Elite Girls Battle for Southern Section Supremacy

Girls Division 3 Preview

Palos Verdes' Natalie Watson leads a group of runners in a preliminary heat. (Photo by Lizette Adams.)

Oak Park junior Sylvia Cruz-Albrecht, second in the division final as a sophomore, had the top time among two heats at the divisional prelims at the Riverside Championship Course. Cruz-Albrecht's time (17:37.90) was more than 15 seconds faster than that of Oak Park classmate Sarah Shulz.

Palos Verdes, which has won five of the last seven division titles, took it easy and still won its heat. Despite losing junior Mazzy Genovese, the defending division champion who reportedly choose not to compete this season, Coach Brian Shapiro's team has rallied around returning senior Grace Catena and done what top programs always do: Simply reload. 

Catena, ninth in the division final last November as one of three PV runners in the top 10, was just 26th in her preview heat. Alarm bells? Doubtful. PV has won three of the last six State titles, including last year.

Note that Misty Diaz, third in this division last year, now competes in Division 2, where she put up the third-fastest time overall at prelims. 

For the complete merged heat results from the preliminaries, click here.