FIVE BURNING QUESTIONS
1. What will Harvard-Westlake's dynamic duo of Cami Chapus and Amy Weissenbach do for an encore?
The best friends and Stanford-bound runners will have several opportunities to showcase their talents at elite invitationals throughout California, before making another run at history at the state final in June and possibly at the New Balance Outdoor Nationals and U.S. Olympic Trials. Weissenbach, who set the National Federation High School record in the 800 meters last year, has continued her improvement in the 400 and looks to improve upon her lifetime-best 2:02.04 in the 800 later this season. Chapus, one of the most versatile runners in the country, has an opportunity to challenge the national high school record of 4:33.82 in the 1,600 set in 2008 by Woodbridge's Christine Babcock. Following the graduation of K.C. Cord, Lauren Hansson and Hilary King, perhaps the only uncertainty this season for Chapus and Weissenbach is who will join them on any invitational relays after the duo contributed to the national high school record in the distance medley last year.
2. Will Simi Valley's Sarah Baxter break 10 minutes in the 3,200 meters?
The Pioneers sophomore is the overwhelming favorite to repeat as state champion, so it's left to ponder whether she'll be the fifth California runner to eclipse the 10-minute barrier. Baxter, the Nike Cross Nationals champion, clocked 10:13 to win last year's state title, so it will definitely be a challenge to produce such a significant drop. But given the right conditions and competition, it's hard to bet against Baxter achieving greatness this season.
3. Is Alemany freshman Nia Britt already the favorite to win the state shot put title?
Absolutely. Considering Britt's throw of 48 feet, 9 inches in a March 8 dual meet against Chaminade was already a state ninth-grade record and would have won last year's state championship by more than five feet, it is safe to predict the Warriors standout could be wearing the gold medal in Clovis. Only one thrower in area history has won a state title, Crescenta Valley's Kerry Zwart in 1978, and only Cleveland's Jessica Cosby has surpassed 50 feet, throwing an area-record 50-3 1/2 in 2000.
4. Which local athletes could enjoy breakthrough seasons?
Although she's already won a Southern Section Div. II title in the 400, expect big things from Saugus' Jenna Vincej in the 800. Will it be enough to challenge reigning state champion Amy Weissenbach? That remains to be seen, but Vincej is determined to end her career in impressive fashion following a disappointing conclusion to her junior season. Taft's Lexis Lambert, already a City Section champion in the 100 and 200, could make a bigger impact this season at the state final. Canyon's Taylor Thomas and Tiffini Stone, Simi Valley's Amanda Hamilton and Madisen Richards, Westlake's Brooke Edell and Oak Park's Sydney Lewis could also enjoy significant postseason efforts.
5. What is the area's most competitive league?
Marmonte. In recent seasons, it's been the Foothill League, but the overall depth this season from Thousand Oaks, Simi Valley, Westlake, Moorpark, Royal and Newbury Park is quite impressive. Expect several competitive dual meets leading up to the Ventura County Championships and Marmonte final.
-- Erik Boal
TOP 10
1. Harvard-Westlake
2. Canyon
3. Saugus
4. Oaks Christian
5. Notre Dame
6. Taft
7. Thousand Oaks
8. Simi Valley
9. Alemany
10. Westlake
ATHLETES TO KEEP AN EYE ON
SENIORS TO WATCH
Sophia Amodia, Glendale; Paulina Antaplyan, Flintridge Sacred Heart; Erica Anunwah, Canyon; Frances Barnes, Moorpark; Erika Barr, Simi Valley; Rachel Brajkovich, La Reina; Angelyn Caldwell, Thousand Oaks; Cami Chapus, Harvard-Westlake; Savannah Forry, Alemany; Karis Frankian, Saugus; Nicki Ghazarian, Westlake; Larisa Gomez, Birmingham; Amanda Hamilton, Simi Valley; Mariah Howard, Cleveland; Joana Hurtado, Taft; Jenay Jauregui, Saugus; Melanie Joerger, Thousand Oaks; Briana Jones, Knight; Linsey Kelly, Paraclete; Lexis Lambert, Taft; Kaneshia Lee, Taft; Sydney Lewis, Oak Park; Sophie Mateu, Royal; Jessica McCall, Saugus; Jordan McCall, Saugus; Tatiana McCoy, Taft; Emily Moss, Notre Dame; Erika Peyton, Notre Dame; Rachel Naumann, Camarillo; Lauren Peterson, Moorpark;Kim Sanchez, Oaks Christian; Karsen Sper, Thousand Oaks; Alexandria Stewart, El Camino Real; Alexis Stewart, El Camino Real; Tiffini Stone, Canyon; Taylor Thomas, Canyon; Caitlin Turner, Thousand Oaks; Stephanie Vargas, Flintridge Sacred Heart; Karla Vernola, Simi Valley, Sr.; Jenna Vincej, Saugus; Janice Walker, Canyon; Amy Weissenbach,
JUNIORS TO WATCH
Danni Alakija, Oaks Christian; Jennifer Anumba, Valencia; Sarah Bucknovitz, Oak Park; Olivia Clink, Louisville; Kiersten Davis, Paraclete; Maddie Dignadice, Valencia; Dominique Dowell, Birmingham; Erica Falk, Chatsworth; Llyana Gonzalez, Camarillo; Madison Grenier, Paraclete; Ahlexhys Hawkins, Granada Hills; Skyy Harbin, Alemany; Katie Huntington, Saugus; Jordan Jeworski, La Reina; Shuvonte Johnson, Antelope Valley; Courtney Kelly, St. Genevieve; Cali King, Crescenta Valley; Presley Lambert, Hart; Hannah Lopez, Birmingham; Vanessa Lopez, Highland; Kazia Mermel, Notre Dame; Rochelle Nadreau, El Camino Real; Xiomara Perkins, West Ranch; Katherine Reaves, Thousand Oaks; Chelsey Totten, Golden Valley; Arielle Winfield, Harvard-Westlake; Breeana Wright, Palmdale; Megan Wright, Moorpark; Jamie Wynn, Taft
FRESHMEN/SOPHOMORES TO WATCH
Sarah Baxter, Simi Valley, Soph.; Vanessa Blanchard, Quartz Hill, Soph.; Nia Britt, Alemany, Fr.; Anaiya Brown, Lancaster, Soph.; Kalyleigh Carrillo, Crescenta Valley, Soph.; Alex Cerise, La Reina, Fr.; Peyton Cline, El Camino Real, Soph.; Shea Copeland, Harvard-Westlake, Fr.; MacKenzie Dunn, Simi Valley, Soph.; Brooke Edell, Westlake, Soph.; Alex Florent, Harvard-Westlake, Fr.; Abigail Frankian, Saugus, Soph.; Jenny Giguere, Westlake, Fr.; Imani Cook-Gist, Harvard-Westlake, Fr.; Brianne Holland, Royal, Fr.; Asia Island, Alemany, Soph.; Ginika Iwuchukwu, Notre Dame, Soph.; Sarah Johnson, Oaks Christian, Fr.; Leah Lambert, Alemany, Soph.; Geraldynn Leaupepe, Camarillo, Soph.; Jassmine Macon, Birmingham, Soph.; Kendall Mader, Newbury Park, Fr.; Asiah Melville, Granada Hills, Soph.; Zakora Merriweather, Highland, Soph.; Schuyler Moore, Oaks Christian, Fr.; Camillia Nwokedi, Notre Dame, Fr.; Michelle Padgett, El Camino Real, Soph.; Madisen Richards, Simi Valley, Soph.; Sarah Riggs, Simi Valley, Fr.; Rachel Smith, West Ranch, Fr.; Savannah Sipes, Newbury Park, Soph.; Madelyn Vorgitch, Simi Valley, Soph.
MEETS TO WATCH
Today: Maurice Greene Invitational at Oaks Christian
March 24: APU Distance Meet of Champions; Pasadena Games at PCC
March 31: Spartan Relays at Rio Mesa; Percy Knox Invitational at COC
April 6-7: Arcadia Invitational
April 7: Michelle Perry Invitational
April 12: Moorpark-Westlake at Thousand Oaks
April 14: Russell Cup at Carpinteria; L.A. County Championships at Warren
April 18: Thousand Oaks-Calabasas at Simi Valley
April 19: Saugus at Canyon
April 20-21: Mt. SAC Invitational
April 21: San Fernando Valley Invitational at Birmingham
April 26: Alemany at Notre Dame
April 27: Ventura County Championships at Moorpark High
May 3: Mission League finals at Valley College; Foothill League finals at COC
May 4: Marmonte League finals at Moorpark High
