BOYS' TOP 10
1. Notre Dame
2. Canyon
3. Saugus
4. Rio Mesa
5. Crespi
6. Birmingham
7. Thousand Oaks
8. Golden Valley
9. Hart
10. Valencia
TOP ATHLETES TO WATCH
Jonathan Cabral, Agoura, Sr.
Niko DiMartino, Oaks Christian, Sr.
Kevin Enge, Canyon, Sr.
Sean Grumney, Newbury Park, Sr.
Alex Hamidzadeh, El Camino Real, Sr.
Philip Hanley, Thousand Oaks, Sr.
Shane MacMiller, Crespi, Sr.
Kristian Martinez, Golden Valley, Jr.
Eric McDaniel, Notre Dame, Jr.
Mizrael Mendez, Birmingham, Sr.
Anthony Monroy, Burroughs, Jr.
Khalfani Muhammad, Notre Dame, Soph.
Amir Ali Patterson, Crespi, Fr.
Erik Pinuelas, Camarillo, Sr.
Robert Pion, Saugus, Sr.
Vincent Saucer, Oaks Christian, Soph.
Blake Selig, Rio Mesa, Jr.
Connor Stark, Oak Park, Jr.
Kenny Stone, Canyon, Sr.
Ronnie Turner, Antelope Valley, Sr.
Heyden Wooff, Camarillo, Sr.
OTHER SENIORS TO WATCH
DeAndre Alexander, Chatsworth
Marcus Alford, Rio Mesa
Justin Bowie, Birmingham
Mario Castillo, Taft
Will Conway, Notre Dame
Roosevelt Davis, Paraclete
Issac Diosdado, Birmingham
Falco DiGiallonardo, Valencia
Sean Funchess, Panorama
Jahi Gains, Birmingham
Austin Gil, Oak Park
Richard Lucas, Notre Dame
Devin Lucien, Crespi
Chris Mitchell, Birmingham
Anthony Nickerson, Taft
Sean Padgett, El Camino Real
LaDarrin Roach, Rio Mesa
Andrew Roide, Crescenta Valley
Darius Rudolph, Canyon
Josh Solorzano, Granada Hills
Anthony Soto, Hart
Cameron Stevens, Oak Park
Malcolm Thomas, Panorama
Sean Upson, Royal
Yeltsen Vasquez, Birmingham
Jacob Williams, Birmingham
Sam Willis, Canyon
Nate Wolitarsky, Canyon
OTHER JUNIORS TO WATCH
Josh Anderson, Notre Dame
Dejon Coleman, Arleta
Aiden Elias, Notre Dame
Jeremy Gatewood, Saugus
Malik Johnson, El Camino Real
James Knowles, St. Francis
Tommy Lopez, Thousand Oaks
Adam Lucero, Camarillo
Leonard, Merriweather, Highland
Jonathan Miller, Westlake
Cameron Roach, Rio Mesa
Randy Uzoma, Canoga Park
Tim White, Hart
Sam Worley, Thousand Oaks
Darion Zimmerman, Rio Mesa
OTHER FRESHMEN/SOPHOMORES TO WATCH
Isaiah Amos, Burbank, Fr.
Kyle Ause, Notre Dame, Soph.
Jabrian Blackwell, Crespi, Soph.
Brandon Chin, Alemany, Soph.
Nolan Del Valle, Golden Valley, Soph.
Collin Gordon, Royal, Soph.
Sergio Maldonado, Moorpark, Soph.
Jordan Pitcher, Oaks Christian, Soph.
Terry Johnson, Oaks Christian, Soph.
Esteban Vega, Camarillo, Soph.
GIRLS' TOP 10
1. Saugus
2. Canyon
3. Taft
4. Notre Dame
5. Flintridge Sacred Heart
6. Harvard-Westlake
7. Birmingham
8. Oaks Christian
9. Thousand Oaks
10. Simi Valley
TOP ATHLETES TO WATCH
Danni Alakija, Oaks Christian, Soph.
Sarah Baxter, Simi Valley, Fr.
Breeann Braucher, West Ranch, Sr.
Stephanie Bulder, Saugus, Sr.
Cami Chapus, Harvard-Westlake, Jr.
Ally Courtnall, Oaks Christian, Sr.
Valexsia Droughn, Rio Mesa, Sr.
Alex Hampton, Saugus, Sr.
Lauren Hansson, Harvard-Westlake, Sr.
Jasmine Hall, Valencia, Sr.
Sydney Lewis, Oak Park, Jr.
Kaylin Mahoney, Saugus, Sr.
Raegan Nizdil, Rio Mesa, Soph.
Jennifer Owen, West Ranch, Sr.
Madison Stark, Oak Park, Sr.
Taylor Thomas, Canyon, Jr.
Morgan Thompson, Newbury Park, Sr.
Caitlin Turner, Thousand Oaks, Jr.
Jenna Vincej, Saugus, Jr.
Amy Weissenbach, Harvard-Westlake, Jr.
Ashley Welker, West Ranch, Jr.
LaToya Williams, Louisville, Sr.
OTHER SENIORS TO WATCH
Lauren Anderson, Oaks Christian
Faith Anumba, Valencia
Emily Bandy, Quartz Hill
Katie Barber, Louisville
McKenna Breitenfeld, El Camino Real
Shannon Byrne, Newbury Park
Xava Grooms, Granada Hills
Lauren Hackney, Golden Valley
Maddie Hardesty, Golden Valley
Laurie Henigan, Taft
Hillary Hill, Birmingham
Shenera Johnson, Birmingham
Stevie Kennedy-Gold, Canyon
Hilary King, Harvard-Westlake
Raquel Lambdin, Camarillo
Nicole Penick, Saugus
Molly Pearlman, Notre Dame
Victoria Richards, Birmingham
Megan Thompson, Newbury Park
Le'Shei Vines, Palmdale
Chelsey Washington, Highland
Destiny Wilson, Antelope Valley
Hanna Winter, La Reina
OTHER JUNIORS TO WATCH
Paulina Antaplyan, Flintridge Sacred Heart
Erika Barr, Simi Valley
Rachel Brajkovich, La Reina
Angelyn Caldwell, Thousand Oaks
Karis Frankian, Saugus
Annika Gasner, Rio Mesa
Larisa Gomez, Birmingham
Melanie Joerger, Thousand Oaks
Lexis Lambert, Taft
Kaneshia Lee, Taft
Vanessa Lopez, Highland
Sophie Mateu, Royal
Tatiana McCoy, Taft
Kim Sanchez, Oaks Christian
Alexandria Stewart, El Camino Real
Alexis Stewart, El Camino Real
Tiffini Stone, Canyon
Jeannuel Williams, Highland
OTHER FRESHMEN/SOPHOMORES TO WATCH
Erica Anunwah, Canyon, Soph.
Alex Cerise, La Reina, Fr.
Peyton Cline, El Camino Real, Fr.
Olivia Clink, Louisville, Soph.
Maddie Dignadice, Valencia, Soph.
Skylin Harbin, Golden Valley, Fr.
Ahlexhys Hawkins, Granada Hills, Soph.
Cali King, Crescenta Valley, Soph.
Jassmine Macon, Birmingham, Fr.
Zakora Merriweather, Highland, Fr.
Rochelle Nadreau, El Camino Real, Soph.
Michelle Padgett, El Camino Real, Fr.
Chelsey Totten, Golden Valley, Soph.
Madelyn Vorgitch, Simi Valley, Fr.
Jamie Wynn, Taft, Soph.
5 BURNING QUESTIONS
1. Of the area's three returning state champions, how many should repeat?
Agoura's Jonathan Cabral should not only capture another title in the 110-meter hurdles, but has the potential to challenge the state record of 13.39 seconds set in 2004 by James Logan's Kevin Craddock.
Cabral ran a wind-aided 13.54 to win last year's title, before clocking a wind-legal 13.63 at the World Junior Championships in July. Harvard-Westlake's Amy Weissenbach has recovered impressively from a stress reaction in her right hip that cut short her cross country season to get herself back on track to defend her 800 title.
Weissenbach just missed breaking the Clovis High stadium mark held by Valencia's Aly Drake, but should have another opportunity to challenge the standard this season in her attempt to become the first athlete to repeat in the two-lap event since Placer's Lindsay Hyatt won four in a row from 1996-99. Oaks Christian's Niko DiMartino won the boys' long jump crown despite competing with an injured right foot and will need to overcome injury again this season to become just the seventh back-to-back winner in state history.
2. Does Notre Dame have enough depth to win an eighth boys' division championship in a decade?
Yes, but it will likely be showcased in different areas than years past, when the Knights relied heavily on their strength in the throws. Notre Dame boasts one of the elite sprint corps in Div. III with Khalfani Muhammad and Eric McDaniel, supported by Will Conway and Richard Lucas in the distance events. The Knights will likely need to win both relays and receive crucial contributions in the field events to secure a third consecutive championship.
3. Will Simi Valley's Sarah Baxter follow Mission Prep's Jordan Hasay by winning the state 3,200-meter title as a freshman?
If Baxter's performance at the Div. I state cross country final was any indication, then it's going to be difficult for Rancho Bernardo's Molly Grabill to repeat as champion. Torrey Pines' Alli Billmeyer, Arcadia's Catrina McAlister and Saugus' Kaylin Mahoney and Stephanie Bulder are all worthy challengers, but if Baxter remains healthy, she is a strong favorite to become the area's first local 3,200 champion since Harvard-Westlake's Lindsay Flacks in 2004.
4. Will Saugus break its own girls' 4 x mile relay state record or can Harvard-Westlake take down the California standard in the girls' distance medley relay?
Both appear to be within the realm of possibility, although one might happen sooner and the other could have to wait until after the state meet. Saugus won back-to-back Arcadia Invitational titles in 2008 and '09 in the 4 x mile relay before deciding not to compete last year, but with eight runners capable of clocking under 11 minutes in the 3,200, coach Rene Paragas has plenty of options in the shorter mile to put together a lineup for this year's Arcadia meet in an attempt to challenge the 2008 mark of 20:10.76. Harvard-Westlake's pursuit of the 2000 distance medley relay record of 11:41.28 belonging to San Lorenzo Valley likely won't materialize until New Balance Outdoor Nationals in June. The Wolverines ran 11:46.15 last year in North Carolina for the No. 7 effort in California history.
5. After being shut out last year, will an area team capture a City Section championship?
Expect Birmingham and Taft to be back in title contention, but after the Patriots won the girls' championship in 2009, they could be challenging for the boys' crown this time around. Taft, the 2009 boys' winner, is expected to battle Carson and Palisades for this year's girls' championship. Birmingham, which played third in the boys' competition behind Dorsey and Crenshaw, will rely on the same distance prowess that secured the City cross country title. Taft should excel in the sprints, hurdles and relays, but will need to neutralize Carson and Palisades in the field events to capture the girls' title.
TOP MEETS/INVITATIONALS TO WATCH Thursday: Loyola at Notre Dame; Thousand Oaks/Simi Valley at Royal Saturday: Azusa Pacific Meet of Champions at APU; Pasadena Games at PCC; Percy Knox Invitational at COC March 31: Flintridge Sacred Heart/Notre Dame at St. Francis; Oaks Christian at Oak Park April 2: Los Angeles County Championships at Warren High; Michelle Perry Invitational at Quartz Hill High; Spartan Relays at Rio Meza High April 6: Taft at Birmingham April 7: Thousand Oaks at Westlake April 8-9: Arcadia Invitational April 15-16: Mt. SAC Relays April 16: Russell Cup at Carpinteria High April 21: Saugus at Valencia April 23: San Fernando Invitational at Birmingham High April 28: Canyon at Saugus April 29: Ventura County Championships at Moorpark High May 5: Mission League finals at Valley College; Foothill League finals at COC May 6: Marmonte League finals at Moorpark High; Pacific View League finals at Channel Islands High
