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

Fallbrook
Division: One.
Coaches: Marty Hauck, head and boys; Gary Lutgendorf, girls. Assisted by Troy Hamlin.
Home course: On campus (boys 3.1, girls 2.x).

BOYS: 25 runners.

Returning: From top seven: none.

Up from the ranks: Cameron Jones (12), Tyler Bochenek (11), Will Nelson (10). Bochenek ran around the ninth spot on a senior-dominated group last year. Nelson ran 17:21 for 3 miles at Mt. SAC as a frosh.

The outlook: Definitely rebuilding. Hauck is not that sure who his top runners might be by the end of the year. "A lot could happen," he said. "We are so young. We are a year away from being a year away."

GIRLS: 25 runners.

Best runner: Tricia Mattson (12), 15:27. This could be the year she finally gets the respect she has earned. Among her achievements last year: second place in the large schools CIF race; and the county championship in the CIF 1600 (in 5:10). Every time she beat one of the big names, it was counted as an upset. Maybe it wasn't. She easily handled her competition in the senior girls race at Mt. Carmel, running 16:15, more than 0:30 seconds ahead of the runner-up.

Tough back-up: Two who will give the Warriors a very good top three are Mindy Green (11) 16:37, and Cathy Picha (10). Green was good in cross country last year, but really improved in track (running 5:27 and 11:43), and has, "just gotten better," according to Hauck. Picha's first serious running came in track, where she ran 2:20 in the 800 and made the CIF final as a frosh. In a practice two-mile, both Green and Picha gave Mattson all she could handle. "Our top three are going to be very tough," Hauck understated.

Returning: Allison Plischke (10) 17:43; Katie Kaesar (10) 18:36; Ronda Ropes (11) 18:45. One of more of these three could be displaced by some new talent.

New: Katie Hauck (10), Carly Hampton (10), Noelle Rideout (12), Kristen Brown (11), Gillian Guyer (9), Kim Croswell (9). Hauck (Marty's niece) was a 5:44 and 12:32 track runner. Hampton ran 5:44 and 12:20. Rideout has run a 5k in 19:50 in a road race. The other three are all swim team members who "show signs of being real good real quick." At Mt. Carmel, the new girls were impressive. Hauck was ahead of Picha, running 16:53, Brown was ahead of Green, running 17:32. Crosswell was the fastest frosh, at 17:47.

The outlook: All the elements seem to be in place. Mattson is a top runner, Green, Picha, Brown and Hauck are right behind her, and there seems to be a number of good candidates to fill out the pack. "We have depth back to 10th place," Hauck said. "It may be our best girls team ever, but the league's top five are all great teams."

Mt. Carmel
Division: One.
Coach: Dennis McClanahan. Assisted by Terry Dockery and John Rankin.
Home course: On campus, and partly on a water easement (boys 3.0, girls 2.5).

BOYS:

The big three: Mike Baskin (11) 17:10, Bert Romero (11) 17:17; Jeff Sleichter (11) 17:52. This is the core of a team that could be the best in the county. If not this year, than most probably next year. Baskin is a 4:22 and 9:48 runner in track, while Sleichter is more of an 800 type, with a 1:59 best. Romero is more of a pure cross country type, who competes with great intensity. The three showed their stuff at the Mt. Carmel meet last week, with Baskin winning the Division I junior race, in 15:50. Sleichter took second in 16:06, and Romero was fourth in 16:27. A preview of things to come?

The pack: This is the critical area of this team; if McClanahan can construct a solid group to back up his talented trio, then few teams will be able to match up. He has no other holdovers from last year's top seven available, but there are some good candidates. Scott Bachman (11) is a transfer from Virginia who has 10:18 3200 credentials, and, reported McClanahan, "he's fit right in." Christian Esquivel (11) has put in the off-season work and he's much improved to the point, where, "he's pretty good."Arnel Aradanas (10) is the most talented of the younger runners, with 53-second 400 speed, McClanahan said. Rocky Metcalf (10) is another talented prospect. A note for the future: Brendan Riordan (9) is, "a very talented athlete, with a great attitude. He could creep in there (the varsity)," McClanahan said. Of this group, Metcalf had the fastest time at the Mt. Carmel Invite, with a 17:18; Bachman ran 17:19, and Esquivel ran 17:22.

The outlook: Palomar League observers have been seeing this coming for a while. The juniors are a talented group, and they're just starting to show their true potential. The only question anybody has is: can the middle of the pack contribute? Those runners are also young and improving, so the final answer won't be known until later. If the depth materializes, this team will be as good an anybody in the county. It is definitely a top five team, just to start with.

GIRLS:

Returning: Christine Alford (12) 17:10; Erin Masters (11) 17:15. The Sundevils return just two from last year's varsity team. Alford is the acknowledged team leader, as both the fastest returning varsity runner, and as a senior.

New: Natalie Parker (11), Becky Joy (10), Elizabeth Mejia (9), Samanta Stevens (11), Veronica Roberts (10), Karen Vasko (9). Vasko led the team at the Mt. Carmel meet, with a 17:07 in the frosh race, good for second in Division I. In separate races, Stevens, Alford and Roberts all ran fairly close times (17:58, 18:08 and 18:08, respectively).

The outlook: McClanahan has no illusions that his girls will be able to compete with the tougher league teams. "It's a rebuilding year," he said. "Some years you're gonne be in the hunt, some years you're not. What you hope for then is that your athletes stay competitive. These girls have done eveything we want from them. They have a great work ethic."

Orange Glen
Division: One.
Coach: Mike Cummings. Assisted by Randy Boozer.
Home course: Kit Carson Park (boys 3.1, girls 2.5).

BOYS: 32 runners, may add more.

Returning: Nick Wheeler (10) 19:11, is the only returnee from the CIF top seven.

Up from the ranks: Lyn Ly (12), Nick Schlapfer (10), Gerardo San Juan (12), Hector Martinez (12), Joey McClure (12), Keith Knight (12), Peter Hutchison (12). Ly, who "worked hard all summer," could be one of the leaders.

New: Tom Igo has transferred from University.

The outlook: Serious rebuilding (see Fallbrook boys). "It's a mystery team," Cummings said. "We are very young."

GIRLS: 40 runners, may add more.

Returning: The entire top seven girls return from the team that won the CIF Division I championship last year. And, "they're ready," Cummings said. "They're in good shape." In the order in which they finished in the CIF meet, the seven are Cara Rumble (11) 15:31; Katie Cottrell (11) 15:34; Lorena Jiminez (10) 15:37; Kendra Goffredo (11) 16:01; Laura Lawrence (12) 16:18; Gina Rennix (12) 16:39; and Melissa Heib (12) 16:56. During the track season, Rumble ran 5:14 and 11:34; Cottrell ran 2:26, 5:16 and 11:48; Jiminez ran 2:22 and 11:42; and Goffredo turned in times of 5:20 and 11:32.

Depth: The next group includes Apryl Streit (12), Lisa Young (12) and Emily Ghiotto (11).

New: Cummings has a crop of frosh runners, but is in no hurry (and has no need) to rush them. "It will take a little bit of time," he said.

The outlook: In a year in which the county has a number of strong girls teams, Orange Glen ranks right at the top. Probably only Scripps Ranch can match up through the top three girls, and no local teams can match the strength at spots 4 through 7, at least based on last year's results. That quality depth is especially helpful in championship meets, in which Orange Glen should do well. Still, this is the Palomar League, and there are few pushovers. Few teams like the role of favorite, but the Patriots, as is their style, are loose and relaxed. Cummings stated the obvious when he said, "I'm excited about the season. Our goal is getting through the season healthy." OG's girls are one of a number of area teams that could make an impact at the state level.

Poway
Division: One.
Coach: Dan Schaitel. Assisted by Mark Embrey and Dean Cortez.
Home course: Lake Poway (boys 3.1, girls 2.4). It's a tough course, and not spectator-friendly, either.

BOYS: 42 runners.

Returning: Jake McNeely (12) 16:46; Sean Zanderson (12) 17:07; Scott Strachan (11) 17:13; Mike Helms (11). In track, Zanderson had times of 2:00, 4:33 and 9:46. Strachan and Helms were sub-10:00 sophs, running 9:57 and 9:55, respectively. McNeely missed most of the track season. Of Zanderson, Schaitel said, "He's a throwback type of kid, a real intense, hard worker."

New: Up from the JV: Ben Schwab (11), Ryan Franzen (11), Justin Lucas (11), Randall Leyking (10). Schwab seems sharply improved. "He got more serious," Schaitel said. A transfer, Matt Gailey, came over from Calvin Christian. He was the Coastal League champ last year for the Crusaders, and he's moved right into Poway's top group.

The outlook: Poway is a deep team. If a runner like McNeely gets off to a slow start, a number of other runners can pick up the slack. It is a proud team with an excellent tradition, and they are the defending Division I champions. The core of the team is a large group of talented juniors, who have been making waves in grade level races for the last two years. Now, they're ready to contribute. "They will determine how far we go this year," Schaitel said. Of course, the team will need big-time running from McNeely and Zanderson as well if they are to defend their league and CIF titles. Depth is a given.

GIRLS: 36 runners.

Best returner: Lisa Vasek (12) 16:53. She followed up her cross country season with a 3200 in 11:56 during track. She is a team leader (in fact, she was the team's MVP in 1993 as a frosh), who has returned this fall in "in real good shape," Schaitel said. For the past three years, Vasek had teamed with fellow classmates Jessica Pound and Ann Koscki, but Koscki has moved to the Sacramento area, and Pound is not running this year.

Returning: Meridith Nespor (10) 17:06; Laura Rankin (12) 17:17; Serena Rosales (12) 18:01; Kasey Shemwell (11) 19:34. It's a year of transition for the Poway girls and there will be some upheaval of the lineup, but at least some of these runners will be included. Hollie Babione (11) has a broken foot, but may be able to contribute late in the season.

New: Erin Spooner (11), Arlene Collier (10), Michelle Flores (12), Mande Clark (10), Monica Hite (11), Brianna Hibbs (9), Julia McGurk (9) and Sophie Sillano (9). Schaitel thinks Spooner, a sub-2:30 800 meter runner, might fit into the number three slot, and Collier, a track 1600 runner, could be number four. The freshmen group "will have an impact," on the team. Hibbs, for instance, just edged Vasek at the Bronco meet, with both running 12:50 for the hilly 2-mile course. McGurk had the next fastest time for a Poway athlete.

The outlook: It's a deep team, at least in the sense that a good number of runners seem interchangable. So far, the Titans haven't fielded all their runners in one meet, let alone one race, so it's hard to tell just how all the various pieces will fit together. Vasek is class, and the frosh seem to have talent, although we have only seen glimpses thus far. The bottom line is, even a rebuilding Poway team is still dangerous.

Rancho Bernardo
Division: One.
Coach: Don Jones. Assisted by Jeff Ukrainetz. Last year's assistant, Pat King, is now the head coach at San Pasqual.
Home course: Rancho Bernardo Community Park (boys 3.1, girls 2.5).

BOYS: 27 runners.

Best runners: Matt Galaviz (12) 16:37; Eron Tello (12) 17:38. Galaviz was eighth in the CIF Division I race last year, and had a good year in track, clocking 1:59, 4:28 and 9:38 times. He missed qualifying for the state meet by one place last year. Tello, who was hurt at the CIF meet last year, is as good and often better than his teammate. His fifth at the Bronco meet puts him in the county's upper crust. "He is so tough," Jones said.

Returning: Idoh Gersten (11) 17:54; Marcel Meerstetter (11) 17:55; Todd Benjamin (12) 18:18; Dave Fimon (12) 19:31; Jason Cobb (12). The Broncos only lost one runner from last year's top seven. Benjamin and Cobb ran the best of this group at the Bronco meet, which was held over two miles.

New: Sean McElroy (11), Sean Ricketts (9). McElroy has moved here from the Sacramento area, where he ran a 16:40 in a 5K race. Ricketts, younger brother of Hilltop great Eric Ricketts, could be a rarity: an impact freshmen at the large school level. "He can hang with Tello and them in the workouts," Jones said. "He's nails," Galaviz added. Jones is counting on McElroy and Ricketts to upgrade his pack and predicts that the pair will end up in the three-four slots.

The outlook: This is the Palomar League, where any weakness will be exploited sooner or later. Jones' team has two tough runners at the top, but it gets spread out after that. Jones needs for McElroy and Ricketts to be solid three-four runners, and then he needs to find a fifth man and some depth. Otherwise, it will be tough to get by Vista, Poway and Mt. Carmel.

GIRLS: 27 runners.

Best runner: Sarah Wilkins (10) 15:09. Wilkins won the CIF Division I race last year as a frosh, and her 15:09 was the fastest girls time of the day. In track, she clocked a 5:06 for the 1600 and qualified for the state meet. She is an all-around athlete who also starts on a basketball team that went deep into the state play-offs last year. She doesn't concentrate on running year-round, but she began the season "in better shape than last year," according to Jones. She won her race at Vaquero, was second to Heather Shurtleff at Bronco, and was third at Woodbridge, running 18:12 for 3.0 miles.

Impact freshman: Julie Manson (9). Manson is right behind Wilkins in workouts and races, and is undoubtedly one of the best freshmen in the county. In fact, sometimes Jones thinks that Manson can be better than Wilkins. It's a situation that helps both runners. "They're pushing each other in workouts," Jones said.

Returning: Christine Kitchen (11) 17:02; Jessica Johnson (12) 17:07; Sara D'Alessio (11) 17:23; Tress Goodwin (11) 18:26. Kitchen ran the 800 in 2:18 as a soph last spring, and is a very solid number three runner. Johnson, the fourth girl, has seemed to be on the verge of a breakthrough at times. Fifth in early action is D'Alessio, an excellent hurdler. If this group steps up to the next level, this could be a very good team.

The outlook: Wilkins and Manson are a one-two punch that any team would like to have. Kitchen is quality, too. As it stands right now, RB is a borderline top ten candidate. If the pack improves, they can go up from there. One problem: Two or three of the Palomar teams are in the county's top five.

Rancho Buena Vista
Division: One.
Coach: Tom Lux. Assisted by Josh Fuller.
Home course: Buena Vista Park, adjacent to campus. (Boys 3.1, girls 2.5). It's hilly, and is regarded as a "tough course."

BOYS: 30 runners.

Best runner: Fernando Blanco (12) 16:33. He was sixth in the CIF large schools race last year. He added a 4:32 1600, and followed up with a good summer of training. It showed, as he started off the season very hot, with a good race at Vaquero and a better race at Bronco, where he won the large schools race, beating people like Steve Daynes, James Adams, Jason Lopresti, and Dustin Diaz.

Returning: Jaimal Hornbacher (12) 17:29; Indy Ortiz (12) 18:18; Carmelino Ortiz (11) 18:19; Hever Chavez (12) 18:37; Eladio Garcia (11). Lux has a good number of the pack back to work with. Hornbacher, who was last year's number two, seems much improved, as do a number of other veterans. "It's been an excellent summer," Lux said.

New: Moises Delgado (11) is, "an unknown, who fits right in with the lead group," Lux said.

The outlook: Most of the attention in this league will be focused on teams such as Mt. Carmel, Poway and Vista, which is as it should be. But overlook this team at your own peril. Blanco is red-hot, and the rest of the scorers look pretty solid. "We could be pretty strong," Lux said. RBV looks like a top ten team.

GIRLS: 14 runners.

Returning: Tiffany Trayer (12) 16:40; Annie Holliday (11) 17:13; Joanna Groschwitz (10) 17:14; Stacy Sims (11) 17:29; Kristina Smith (11) 17:33. The 'Horns bring back five of their top six, but will miss Laura Carpenter. The best off-season training was done by Trayer, Sims and Smith, according to Lux. Best at the Bronco meet (over 2 miles) was Smith.

New: Karina Kloos (10), Tricia Kanon (10). Lux expected Kloos to be one of the team's top three runners at some point in the season. At Bronco, she ran the fastest time of any RBV girl, while running in the JV race. She's the sister of past El Camino runner Tom Kloos.

The outlook: It's really not a bad team, but this league is so tough. They'll take their lumps, but Lux can develop this group for another year (there's only one senior).

San Marcos
Division: Two.
Coach: Ginger Couvrette.
Home course: Discovery Lake (boys 3.1, girls 2.5).

What's different: San Marcos has a new coach, a new course, and has moved from the Avocado League to the Palomar League, replacing San Dieguito.

BOYS: 19 runners.

Returning: Andrew Boring (10) 17:21; Jose Fernandez (10) 17:53; Victor Olivares (11) 18:55; Tony Mendoza (11) 20:16; Sean Keating (12). Keating ran 18:09 at CIF in '94 as a soph. The team lost only one senior. According to Couvrette, the top runners in early season were Fernandez and sophomore Laurence Mier, with Keating and Olivares right behind them. Just a bit back after them are Boring and Charles Wilson. Boring was the fastest county freshman runner in the CIF meet last year, with his 17:21, but he is off to a slow start this year.

The outlook: It's a very young group that will go up against many of the county's best week after week. That's the bad news. The good news is that Fernandez and Boring, two of the team's best, are just sophs. They, along with the other young runners, could form a core to build around.

GIRLS: 15 runners.

Best runner: Heather Christofk (11) 16:13. She was 15th in the CIF Division II race, and ran an 11:52 for 3200 in track.

Returning: Alana Bochiechio (10) 16:19; Kelly Kodadek (10) 16:43; Aniko Felsen (10) 18:00; Danielle Pepple (12) 18:10; Alma Izazaga (12) 18:24. The Knights return all but one runner from a team that finished sixth in Division II last year. Bochiechio was right behind Christofk at CIF, taking 17th, but was slowed by injuries during track. She teams up with Kodadek to give San Marcos a strong two-three combo.

New: Jennifer Peterson (9), Alejondra Mendoza (10). Mendoza was on the JV team last year. Peterson was 8th in the Mt. Carmel Division I frosh race in 18:47.

The outlook: The San Marcos girls are pretty good. Their addition to the Palomar League upgrades the already strong collection of girls teams. They're not ready to challenge the very top teams, but they can hang with many of the others. A note for the future: the core of the team will be back intact next year.

Vista
Division: One.
Coaches: Pete Brooks, boys, and Paul Kinder, girls. Brooks replaces Craig Balsley.
Home course: Guajome Park (boys 3.1, girls 2.x).

BOYS: 27 runners.

At the top: Steve Ketcham (12) and Gonzalo Garcia (12) 16:36. Ketcham ran 4:28 and 9:54 in track, while Garcia clocked 4:33 and 10:02. Ketcham was often the team's leader last year, but persistent health problems washed out the big meets at the end. Brooks reports that Ketcham has "had no problems," and has had "a good summer."

Returning: Andrew Smith (11) 17:14; Cesar Rodriguez (12) 17:41; Sean Daley (10). Daley was a top local frosh last year.

New: Two significant newcomers are Justin Neauroth (9), who blazed at the Vaquero meet, and transfer Josh Moore (12), who ran 16:05 for 3 miles last year. Balsley thinks Neauroth may be his third man already, which is a strong beginning for a frosh runner in an established program. He expects Moore to be in the lead pack as well. Thinking ahead, Brooks reported that the team has "a very strong frosh/soph group."

The off-season: Despite the coaching change, summer training went well for the Panthers. "Our entire team came in in very good shape," Brooks said.

The outlook: Vista is always in the thick of things both at the league level and in CIF division I. That's not going to change this year. The team has some solid leaders and a good pack. They'll need to keep Ketcham healthy, of course.

GIRLS: 35 runners.

Best runners: Too close to call. It could be any from among a group of five or more, and they may trade off all year.

Returning: Noelle Magana (12) 16:06; Brooke Schroeder (11) 16:12; Mary Blasius (11) 16:22; Natalie Forsyth (11) 16:42; Julie Davidson (11) 17:13; Erika Batiz (12). Devon Lasiter-Thurber was one of the Panthers' best in '94 as a soph, and now returns after missing most of last year with injuries. She ran the CIF course in 16:10 as soph. Batiz is more of an 800 type (2:23 best), but she ran the CIF course in 16:41 as a soph. Blasius was injured in track, and alternates running workouts with pool workouts. Davidson is also injured. Forsyth, who ran 11:44 for 3200 in track, reported in the best shape of the group. Kinder thinks that Forsyth and Schroeder might develop into the leaders, with Magana right behind them. Lasiter-Thurber, who is still "getting back into shape, and getting confidence about not getting injured again," could join that three-some as the season develops.

New: Danielle Magana (9), Brianna Boeche (9), Talia Wilkins (10), Anna Colwell (12), Brea Mendoza (9), Tiffany Lee (9), Erin Collins (12). A couple of these runners were on the JV last year. Colwell ran the most miles of anybody over the summer, and could make a move. There is talent among the frosh. Magana, the sister of Noelle, "could be in the top five by the end of the year," Kinder said. Boeche, "could be the big surprise," he said. "Right now, she's up and down."

The outlook: Vista has incredible depth. They had more girls run quality times at the Vaquero meet than any other two schools. What they don't yet have is a replacement for Sonia Rodriguez, who had such a great season last year. If one of their top runners starts to make a move, Vista will be very tough. Even without anything dramatic, the team is one of the top five in the county. Since the team was third in the state in Division I last year and returns most of their squad, that should tell you what kind of year this is for girls teams locally.