GIRLS PREVIEW
El Toro, which has skipped the large, high level competitions thus far, will have to hold off Fountain Valley, which comes in as being one of the top squads in the Southern Section. Both are slated to qualify for the state meet in their respective divisions. Coming in from the desert to enjoy the cool breezes of Dana Point, La Quinta has performed well these past two weekends. Waiting for junior Akemi Von Scherr to heal from a stress fracture, freshman and little sister, Emmi has been their No. 1 thus far. Meanwhile, the women from Mission Viejo and Great Oak will running their 'B' teams while their top seven travel to Boise, Idaho for Bob Firman.
Individually, Sage Creek junior Skyler Wallace is riding the hot hand right now, especially after her 16:52 performance at Woodbridge. That was a minute faster than from a year ago, so expect another sub-17 minute race. Wallace is also the defending SDS Div. IV champion. But Canyon Crest junior Carlie Dorostkar is coming off an outstanding 15:33 performance at last weekend's Mt. Carmel Invite (second fastest overall). She returns after recording a 17:12 here last year (the team later placed 7th at the California State Meet). Also from the San Diego Section, San Marcos' Caitlin Cornell (Clark Kranz photo above) raced to a 16:48 on this same course a year ago. She is coming off a 17:34 effort last weekend.
Out of the Southern Section, El Toro's Alexis Neuville and Grace Griffin will debut their seasons on the Dana Hills course. Neuville may not be 100% healthy but will still be up in the front group nonetheless. Fountain Valley's Ashley Faller has become the leader of her state ranked squad while she went 17:18 at this invite in 2017. Santa Ana's Maria Hernandez ran the fastest time (17:27) of the Woodbridge's Friday night session.
In her first year in the sport, Great Oak's Aubrie Nex is the fastest non-varsity girl in all of California and is coming off a 17:50 effort at Woodbridge last weekend! Newport Harbor's Mia Matsunami has come out of the gates well with solid efforts the past two weekends.
One of Orange County's best, Capistrano Valley's Carly Corsinita will compete individually in the Division II junior race here. She ran 17:49 here a year ago while bouncing back from a 17:01 effort last weekend.
