The OC Champs will run at picturesque Oak Canyon Park for the second straight year. (Credit: Frank Bellino)
In one of the oldest and prestigious invites in the Southern Section, the two-day affair that is the Orange County Championships kicks off on Friday afternoon!
Now in it's 52nd season, bragging
rights and county supremacy will be on the line when the Boys Sweepstakes Race
takes off at 9:10 am on Saturday morning with the girls following at 10 am. The Friday schedule of races features some the county's best smaller schools.
After decades of being held at Irvine Regional Park, the event is at nearby Oak Canyon Park for the second year. Unlike last year, in what became a muddy experience to say the least, it is expected to be sunny with the temps peaking into the low-80s.
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GIRLS PREVIEW
On the girls' side, Canyon sophomore Emma Hadley is the top
returner as she crossed with a 17:41 in her runner-up finish in
2018 (bib No. 372 in Patrick Corsinita photo above). While the Comanches also earned runner-up honors to Mission Viejo for the OC crown a year ago, they are slight
favorites over El Toro in 2019. Both are ranked
in our top five in the Southern Section overall rankings and in the Division II State Rankings. Having utilized a
cautious racing schedule thus far, both
coaches confirmed that their top seven will be on the line!
In our most recent Orange County team rankings, not much
separates the talent of San Clemente and Beckman. The girls from Dana Hills, Orange Lutheran, Capistrano
Valley, and Yorba Linda will also be 
fighting to break into the top three.
Individually, aside from Hadley, watch for San Clemente's Hana Catsimanes who has been on a roll of late! She has additional motivation after being a victim of the mud a year ago and falling back quite aways from the leaders. Capistrano Valley's Carly Corsinita (DeAnna Turner photo) finished right behind her last weekend in breaking 17:50 as well. Yorba Linda's Siena Palicke also broke the 18-minute barrier on the storied Woodward Park course. Do not overlook Mission Viejo's Ashley Johnson while Santa Ana's Maria Hernandez should take the pace out as both will in the fight for a top five finish.
Orange
County Girls Top 10 (Oct. 14,
2019)
1) Canyon
2) El Toro
3t) Beckman
3t) San Clemente
5) Brea Olinda (not competing at OCC)
6) Dana Hills
7) Orange Lutheran
8) Trabuco Hills
9) Capistrano Valley
10t) Yorba Linda
10t) Tesoro
Others: Aliso Niguel, Foothill, Fountain Valley, Laguna Beach, Los Alamitos, Mission Viejo, Northwood, Woodbridge
GIRLS SWEEPSTAKES LINEUP
Aliso Niguel
Beckman
Canyon
Capo Valley
Dana Hills
El Toro
Foothill
Fountain Valley
JSerra
Laguna Beach
Mission Viejo
Orange Lutheran
San Clemente
Tesoro
Trabuco Hills
Valencia
Woodbridge
Individuals:
Sally Silengo - Kennedy
Mia Bergman - Sonora
Maria Hernandez - Santa Ana
Ashlee Gallegos - Edison