MISSION VIEJO – When it comes to strength at the top, it will be hard to find a league tougher than the South Coast League with five teams ranked in the Register’s preseason top 10 for girls cross country.
Defending league champion Trabuco Hills isn’t shying away from the competition or high expectations though.
“Basically, any time there’s a podium, we’d like to be on top of it,” said Liam Clemons, the Mustangs’ director of cross country
Trabuco Hills’ chances at repeating as league champs and possibly accomplishing even more this season are strengthened by the return of two first-team All-County performers, seniors Bailee Margolis and Sabrina Hermann.
Margolis qualified for the state championships last season, where she finished 18th.
Hermann also qualified for state and finished 16th.
“They got some big-race experience during the track season, so their confidence level has gone way up,” Clemons said. “They’ve really taken that next step toward becoming kind of an elite-level runner.”
Added Margolis: “We’ve definitely grown a lot more competitive. I think we’ve learned how to use our strengths to motivate each other, and to push each other to be the best we can be individually and as a team.”
Clemons thinks both were among the top 20 runners in the state last year, and he expects them to be in the top five to 10 this season.
Sweena Mangal and Jolie Nelson also should provide senior leadership for Trabuco Hills.
Clemons has high expectations for sophomore Makenna Duda. She did not run cross country last season, but she is a threat to be one of the Mustangs’ top seven runners this season.
The Mustangs start the year as the top team in the Register’s county rankings, and they were No. 2 in Division 1 in the CIF-SS preseason polls.
“It’s exciting to know that have the expectations to do well,” Margolis said. “That keeps us knowing what we have to do.”
Despite finishing atop the league standings last season, Trabuco Hills finished second in the county rankings, behind league foe Capistrano Valley, which took home the county championship.
The Cougars will be strong again as they return Grace Schafer, Ashley Licata and Rebecca Deitch. Capistrano Valley starts the season ranked third in the CIF-SS Division 2 poll.
“It’s always fun to go to meets and see them there,” Hermann said of Capo Valley. “It’s a good rivalry.”
Dana Hills starts the season No. 3 in the Register’s poll, giving the South Coast League the top three teams in the preseason poll, and San Clemente starts at No. 5 and Laguna Hills at No. 6.
Contact the writer: amorales@ocregister.com
