All-County First Team: Girls' Cross Country

PHOTO BY JUAN CARLO, VENTURA COUNTY STAR

Sarah Baxter 

SIMI VALLEY, SOPHOMORE 

No sophomore jinx for this amazing, gifted runner. Baxter defended her championships at the CIF state (17 minutes, 8 seconds), CIF-Southern Section (16:44) and Marmonte League (17:03) meets. The 5-foot-4, 100-pound runner set a course record in the league meet at Agoura. One week after winning the state title (with Simi Valley dropping from Division 1 to Division 2), Baxter won the prestigious Nike Cross Nationals in Portland, Ore. Her hobbies include reading. Her favorite movie is "Tangled" and the TV show she enjoys most is "Bones." Baxter lists Katy Perry as her favorite singer, chocolate cake as her favorite food and 1964 Olympic distance runner Billy Mills as her favorite athlete.

PHOTO BY JUAN CARLO, VENTURA COUNTY STAR

Melanie Joerger 

THOUSAND OAKS, SENIOR 

Joerger set personal records at the 5K Clovis Invitational (fourth, 18:03) and the 3-mile Woodbridge Invitational rated race (second, 17:07). Joerger is a scholar athlete with a 4.5 GPA. Her favorite foods are bacon, guacamole and Parmesan cheese. She is undecided about her college choice. Taylor Swift is the singer Joerger enjoys most. Her favorite movie is "Easy A" and her favorite TV show is "Modern Family."

PHOTO BY JUAN CARLO, VENTURA COUNTY STAR

Erika Barr 

SIMI VALLEY, SENIOR 

Barr finished her career helping to lead the Pioneers to a CIF-SS Division 2 championship. She turned in a time of 16:57 at the Woodbridge Invitational, had a 17:50 clocking at the Mount SAC Invitational and finished the Nike Cross Nationals in 19:16. Barr won a scholar athlete award at Simi Valley and is leaning toward UC Davis as her top college choice. "Awkward" is her favorite TV show, "Bridesmaids" is her favorite movie and Jack Johnson is the singer she enjoys most. Barr lists Simi Valley teammate Sarah Baxter as her favorite athlete.

PHOTO BY JUAN CARLO, VENTURA COUNTY STAR

Karla Vernola 

SIMI VALLEY, SENIOR 

The 5-foot-7, 120-pound Vernola is headed for Moorpark College after completing her running career at Simi Valley. Among Vernola's best marks this season were a 17:02 at the Woodbridge Invitational, a 17:38 at the Mount SAC Invitational, an 18:14 at the CIF State Championships and a 19:30 at the Nike Cross Nationals. She lists current teammate Sarah Baxter and former teammate Liberty Miller as her favorite athletes. "Avatar" is her favorite movie and "Tough Love" is her favorite TV show. The San Diego ChaPrgers are the team she likes most and In-N-Out cheeseburgers are her favorite food.

PHOTO BY ROB VARELA, VENTURA COUNTY STAR

Hannah Kirkegaard 

VENTURA, JUNIOR 

Kirkegaard took third place at the CIF-SS Division 1 championship in 17:34 and was 10th at the state meet in 18:14. She also placed third at the Ventura County Championships in 18:08. The 5-foot-8 Kirkegaard enjoys swimming, cycling, playing with her dog and reading. "The Royal Tenenbaums" is her favorite movie and she likes to watch "The Office" on TV. Elliott Smith is her favorite singer and Norwegian marathoner Grete Waitz is her favorite athlete.

PHOTO BY JUAN CARLO, VENTURA COUNTY STAR

Ariana Brajkovich 

LA REINA, FRESHMAN 

In her first year as a high school runner, Brajkovich finished first in all three Tri-Valley League meets. Her best mark came at the Mount SAC Invitational at 18:45. She had the best freshman time at the Mount Carmel Invitational, was 18th at the CIF-SS Division 4 meet (18:50) and was 22nd at the state meet (19:02). Brajkovich is La Reina's freshman class president and has a GPA of 4.17. Her favorite TV show is "Psych" and names "She's the Man" as her top movie. She names the Rolling Stones as her favorite band, paella as her favorite dish, David Beckham as top athlete and UCLA as her favorite team.

PHOTO BY ROB VARELA, VENTURA COUNTY STAR

Brianne Holland 

ROYAL, FRESHMAN 

Holland broke upon the cross country scene, winning three of her first four meets, including the Ojai Invitational in 19:14. Holland was third in the Marmonte League championships in 17:47 and just missed qualifying at the CIF-SS prelims, finishing in 17:03. Holland likes to read, swim and ride her bicycle. "The Blind Side" is her favorite movie and "The Bachelor"/"The Bachelorette" is her favorite TV series. Holland likes spaghetti, lists Jordan Hasay as her favorite athlete and the University of Oregon as her favorite team.