All Area Teams: Girls’ Cross Country
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2011
BY ERIK BOAL STAFF WRITER

RUNNER OF THE YEAR

SARAH BAXTER, Simi Valley, So.
It was a comeback story for Baxter that was punctuated with one impressive rally. After missing the early part of the season rehabilitating a foot injury, Baxter took advantage of all the remaining opportunities on Simi Valley’s schedule to not only add more impressive records to her growing resume, but help the Pioneers to their most productive season. Baxter remained unbeaten against high school competition by winning the Mount SAC Invitational sweepstakes, Ventura County Championships and Marmonte League title during the regular season, before delivering three exceptional efforts in the postseason. After winning section and state titles in Div. I last year, Baxter thrived against the most competitive field in Div. II history to capture both championships again and help Simi Valley win its first section crown. But her finest performance came in her Nike Cross Nationals debut at Portland Meadows, overcoming an early deficit on the 5-kilometer course to finally take the lead past the midway point on her way to a national title in 17:37.62.

FIRST TEAM

ERIKA BARR, Simi Valley, Sr.
The Marmonte League runner-up helped the Pioneers enjoy a historical season, contributing to several program records. Barr, who took fourth at Ventura County Championships, finished 17th at the Southern Section Div. II final (17:50) to help Simi Valley win its first title. Barr was the team’s No. 2 runner at Nike Cross Nationals, helping Simi Valley finish 11th in its debut in Portland, Ore.
 

CAMI CHAPUS, Harvard-Westlake, Sr.
Although her pursuit for a third consecutive Div. IV state title was affected by a bronchial infection, the Stanford-bound Chapus still enjoyed a memorable final season. She became the school’s first four-time Mission League champion and won her second Southern Section Div. IV crown (17:06). Chapus also became the area’s first runner to race at both Nike Cross Nationals and Foot Locker National Championships, taking 22nd at the latter.
 

KARIS FRANKIAN, Saugus, Sr.
Became the school’s third athlete to be part of four state championship teams. The Foothill League champion finished second at the Southern Section Div. II final and third at the state championship meet, the third top-five finish in her career at Woodward Park. Her 17:06 at the section final at Mount SAC was the No. 2 time in program history, trailing only Kaylin Mahoney (17:01). Frankian finished 38th in her fourth trip to Nike Cross Nationals.

JENAY JAUREGUI, Saugus, Sr.
The Foothill League runner-up finished eighth at the Southern Section Div. II final (17:33) — a mark that ranks in the top five in program history at Mount SAC — but it was her 20th-place effort at the state meet that was crucial to the Centurions winning a sixth consecutive championship. Jauregui led a group of five Saugus runners finishing within an 18-second span, a necessary gap to defeat runner-up La Costa Canyon.
 

JORDAN McCALL, Saugus, Sr.
One of the state’s most improved runners, McCall was a huge asset in Saugus’ pursuit for the Div. II state title. Following a third-place finish at the Foothill League final, McCall took 20th at the section championship (18:03), followed by a 22nd-place effort at the state meet at Woodward Park. McCall contributed to Saugus finishing 12th in their sixth appearance at Nike Cross Nationals.
 

CHELSEY TOTTEN, Golden Valley, Jr.
Totten finished fourth at the Foothill League final, then delivered perhaps her best race of the season on the Mount SAC rain course by finishing fourth in her heat in 16:53 at the Southern Section Div. II prelims. Totten took 34th at the section final on the 2.91-mile Mount SAC course (18:27), four seconds off last year’s school record.
 

KARLA VERNOLA, Simi Valley, Sr.
During a career often interrupted by injuries, Vernola was the model of consistency this year for the Pioneers, who won the Mount SAC grand sweepstakes, the Ventura  County Championships, Marmonte League title and Southern Section Div. II crown. Vernola placed in the top 10 in all of those races and took 15th at the Div. II state final for the fourth-place Pioneers, then was Simi Valley’s No. 3 runner at Nike Cross Nationals.
 

AMY WEISSENBACH, Harvard-Westlake, Sr.
After having her postseason cut short last year because of a hip injury, the Stanford-bound Weissenbach more than made up for lost time. The Mission League runner-up helped the Wolverines take second at the Southern Section Div. IV final and third at the state meet. Weissenbach clocked 17:45 at the Div. IV final to place second, then ran 17:57 to finish third at the state championship.

NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR

JENNY GIGUERE, Westlake, Fr.
In a Marmonte League loaded with talented ninth-graders, including Royal’s Brianne Holland, Moorpark’s Monika Gyalay and Simi Valley’s Sarah Riggs, Giguere overcame regular-season losses to her peers to deliver her strongest performances when it mattered most. Giguere placed third in her Div. II prelim heat in 16:39 on the Mount SAC rain course, then finished 16th on the full layout at the division final in 17:50.

COACH OF THE YEAR

RENE PARAGAS, Saugus
It isn’t often that the Centurions find themselves in the underdog role, but it was one that Paragas thrived on to lead Saugus to its sixth consecutive state championship, more than any program — male or female — in California history. Saugus rebounded from a nine-point loss to Simi Valley at the Southern Section Div. II final to win again in Woodward Park, before placing 12th at Nike Cross Nationals.

RACE OF THE YEAR
Div. II state championship, Nov. 26 Although contact occurred near the finish line between Simi Valley’s Erika Barr and Saugus’ Jenay Jauregui that resulted in the Pioneers’ being disqualified, for the sixth year in a row no team in the state could manage to knock off the Centurions at Woodward Park. Motivated by a loss to Simi Valley at the Southern Section final the week before, Saugus ran the fastest time of the meet to extend its run of state titles, despite returning just two athletes from last year’s championship lineup.

SECOND TEAM

TOP TEN RANKINGS
1. Saugus
2. Simi Valley
3. Thousand Oaks
4. Crescenta Valley
5. Harvard-Westlake
6. Westlake
7. Royal
8. Canyon
9. Valencia
10. Flintridge Sacred Heart

LEAGUE CHAMPS
Desert Mountain: Desert Christian
Foothill: Saugus
Golden: Quartz Hill
Marmonte: Simi Valley
Mission: Harvard-Westlake
Pacific: Arcadia
Pacific View: Camarillo
Rio Hondo: La Cañada
Tri-Valley: La Reina
Valley Mission: Reseda
West Valley: Birmingham