CdM, Tars aim for titles

cif xcountry advanceSea Kings, Newport Harbor girls’ cross country teams have chance to win CIF championships today.There could be multiple reasons for the success of runners from the Newport Beach region: the warm, sunny weather, steep terrain in some parts, or the ocean breeze.

But whatever it can be pinpointed to, the cross country teams from the area are set to make a statement today at the CIF Southern Section championships at Mount SAC.

Named No. 1 in the nation in the Nike/Footlocker Super 25 high school poll earlier in the season, the Corona del Mar High girls’ team is coming off a 1-5 finish at the prelims last Saturday, while the Newport Harbor girls’ squad posted the fourth-best team time of the day.

Entering today’s championships -- with the CdM and Estancia girls slated to kick off the day in the Division III race at 7:45 a.m. -- the Back Bay girls’ squads are considered favorites to win their divisions.

The Newport Harbor girls compete in the Division II race at 9:45 a.m., while the Sage Hill girls are scheduled for the Division V race at 9:05 a.m.

The CdM and Estancia boys’ teams are slated for the Division III race at 8:25 a.m., and the Sage Hill boys’ squad is penned in for the Division V contest at 10:05 a.m.

Competing individually, Newport Harbor senior Kenny Rakestraw is scheduled for the Division II boys’ race at 10:45 a.m.

But out of all the runners from the Newport-Mesa area, there are perhaps none stronger than the Corona del Mar girls, labeled the best team in the history of the school by Coach Bill Sumner.

“You’re going to look back in history at this one and say this is the best team we ever had,” Sumner said.

Led by senior Annie St. Geme, who recently signed with Stanford, the Sea Kings are looking to defend their Southern Section title as well as stake their claim to the state crown next Saturday in Fresno.

The CdM girls finished 1-5 at the prelims last Saturday, led by St. Geme, junior Sarah Cummings, sophomore Allison Damon, sophomore Shelby Buckley and junior Nichole Slykhous.

“To tell you the truth, we weren’t looking [to finish 1-5],” Sumner said. “We were supposed to run hard for the first two miles and then just cruise in.”

The Newport Harbor girls, led by senior Whitney Blue -- who recently signed with Arizona State -- rose to the top of the Division II rankings late in the season.

The late success was a pleasant surprise for Coach Eric Tweit.

“Our team always starts slow,” Tweit said. “But we had a young team. Some of the girls, we didn’t know how they would turn out.”

The Sailors were paced last week by Blue, Melissa Mead, Erica Pearson, Lauren Maddox and Taylor Bryson.

“Everyone has a chance to contribute and we have a chance to win this,” Tweit said. “Our goal is for each girl to run her best race.”

The Estancia girls earned an at-large berth into the finals, led by Sydney Barloon, Paula Negrete, Magali Onofre, Karina Rios and Sindi Ramirez.

The Sage Hill girls were paced at the prelims by Katie McKeon, Cait Williamson, McKenzie Muhannon, Alyana Bobrownicki and Kelsey Rose.

On the boys’ side, Tito Castaneda, Hector Gomez, C.J. Buchmann, Wes Barloon and Enrique Vivar led Estancia at the preliminaries, while Tim Scott, Kenneth Wong, Ryan Guthrie, Thomas Dialynas and Tommy Hutchison led CdM.

Connor Rose led Sage Hill, followed by Tyler Ellis, Zach Chandy, Sean McElroy and Conrad Whitaker.