Runner of the Year: Samantha Ortega, Saugus Junior

Oh, what a year! Saugus’ Ortega enjoyed one of the most magical seasons in SCV prep sports history this cross country season, setting many historic records in the process. The junior went undefeated up to the CIF Southern Section Prelims in mid-November and set course records at Castaic Lake (16:42), Central Park (17:17), College of the Canyons (17:20) and Shorline Park (17:44) , SCV records at Mt. SAC (16:47) and Woodward Park (17:26), and a school record at Balboa Park (17:54). Her third-place finishes at CIF Finals and the state meet earned her all-section and all-state honors for a second consecutive year, while her 16:47 win on the historic Mt. SAC layout ranks #9 in course history. The last two weeks of her season were impressive, as she finished fourth at the Footlocker West Regionals, qualifying for the famous nationals cross country championship event, where she capped off her season with a 15th-place finish, the last All-American award.

Season Highlights:

Foothill League Champion

3rd @ CIF SS Finals (All-Section first Team)

3rd @ CA State Finals (All-State first team)

4th @ Footlocker West Regionals (All-Region first team)

15th @ Footlocker Nationals (All-American first team)

16:47 @ Mt. SAC (#9 in course history)

FIRST TEAM:

Ashley Heys, Saugus, Sophomore: After battling anemia early in the season, Heys finished seventh at Foothill League Meet #2. Three weeks later, the sophomore enjoyed a break-out race at the Foothill League Finals, earning a bronze medal. In the process, she tied the sophomore course record at Central Park, held by Great Oak standout and state division 1 runner-up Destiny Collins. Heys also finished 40th and 42nd at the section and state finals, won the sophomore race at the Dos Pueblos and was second at Mt. SAC.

Kyla Danforth, Canyon, Junior: Danforth was instrumental in Canyon’s success this fall. The soccer player enjoyed her best performance at the Foothill League Finals, where she earned All-Foothill League first team honors with her 4th-place finish. She also contributed towards the Cowboys’ win at Foothill League Meet #1, the CV Mid-Week Dual and the Kenny Staub Invite.

Mackinzie Moncibais, Saugus, Junior: With senior captain and two-time state champion Abigail Frankian out for the season with a torn plantar fascia, the Saugus girls needed someone to step up big time. Enter Mackinzie Moncibais. The Foothill League long jump runner-up was money this fall, finishing 10th at league finals, 38th at the section finals and an impressive 22nd at the state meet. Her 18:28 5K mark at Woodward Park is now #26 in SCV history.

Kaylee Thompson, Valencia, Freshman: Perhaps the future of Foothill League distance running, Thompson raced like a veteran this year. Not afraid to go out with Samantha Ortega’s blistering pace, the freshman talent held on, twice, finishing third and sixth at the last two league meets. Her 18:32 at Mt. SAC ranks #9 on the SCV freshman list, while her 18:46 at Woodward Park is #7 all-time.

Natalie Rodriguez, Canyon, Senior: In one of the most inspirational stories of the year, Rodriguez is arguably the second greatest cross country runner in Canyon history, only trailing the legendary Lauren Fleshman. She broke 18 minutes, joining 15 other Foothill League runners to accomplish the feat. She was the Foothill League runner-up, becoming just the third, following All-American Samantha Ortega and former Centurions’ runner Karis Frankian, to break 18 minutes on Central Park’s three-hill course. Rodriguez also won the Cresenta Valley Mid-Week Dual and the Kenny Staub Invitational, her best time at CV Park now ranks #7 in SCV history.

Sabrina Janes, Saugus, Junior: Janes showed she has great range this cross country season, running some impressive marks, including a mind-boggling 18:05 5,000-meter personal best that netted her 13th-place at the CIF State Championships. That mark now ranks 13th in SCV history, and seventh on the all-time junior list, only trailing the Murakami sisters, Samantha Ortega, Kaylin Mahoney, Karis Frankian and Lauren Fleshman. After a calf injury kept her out of Foothill League Meet #1, Janes finished fifth at the finals as well. Fun Fact: Only Sarah Baxter ran faster than Janes’ 5:25 final mile at this year’s state cross country finals (all divisions combined).

SECOND TEAM:

Abigail Frankian, Saugus, Senior

— 3rd @ Foothill League Meet #1

— 19:11 @ Saugus September Showdown (15th fastest in Foothill Lg.)

— 7th @ Saugus September Showdown

Amanda Dejesus, Saugus, Senior

— 54th @ CIF State Championships

— 17th @ Foothill League Finals

Darby LaPlant, Saugus, Junior

— 11th @ Foothill League Finals

— 18:39 @ Mt. SAC Invite (8th fastest in Foothill League)

Jessica Ruiz, Saugus, Junior

— 58th @ CIF Southern Section Finals

— All-Foothill League first team (7th at the finals)

— 18:46 @ Mt. SAC Invite (11th fastest in Foothill League)

Marisa Magsarili, West Ranch, Junior

— 45th @ CIF Southern Section Finals

— All-Foothill League second team (8th at the finals)

Megan Tuinstra, Saugus, Freshman

— 59th @ CIF Southern Section Finals

— Foothill League Frosh/Soph Runner-up

— 10th @ Foothill League Meet #2 (18:46 on Central Park’s 3-hill course)

Taylor Welker, West Ranch, Senior

— All-Foothill League second team (9th at the finals)

— 55th @ CIF Southern Section Finals

THIRD TEAM:

Allison Werbicki, West Ranch, Senior

— All-Foothill League second team (12th at the finals)

— 18:47 @ CIF Southern Section Finals (12th in the Foothill League)

Amelia Pear, Valencia, Junior

— 16th @ Foothill League Finals

— 18:40 @ CIF Southern Section Finals (9th fastest in Foothill League)

Concepcion Flores, Canyon, Senior

— 19:06 @ Mt. SAC Invite (16th fastest in Foothill League)

— 5th @ Foothill League Meet #1

Emma Bahr, Saugus, Sophomore

— Foothill League Frosh/Soph Champion

— Frosh/Soph winner @ Saugus September Showdown

Lexi Whitman, Valencia, Senior

— 19:08 @ CIF Southern Section Prelims (17th fastest in Foothill League)

Rachel Rush, Canyon, Senior

All-Foothill League second team (14th at the finals)

Shalyn Mabritto, Canyon, Senior

— All-Foothill League second team (13th at the finals)

— 18:49 @ Mt. SAC Invite (13th fastest in Foothill League)

TOP MARKS 2013:

Central Park (Three-Hill Course) –

17:17   Samantha Ortega, Saugus, Junior

17:54   Natalie Rodriguez, Canyon, Senior

18:12   Ashley Heys, Saugus, Sophomore

18:19   Kaylee Thompson, Valencia, Freshman

18:22   Kyla Danforth, Canyon, Junior

18:24   Sabrina Janes, Saugus, Junior

18:35   Taylor Welker, West Ranch, Senior

18:37   Mackinzie Moncibais, Saugus, Junior

18:37   Jessica Ruiz, Saugus, Junior

18:39   Marisa Magsarili, West Ranch, Junior

18:46   Megan Tuinstra, Saugus, Freshman

18:50   Concepcion Flores, Canyon, Senior

18:55   Shalyn Mabritto, Canyon, Senior

18:58   Darby LaPlant, Saugus, Junior

19:11   Abigail Frankian, Saugus, Senior

19:11   Allison Werbicki, West Ranch, Senior

19:14   Emma Bahr, Saugus, Sophomore

19:20   Rachel Rush, Canyon, Senior

19:23   Amelia Pear, Valencia, Junior

19:29   Morgan Spurlock, Valencia, Senior

Mt. SAC –

16:47   Samantha Ortega, Saugus, Junior

17:55   Natalie Rodriguez, Canyon, Senior

18:17   Marisa Magsarili, West Ranch, Junior

18:20   Sabrina Janes, Saugus, Junior

18:27   Mackinzie Moncibais, Saugus, Junior

18:31   Kyla Danforth, Canyon, Junior

18:32   Kaylee Thompson, Valencia, Freshman

18:39   Darby LaPlant, Saugus, Junior

18:40   Amelia Pear, Valencia, Junior

18:40   Ashley Heys, Saugus, Sophomore

18:46   Jessica Ruiz, Saugus, Junior

18:47   Allison Werbicki, West Ranch, Senior

18:49   Shalyn Mabritto, Canyon, Senior

18:54   Amanda DeJesus, Saugus, Senior

18:59   Megan Tuinstra, Saugus, Freshman

19:06   Concepcion Flores, Canyon, Senior

19:08   Lexi Whitman, Valencia, Senior

19:16   Emma Bahr, Saugus, Sophomore

19:17   Stephanie Martinez, Canyon, Sophomore

19:26   Kimmie Newton, Valencia, Senior

Woodward Park –

17:26   Samantha Ortega, Saugus, Junior

18:05   Sabrina Janes, Saugus, Junior

18:28   Mackinzie Moncibais, Saugus, Junior

18:44   Ashley Heys, Saugus, Sophomore

18:46   Kaylee Thompson, Valencia, Freshman

18:50   Marisa Magsarili, Saugus, Junior

18:57   Amanda DeJesus, Saugus, Senior

19:24   Allison Werbicki, West Ranch, Senior

19:30   Darby LaPlant, Saugus, Junior

19:38   Megan Tuinstra, Saugus, Freshman

19:39   Abbie Phillips, West Ranch, Senior

19:46   Morgan Spurlock, Valencia, Senior

19:55   Claire Lee, West Ranch, Sophomore

20:09   Taylor Welker, West Ranch, Senior

20:16   Kimmie Newton, Valencia, Senior

20:19   Gabby Zacky, Valencia, Senior

20:24   Kaeli Olson, West Ranch, Junior

20:26   Amelia Pear, Valencia, Junior

20:32   Lexi Whitman, Valencia, Senior

20:33   Caillie Binnie, West Ranch, Junior