This could be one of the top ten teams in the county.

GIRLS: 36 runners.

The comeback kids: Seniors Nicole Rodriguez and Stacey Murphy are back running cross country for the Eagles. Rodriguez, who is one of the county's best hurdlers, ran as a frosh, made all-league, and hasn't run since. She ran 17:09 at Mt. Carmel, to take fourth in the Division I senior girls race and seems back to form. Murphy had incredible success as a freshman runner, such as winning the CIF 800 title in track. She only ran parts of the cross country and track seasons as a soph, and dropped both last year to concentrate on soccer. She's back running again, and she was third in the 11-12 girls race at Vaquero. There could be one more comeback: junior Nicole Caster, who as a frosh was the CIF Division I XC champ. Caster has practiced with the team, but is also playing club soccer, her first love. She may end up running some meets, or she may not. Don't be shocked either way.

Returning: Natalie Braden (11) 17:51; Nicolette Stolis (12) 18:06; Robin Hill (10) 18:17; Angela Panfili (11), Heida Stalnaker (11) 19:41; Kristi Jones (12); Jamie Nunes (11). Best of this group at Mt. Carmel was Stolis, who ran 18:42. At Vaquero, Jones led this group. As this group goes, so goes the team.

New: Shelley Murphy (9), Aura Shoval (9). Murphy is the sister of Stacey (and Wendy) Murphy, and seems to have some of the family's talent. "She is in excellent condition, really strong," Yarbrough said. Of Shoval, he said she, "looks like she's got the speed. She's fitter than most frosh."

The outlook: You take a team like last year's, where virtually everybody is coming back, add a year of maturity, toss in a leader or two such as Rodriguez, or Stacey Murphy, mix in a good frosh or two, and you've got yourself a quality team. Which they need to be in the Grossmont League, where three or more of the teams are top ten material, countywide. Granite will be competitive, even in this league.

Helix
Division: Two.
Coaches: Dave Schultz, boys; Ray Mounts, girls.
Home course: Harry Griffen Park (boys 3.1, girls 2.45); also Lindo Lakes (boys 3.1, girls 2.1).

BOYS: 25 runners.

Best runners: It's a committee up front for the Highlanders. Jack Favikilukis (11), Dan Kinsella (10), Amanuel Gebru (11), and Brad Leavitt (11) represent the present and future for the new-look team. At Laguna Hills, Favikilukis and Kinsella ran 16:35 and 16:36 for the undulating 3.0 miles. Mix in Gebru, who ran 16:46 at Mt. SAC last year, and Levitt, who is a 10:42 3200 runner, and you've got a nicely developing core.

The depth: Could be provided by Rodger O'Keefe (11), Eyob Mesfin (10), or from among an outstanding group of frosh runners. Mesfin is a transfer from Crawford. Schultz has out eight new freshmen, including six that ran under 20:00 at Laguna Hills recently. Best of the group are Musie Meeche (who ran 19:09), Ryan Castanos (19:11) and Danny DeFord (19:21). One or more of that young group might develop into a varsity runner before the end of the year. "It's reminiscent of 1989," Schultz said. "I had a frosh crop that year that eventually developed into one of the best teams in the state."

The outlook: It's a young team, and there are some very tough teams in this league. But this group could be right in the mix next year, when virtually the entire varsity returns. Expect this group to improve all season, and be a pretty representative outfit by the end of the year. Schultz is really enjoying this group. "They are all good kids, and good students. They're easy to work with," he said.

GIRLS: 31 runners.

Best runner: Natalie Sullivan (10) 16:53. Sullivan had a very good cross country season until the CIF meet, where she came down with the flu. In track, she ran excellent times of 5:12 and 11:44. She had a "good" off-season, and is "fit and sharp," according to Mounts.

Returning: Anne Severtson (12) 17:29; Natisse Martin (11) 17:44; Becky Mosteller (12) 17:55; Mary Greene (12) 19:19. Severtson, said Mounts, "worked real hard this summer." Greene has had knee problems, and has missed some training. A number of these girls are 800-meter type runners (Severtson, Martin) who are also effective at longer distance.

One who got away: Mounts really wanted to add Monique Jouglet, who ran the 800 in 2:22 as a frosh last year, but she's a cheerleader. "Maybe next year," Mounts said.

Up from the JV: Sabrina Pykles (10), who was also a sprinter on the track team. She's "worked real hard," said Mounts.

New: Himelda Lopez (10), Corinne Coe (10), Cathy Danh (9), Kim Leavitt (9). Lopez is new to the sport, but is working hard; Coe and Danh had older brothers that ran for Helix; Leavitt won the JV race at the Bronco meet.

The outlook: The Highlanders have a good team ace in Sullivan, a pretty good pack, and very good numbers. They also have a good work ethic. But their league opponents will include a stacked Valhalla team and a dangerous Granite Hills squad. "I think we're solid," Mounts said. "If we can get a good number five, we'll be as good or better than last year."

Monte Vista
Division: Two.
Coaches: Bob Muzshek, boys; Juan Naranjo, girls. Assisted by Sam Rearic, boys; Richard Torge, girls.
Home course: On campus (boys 3.0, girls 2.3). One moderate hill; good spectator course.

BOYS: 14 runners.

Best runner: Serafin Carrillo (12) 17:45. Carrillo was the team's number two or three runner as a soph, but was overtaken last year when a group of Monarch seniors made dramatic improvement. This year it was Carrillo putting in the summertime miles, and his early racing has shown it. "He's had a rebirth," Muzshek said. "He ran a lot."

Returning: Spencer Tipton (10) 20:16. Monte Vista took a heavy hit from graduation. Tipton was the team's sixth or seventh runner at times last year.

New: Rafael Morales (11), Danny Oakes (10), Jonathan Buckley (9), Justin Pehau (10). Morales is a first year runner with a lot of natural talent; he's already the team's number two man, and teams up with Carrillo in workouts. Soph Oakes is a first year runner; frosh Buckley shows some promise; soph Pehau is a soccer player with a good endurance base.

The outlook: It's a very young group. There is a core of seven sophs, and three frosh on the team, and only two seniors. There's a lot of work to do, said Muzshek. "We have to do a lot of improvement," he said. The top of the roster will be competitive, but the other runners will need some time to mature.

GIRLS: 11 runners.

Best runner: Rebecca Spagnolo (11). She's new to the sport, but ran track for the Monarchs last year, and, said Naranjo, she is a "hard worker." She had some success in early invites; she was the first San Diego girl to finish the Division II Junior Girls race at the Mt. Carmel invite last week, taking sixth.

Returning: Sarah Rossmiller (11) 19:04; Stephanie Sohn (11) 20:06. Rossmiller is probably the team's number three now, according to Naranjo.

New: Wendy Hernandez (11), Erin Melton (9), Tanya Mayes (11). Hernandez has moved into the team's number two slot, and frosh Melton could be number four. Melton, said Naranjo, has a "lot of potential. She could be decent." Mayes was bothered by a soccer injury early, but is expected to contribute.

The outlook: "We are much improved," Naranjo judged. "We are looking much better than last year. All of our top five ran faster this year at Vaquero than our number two girl did last year at the same meet." Improved, almost certainly, but this league features Valhalla, Granite Hills, and Helix. "We know we're in a tough league, Naranjo said. "But, it just makes us run faster in every meet. By the end of the year, it's to our advantage. At least, that's the way we look at it."

Mount Miguel
Division: Two.
Coaches: Glenn Recasner, boys; and Chris Tiller, girls.
Home course: On campus (boys 3.0, girls 2.4).

BOYS: 16 runners.

Best runner: Dave Schible (12), who ran the CIF course in 17:07 as a soph, but was sick at the end of the season last year. He's from a family of road runners, and two years ago was one of the best soph runners in the county (about as good as Ramona's James Adams, for example). His focus is to return to that level. "He's been running pretty steady," said Recasner. "He has some lofty goals this year."

Returning: Sergio Reynaga (11) 19:20; Seth Rounkles (12) 19:43; Lenin Lopez (12) 22:03. Reynaga might be the most improved of these three.

Up from JV: Jose Sabino (11), Patrick Maloney (11), Cory Kubicki (10). Recasner thinks any of these runners have a chance to move onto the varsity roster. Kubicki is the younger brother of Keenan, last year's number two.

New: Chris Mananquil (10), John Snodgrass (12), Antonio Sweeney (11). Mananquil was discovered when Recasner scouted a PE class on campus. "He's really surprised us," the coach said. "He might be about our number three runner."

The outlook: The Matadors always seem to be fighting a battle of numbers, but they always come up with at least a few strong runners. Two years ago, a small but strong team was the Grossmont South runner-up.

GIRLS: 22 runners.

Best runner: Aida Garcia (10), who was Chula Vista's ace last year. She was third in Division I at CIF, running 15:29. Then, she transferred to Miguel, where she did not run track. She's back now, and is the Matadors' top gun, although an early bout with shin splints has slowed her training. "It will take her a little time to get back (to top form)," Recanser judged.

Returning: Claudia Torres (12) 21:36; Kirsten Atwood (12) 22:26. Kirsten's twin sister, Katie Atwood, ran 20:45 last year, but is playing water polo.

New: Ashley Rioja (9), Tabitha Velis (10), Dulce Barron (10), Diana Buenrostro (11), Elizabeth Tilaro (11), Anna Radomski (11), Morgen Rounkles (10), Lisa Weiner (11). Radomski and Tilaro ran JV last year. Rioja has already looked impressive in early races and might be the team's number two. Barron and Velis are also in the team's top five at present.

The outlook: Improved. Garcia should make up for the loss of Nechelle Fabiana (a state meet qualifier), and the entire pack seems upgraded and competitive. It's a strong league, however, with teams like Valhalla and Granite Hills and Helix all having busloads of talent. "We're OK," Recasner said. "But our league is very tough."

Valhalla
Division: Two.
Coach: Randy Montesanto. Assisted by Aaron Luecht.
Home course: Griffen Park (boys 3.1, girls 3.1) and Cuyamaca College (boys 3.1, girls 3.1).

BOYS: 27 runners.

Best runners: Sean Nugent (12); Jon Doroski (11) 17:14; Matt Theisen (10). At Mt. Carmel, they ran 16:21 (Theisen), 16:24 (Doroski) and 16:26 (Nugent), all in different races. Nugent fell at last year's CIF meet, which was one reason this good team finished fifth at the meet. Doroski was the Grossmont South XC champ in the league finals as a soph, and followed that up with a 9:56 for 3200. Theisen is a young runner really coming on. He wasn't among the varsity last fall, but improved in track, running a 4:38 for 1600. "He's a stud," Montesanto said. Only a handful of soph runners in the county can match up with him. Ironically, the best of those is Jason Finch at nearby rival Granite Hills.

Returning: Ben Wagner (10) 17:36; Bryon Lamorander (11) 18:16. Wagner is another super soph; he ran 16:49 at Mt. Carmel. "He's a natural talent," Montesanto said. "He's going to be tough." Lam-randier has the genes; his dad was one of the county's best in high school and college.

New: Will Burer (10), Nick Dimasi (11), Chris Yamauchi (11), Aaron Jones (12), Tyler Ludwig (10), Matt Rodriguez (12), Matt Cadwell (11), Jarrod Hammack (12). These runners all were on the loaded JV team last year, so they're not really new. Big improver of the group so far is senior Jones, who ran 16:37 at Mt. Carmel.

The outlook: This is a good team on the rise. They have the ability now, but it's mostly a young team, so they'll only get better. One trademark at Valhalla is a tight pack. They've always had that, but now that tight pack is moving along at a faster rate. At Mt. Carmel, they had five runners range from 16:21 to 16:49, a span of 0:28 seconds. That asset is certainly valuable in duals but it is even more important in championship meets. Without question, this is a top ten team.

GIRLS: 15 runners.

Best runner: Andrea Clemons (11) 15:40. She was seventh in the CIF Division II race last year, leading the team to a second-place (and state qualifying) finish over Torrey Pines. Clemons ran the 3200 in 11:38 in track, and then, "had a great summer," Montesanto said. "She ran very consistently." It's showed, as she has raised her level again in early meets this year. In the Mt. Carmel Division I junior race, Clemons was third, right behind Jaclyn Nolan and ahead of two of Orange Glen's best (Rumble and Cottrell).

Returning: Valhalla has every girl returning from that excellent team last year. In order of CIF finish, they are Elaine Lassen (10) 16:07; Kelley Halligan (12) 16:07; Margie Broselle (12) 16:19; Sarah Chionis (10) 16:21; Amy Kermott (10) 17:24; and Courtney Hoeptner (12) 17:52. Lassen backed up her cross country year with a 2:22 for 800 in track. Montesanto thinks Kermott might be the most improved of this group. She was the third fastest on the team at Mt. Carmel, with a 17:28 (Lassen didn't run the meet). Senior Halligan is a slow starter who comes on at the end of the year.

New: Ashley Ormsby (10) Carri Leto (9), Ashley Viens (9), Casey Cleveland (9). Ormsby was a good JV last year. The frosh crop is excellent. Leto will make an impact on this team. She won the Mt. Carmel Division I frosh race in 16:57. "She's going to be a good one," Montesanto said. Cleveland was seventh in the same race, at 18:39.

The outlook: Clemons is a bonafide team leader, the rest of the already good team is improving and running well, and Leto is a hot frosh who will make waves. There is depth in quality. There is a recent history of success. In a better-than-average year for good girls teams in the county, Valhalla ranks right up there. In a year in which the Grossmont League rivals the Palomar for quality, Valhalla is very near the top.