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.)
COMMENT POLICY: We welcome comments from individuals and businesses. All comments are moderated. Comments are subject to rejection if they are vulgar, combative, or in poor taste.
REAL NAMES ONLY: All posters must use their real individual or business name. This applies equally to Twitter account holders who use a nickname.
College of the Canyons softball was represented with two selections on the 2022 National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) California JC All-American Team with slugger Ashlynn Heck and pitcher/utility player Allyson Melgar included in the group of 26 honorees from across the state.
Hugo Amsallem put together back-to-back under-par rounds of 68 and 69 to finish first in the individual standings and lead College of the Canyons to a third-place result, just one stroke back of the event champions, during the CCCAA Southern California Regional Championship at Olivas Links Golf Course on Monday.
College of the Canyons continued its postseason push at the California Community College Athletic Association Track & Field Southern California Prelims hosted by Moorpark College on May 6.
The Board of Trustees of the Santa Clarita Valley Community College District will meet Wednesday, May 18, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., for a Board Self-Evaluation Workshop.
The regular meeting of the William S. Hart Union High School District's Governing Board will take place Wednesday, May 18, beginning at 7 p.m. The board will meet in closed session at 4:30 p.m.
Premier Workspaces, one of the largest privately-owned executive suites, coworking, and shared workspace companies in the United States, with a unit in Santa Clarita, is proud to celebrate their 20th anniversary.
The city of Santa Clarita’s Film Office released the nine productions currently filming in the Santa Clarita Valley for the week of Monday, May 16 - Sunday, May 22.
College of the Canyons softball was represented with two selections on the 2022 National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) California JC All-American Team with slugger Ashlynn Heck and pitcher/utility player Allyson Melgar included in the group of 26 honorees from across the state.
Parks are not just good for your physical health, but your mental health. Join the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation and Why We Rise for Parks at Sunset to celebrate Mental Health Awareness Month. Green spaces, physical activity and social connectivity play a powerful role in overall well-being.
After serving in the position on an interim basis for the past year, Dr. Abner Chou has assumed the role of full-time president of The Master’s University and Seminary.
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health confirmed 15 additional deaths and 3,489 new positive cases Saturday, 2,707 new cases Sunday and 1,941 new cases Monday countywide.
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health confirmed six new deaths throughout L.A. County, 4,025 new cases countywide, with 151 new cases in the Santa Clarita Valley. This new data brings Los Angeles County death totals to 32,022, county case totals to 2,907,721 and Santa Clarita Valley case totals to 74,979, with 470 total SCV deaths from COVID-19 since March of 2020.
Baseball season is officially back! As a Southern California native, I grew up as an avid Dodger fan and I continue that tradition whenever I take my family to a game. There is no feeling that compares to entering Dodger Stadium and hearing the sound of cheering fans and the smell of fresh-cut grass and of course, Dodger Dogs!
Running from June 6 through Aug. 13, College of the Canyons will be offering a robust summer schedule of four sessions to continue assisting students with reaching their goals during this unprecedented time.
This month, the city shines the spotlight on the friendly staff in the Building and Safety Division. May is Building and Safety Month and the 2022 theme is “Safety for All: Codes in Action.” This month builds awareness about the importance of building codes in ensuring safety in the spaces in which we live, work and learn.
The California Institute of the Arts Board of Trustees have awarded 14 admired, acclaimed and longtime faculty members emeritus status in recognition of their contributions to CalArts.
"Something Rotten: The Broadway Musical (Rated PG) opens this weekend at Canyon Theatre Guild in Old Town Newhall. Opening night is Saturday May 14 at 8 p.m. with a free champagne and wine reception for ticket holders. It will run every weekend, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, until its scheduled closing on June 18.
Diné artist, composer and California Institute of the Arts alum Raven Chacon (Music MFA 2004) was awarded the 2022 Pulitzer Prize in Music for "Voiceless Mass." Diné means "the people" in the Navajo language. Chacon is the first Native American to win the Pulitzer Prize for music.
REAL NAMES ONLY: All posters must use their real individual or business name. This applies equally to Twitter account holders who use a nickname.
0 Comments
You can be the first one to leave a comment.