In what could be the first of several postseason honors for Simi Valley junior Sarah Baxter, the three-time state 3,200-meter champion was recently selected female athlete of the year by the Ventura County Track and Field Coaches' Association.

St. Bonaventure sophomore sprinter Lavan Alston was selected male athlete of the year.

Baxter joined Mission Prep's Jordan Hasay and Alemany's Victoria Chapus as the only female runners in state history to win three consecutive 3,200 titles, remaining unbeaten at the distance in her high school career -- including three Southern Section Masters titles -- highlighted by a personal-best 10 minutes, 6.74 seconds April 26 at the Ventura County Championships at Moorpark High, which ranks No. 2 nationally this year.