From the early stages of the season, the Trabuco Hills girls track and field team was on a mission to perform at a level higher than every other team in the county.
At the heart of the journey was Coach Dennis Kelly, who instilled confidence and purpose in his athletes, while keeping them dedicated and motivated.
In his sixth season, Kelly led the Mustangs on a run of success that firmly established his credentials as one of the state’s best coaches.
For his accomplishments, Kelly has been selected The Register’s 2010 Girls Track and Field Coach of the Year.
ALL-COUNTY: List of the All-County team.
ATHLETE: Athlete of the Year story.
“I felt that we had a combination of athletes performing at a high level and a competent coaching staff this season,” said Kelly. “I certainly felt that we were ready to have a breakout season and we did that.”
The Mustangs displayed their team strength from the beginning, and by early April they had athletes among the county leaders in nearly every area of competition.
However, Kelly viewed the Orange County Championships as their first true measuring stick of the season.
“That meet was very important to us,” he said. “It’s the one day and one moment where you are compared to other great programs in the county.”
Behind two individual champions, wins in both relays and a top-three finisher in nine events, the Mustangs ended Dana Hills’ two-year reign as county champion, claiming the program’s first team title by 44 points.
“That day was extremely gratifying to us,” remembered Kelly. “That win wasn’t just for this season, but for the teams that came before it.”
Trabuco Hills finished its season strong, winning the Sea View League title and sending its 400-meter relay team to the state finals, where it finished with the second-best time in county history.
“This 2010 team is the best team, by far, that we’ve had at Trabuco Hills,” Kelly said. “Everything came together in sort of a ‘perfect storm,’ and we will be hard pressed in the future to match the overall competence of this team.”
However, Kelly said, that won’t keep him from trying to top what the team accomplished this season.
“I’m a person that doesn’t really dwell on past accomplishments,” he said. “I’m always striving to get better and for the team to get better in the future.”
