Coach Kelly Blog

California State Championships

2009-11-30T13:40:00.000-08:00

---A seventh place finish at the California State Championships on Saturday did not meet our expectations as a team; however, I applauded the girls after the race on their efforts the last six months. The girls, collectively, were truly disappointed, which is heartening to me because it shows they care about performance, not just participating. Cross Country is no different than your expectations as a parent when a report card arrives in the mail. Mama Clemons and myself have expectations for our team based on our observations throughout the season, we expected to perform better, and we did not. That being said, the process has been a joy, a wonderful group of girls to be around, and I am sad it is over.

California State Cross Country Championships

2009-11-30T13:39:00.000-08:00

---Dani Brabender, Aaren Cadieux, Kamilah Foley, Kora Johnson, Justine Rea, Makenna Smith, and Jessica Varela will represent our girls' cross country program at the California State Cross Country Championships on Saturday, November 28, at Woodward Park in Fresno. This is the third consecutive season we have reached Fresno, I expect a fourth next season, and this is our goal each and every season.

C.I.F. Division 1 Cross Country Finals

2009-11-20T09:44:00.000-08:00

---Dani Brabender, Kamilah Foley, Kora Johnson, Shelby Niles, Justine Rea,
Makenna Smith, and Jessica Varela will represent our program Saturday in the
C.I.F. Division 1 Cross Country Finals at Mt. San Antonio College. Our goal
is to win the 9:45am race, with the greatest challenges coming from Great
Oak(Temecula Valley), Dana Hills, and Warren(Downey). Wish us well, and good
luck to the boys also, who also have a realistic chance of winning.
---6:30am bus tomorrow, any freshman, sophomore, or junior under 21.20 at
Sea View League Finals is required to attend, all others are invited, and we
will return at 1:00pm. Please bring $5 and a student I.D. for admission.

C.I.F. Division 1 Cross Country Preliminaries

2009-11-20T09:41:00.000-08:00

---Kudos to the girls' performance at last Saturday's C.I.F. Division 1
Cross Country Preliminaries, placing five in the top nine, scoring 34
points, and easily winning our heat. On to Finals, and my goal is for our
team to win, plain and simple. Tough task ahead of us; however, the girls
will be ready.
---A huge thank you to the girls who boarded the 6:30am. bus and supported
our efforts. Same thing this Saturday, any freshman, sophomore, or junior
under 21.20 at Sea View League Finals are required to attend, and everyone
else is invited.

Sea View League championships

2009-11-09T13:37:00.000-08:00

A huge kudos to the girls' cross country team for capturing Sea View League
championships on all three levels: Varsity, Junior Varsity, and Frosh-Soph.
The girls ran well to say the least. One of my favorite things to do is to
compare times from 2008 to 2009, same course such as today. The following
girls ran significantly better from 2008 to 2009 during Sea View League
Finals at Irvine Regional Park on the same exact course: Kamilah
Foley(18.10-17.20), Justine Rea(18.38-17.24), Makenna Smith(18.40-17.12),
Shelby Niles(18.45-17.54), Jessica Varela(19.59-18.00), Kora
Johnson(19.09-17.33), Dani Brabender(19.39-17.31)...(10.06 for the Seven
Varsity Girls, an average of 1.27 faster)...Aaren Cadieux(18.58-18.07),
Amanda Lee(20.23-19.23), Lauren Moore(20.27-19.31), Amy
Tolentino(20.56-18.44), Alyza Rathor(20.23-19.33), Alex Reich(20.26-19.20),
Melanie Driessen(21.14-19.07), Jocelyn Dorame(21.31-20.44), Allison
Perry(22.29-20.53), Brooke Kather(19.09-18.45), Olivia Smith(22.57-21.31),
Dana Gersten(23.05-21.28), Emily Berg(23.05-19.50), Karen
Ascencio(23.35-20.52), Tiffani Barham(24.05-19.32, #1, WOW!), Crystal
Eng(24.32-22.08), Molly McClary(25.07-23.16), and Jessica
Stewart(25.44-22.56). Again, congratulations to all who ran and contributed
to team victories on all levels. Race winners were Aaren Cadieux(JV) and
Brooke Kather(FS), and our top freshman was Hannah Randall in a PR 19.35,
while four other freshmen broke 20.45, including Brianna Parish(20.19),
Rachel Stillman(20.25), Madison Schuetz(20.28), and Stephanie Lowe(20.37)
Thank You for a great day, a wonderful season...quite a ride. Mama Clemons
and myself are proud to be your coaches. On to CIF and State.

Mt Sac.

2009-10-27T16:06:00.000-07:00

---We ran well yesterday at Mt. SAC, the varsity finishing fifth in a stellar field, defeating Dana Hills and accumulating the top team time in Orange County. Makenna Smith continued a super individual season running
17.39 at Mt. SAC, shattering the school record by 23 seconds. Dani Brabender(18.29, a PR at Mt. SAC by over 2 minutes), Kora Johnson(18.29, a
1.54 improvement from 2008), and Justine Rea(18.39, a 46 second improvement from 2008), all ran well.
---The Junior Varsity National Championship 22-team race saw us record the second fastest team time overall, and we finished second in Division 1. The race pitted team's second sevens that ran in either Sweepstake's races. Amy Tolentino(19.07, a 1.35 improvement from 2008), Aaren Cadieux(19.16, injured in 2008), Makenna McGrann(19.22, a 1.31 improvement), Shelby Niles(19.28, a
1.19 improvement), and Melanie Driessen(20.24, a 2.16 improvement) were our top five. Kudos to the team.
---Our freshmen team finished third led by Hannah Randall, and our sophomores were fourth, led by Tiffani Barham. Super efforts by all who competed.

Mt. Sac girls JV

2009-10-27T16:05:00.001-07:00

Our girls JV placed five runners in the top 10 to win today's JV Open race at Mt. SAC. 30 teams and 250 runners took part in the race. Running for Trabuco were: Shareen Najjar, Jennifer Dorame, Katelyn Lockwood, Ashley Linder, Brittany Hernandez, Jenna Willey, Sarah Brewer and Riley Logsdon. Kudos!

GO BLUE!

Mt. SAC Preview

2009-10-20T15:38:00.000-07:00

---Our Varsity seven for the Mt. SAC Team Sweepstakes race this weekend, generally regarded quality-wise as the best and deepest high school cross country team race in the country, will be Dani Brabender, Kamilah Foley, Kora Johnson, Shelby Niles(If Healthy), Justine Rea, Makenna Smith, and Jessica Varela. The Junior Varsity National Championship race team members will be: Tiffani Barham, Aaren Cadieux, Melanie Driessen, Brooke Kather, Makenna McGrann, Alexandra Reich, and Amy Tolentino. The J.V. race is one of a kind, pitting teams whose varsity runs Sweepstakes, insuring true second sevens, and recognition for the best second seven.

Orange County Cross Country Championships

2009-10-20T15:35:00.000-07:00

---Our goals were to win all three levels yesterday: Frosh-Soph, Junior Varsity, and Varsity Sweepstakes, at the Orange County Cross Country Championships. Frosh-Soph placed four in the top twelve; however, it was not enough, and we lost 58-60 to Dana Hills. Junior Varsity destroyed the competition, winning easily. Our Varsity finished third to Orange Lutheran and Dana Hills, a disappointment to me, Mama Clemons, and the six girls who ran, because we all believed we could and would win, based on our training and past races. The one solace I do have is all of the girls were frustrated with themselves after the race, and talked about third not being good enough.
---Makenna Smith ran 17.13, a stellar time, and easily the fastest time in THHS history. Kudos, Makenna.

#1 ranking in Orange County and #2 in C.I.F.

2009-10-14T14:21:00.000-07:00

---Kudos to our varsity team for their #1 ranking in Orange County and #2 in C.I.F. Division 1. Of course rankings are only rankings, and all this means is we have a target on our backs on Saturday. Three years ago we were the hunters in Orange County, now we are the hunted.

Fountain Valley Invitational

2009-10-13T15:22:00.000-07:00

----Nice wins for our junior varsity and frosh-soph yesterday at Central Park in Huntington Beach, especially considering after our varsity seven, who did not run, nine of our next sixteen ranked girls either did not run or ran controlled efforts because of sickness and the SAT test. This is why I promote numbers on the team, currently 96, and will be over 100 next season.

---Our junior varsity was led by race winner Amy Tolentino, and our frosh-soph was led by race winner Makenna McGrann, who ran with a fractured thumb and numerous leg abrasions suffered at Sea View League Cluster.Tiffani Barham was our #5 runner on frosh-soph, a fact I ommitted yesterday.

---We now set our sights on the Orange County Cross Country Championships this Saturday at Irvine Regional Park. Our goal is to win all three levels:
Varsity, Junior Varsity, and Frosh-Soph. Can we? Yes. Will we? I do not know. The competition is formidable...Dana Hills, Esperanza, Orange Lutheran, San Clemente, and Corona Del Mar stand in our way on varsity; however, win or lose, we will be prepared, and the girls will be emotionally ready.

2009 Cluster Meet

2009-10-08T16:14:00.000-07:00

Our varsity ran big yesterday: Dani Brabender, Kamilah Foley, Shelby Niles, Justine Rea, Makenna Smith, Jessica Varela...winning our league cluster easily. Rather than single girls out for commendations, I applaud the group effort. Kudos...

The varsity now sets their sights on the Orange County Cross Country Championships on Saturday, October 17. Those seven girls, announced at practice today and based on the season's results and yesterday in particular, will not race Saturday, and will practice hard on Friday at Coto De Caza Reservoir...1200 meter repeats. All others race on Saturday...5:30am bus.
Our Junior Varsity and Frosh-Soph both won yesterday, laying testament to numbers in the program.

In the junior varsity race, sophomore Kora Johnson(18.38) won the race easily, with junior Amy Tolentino(19.13), sophomore Alexandra Reich(19.30), and sophomore Brooke Kather(20.15) the next three finishers.

Our freshmen were led by Hannah Randall(20.35), Brittany Machulda(20.46), Chiara Burns(21.02), and Brianna Parish(21.15). Super efforts...

Stanford

2009-09-29T14:40:00.000-07:00

---Off to Stanford, a paradox. Serene setting, intense cross country atmosphere...best of both worlds.
---Sweepstakes race-Dani Brabender, Aaren Cadieux, Kamilah Foley, Kora Johnson, Justine Rea, Makenna Smith, Jessica Varela...Varsity "B"
Team-Brooke Kather, Riley Logsdon, Shelby Niles, Alex Reich, Amy Tolentino.
---Good Luck at Dana Hills...Freshmen-8:15, Sophomores-8:45, Juniors-9:15, Seniors-9:45.

Woodbridge

2009-09-23T15:39:00.000-07:00

---Overall, we ran well yesterday. Our Sweepstake's girls ran big, with Kamilah Foley(17.25), Justine Rea(17.29), Makenna Smith(17.35), Jessica Varela(17.47), Dani Brabender(18.09), Shelby Niles(18.19), and Amy Tolentino(18.25) running 88:26.0, the fourth best time out of over 200 schools that ran Saturday. Super efforts also by the Varsity "B" team, with Aaren Cadieux(18.07), Kora Johnson(18.09), and Alex Reich(18.37) leading the way, our junior varsity led by Jennifer Dorame(19.47), Lauren Moore(19.48), and Amanda Lee(19.53) finished second in their team competition, our sophomore team led by Emily Berg(20.37) and Alyza Rathor(20.42) finished third team-wise, and kudos to our freshmen team who won their race, with Brianna Parish(20.40) and Hannah Randall(20.57) our top two finishers.

Success at Seaside Invitational (XC 2009)

2009-09-23T15:35:00.000-07:00

It was a very good day in Ventura for THHS Girls Cross Country. The girls won all four grade levels and were the overall team champions, beating out the #1 ranked team in CIF Division II.

CIF Masters...

2009-05-29T14:30:00.000-07:00

The honor and privelege to compete at the Master's Track And Field Meet tonite is immense. 576 schools in the C.I.F. Southern Section, and to be one of nine to twelve competitors in an event who will lace up spikes at Cerritos College this evening is indeed an honor, so much so that we have not had a female compete in this meet in ten years. Cheryl Smith in the pole vault, Monica Todd in the 300 hurdles, Lori Hoffman in the 3200 meters, and our 4X100 meter relay team of Tia McFarlane, Percylla Nared, Brierra Winfrey, and Michelle Wicker, who ran the third fastest time(47.27) in Orange County history last Saturday, will attempt to qualify for the state meet in Clovis next week by placing in the top five or surpassing a qualifying mark or time. For the boys, Chad Rozean in the 400 meters, and our 4X400 meter relay team of Kevin Feazal, Mickey Miela, Jantzen Oshier, and Chad Rozean, who ran a huge PR last week of 3:17.30, seventh best in the state, will also compete for Clovis.

Good luck girls and boys, and GO BLUE!!!

CIF 2009 round 2

2009-05-29T10:56:00.001-07:00

With over 500 schools in the C.I.F. Southern Section, placing in the top nine or twelve to earn a spot in the C.I.F. Master's Track And Field Meet is a daunting task, and up until this season, Trabuco Hills had not placed a female in the Master's Track And Field Meet in ten years, including my five previous seasons as head coach. Last Saturday at Cerritos College, we qualified for the Master's Meet in four events. Our 4X100 Meter Relay(Tia McFarlane, Percylla Nared, Brierra Winfrey, and Michelle Wicker) team ran their seventh school record of the season, 47.27, which is the third fastest time in Orange County history, dating back thirty-five years, and now ranks top ten in the state. Monica Todd ran the 300 Hurdles in 43.61, a personal and school record, to also earn a spot, Cheryl Smith pole vaulted 11 feet to gain a place at Master's, and finally, Lori Hoffman continued her improbable run through C.I.F., running 3200 meters in 10:51.15, another school and personal record, to earn the privelege to line up with the twelve best 3200 meter runners in C.I.F. Next up, the Master's Meet on Friday, May 29, at Cerritos College in Norwalk, which is a qualifier for the State Meet in Clovis in two weeks on June 5-6.

Kudos also to the girls' team for finishing sixth in Division 1, over 100 schools participating, and for competing with heart all day. Also, kudos to the boys...Chad Rozean capturing a spot in the Master's 400 meters, and the 4X400 meter relay team of Kevin Feazel, Mickey Miela, Jantzen Oshier, and Chad Rozean, who ran 3:17.30, an over 4.5- second improvement from their previous best, to also qualify for Master's next Friday night. I love the 4X400, unconditionally, and I was pleased as peaches for them. Great job boys and Coach Ayers.

We push on!

CIF 2009

2009-05-29T10:55:00.000-07:00

The toughest track and field division in the state of California, C.I.F.
Southern Section Division 1, and possibly the country, according to experts, was our assignment on Saturday, May 16. We had girls qualified in thirteen of sixteen events, and eight of those competitions witnessed our girls earn spots in the Finals next weekend at Cerritos College in Norwalk: Monica Todd in the 100 Hurdles, 300 Hurdles, and Long Jump, Cathryn Saylor in the 1600 meters(PR of 5:01.35), Lori Hoffman in the 3200 meters and setting a school record of 10:54.35 in the process, Jerrilynn Stanwood throwing a PR of 125-10 in the Discus, Cheryl Smith in the Pole Vault, and our 4X100 meter relay team of Tia McFarlane, Percylla Nared, Brierra Winfrey, and Michelle Wicker ran their fifth school record this season, winning their heat in 47.69, quite an improvement for the quartet from their 48.94 PR in 2008. We earned alternates, finishing one or two spots out of the top nine, in three other events, Cassandra Smith finishing tenth in the triple jump, Kylie Pfeil high jumping a PR 5-4 for eleventh, not qualifying because of numbers of misses, and Michelle Wicker running a PR of 15.23 in the 100 Hurdles, good for eleventh. Kudos to all who qualified or competed, and the best of luck next week.

One major disappointment, as painful for me as I can remember in my track and field coaching career, was our 4X400 team not racing...a signature event for me and this program...having to scratch from the event because of a series of unforeseen circumstances, unfortunate because this team had a real chance to advance to next week and to the Master's Meet the following week, and who knows, maybe Clovis, site of the State Championships. I learned much from the experience, it still resonates as of this moment, and I give you my word this will never happen again...

Kudos to the fifty-five girls, freshmen and newcomers, who worked the track and field meet yesterday from 8:00am-9:00pm, with some working a portion of the day for various reasons. It starts with the parents because without you and your guidance, many of the athletes would not have been present.

I love track and field...

Banquet...

2009-05-14T15:39:00.000-07:00

A huge thank you for the wonderful turnout, 400 plus, at last night girls'
track and field banquet. All seniors except for one were in attendance, or, were excused after communication, all award winners and captains were present, and we only had a total of twelve girls who were a no-show with no communication, out of 195 on the team, and all of those girls, by virtue of their irresponsibility and lack of courtesy, have earned a one-grade deduction on their semester report card. Thank you to the parents who were in attendance, I appreciate the kind words and warmth of congeniality last night, and my brick on the Legacy Wall is truly appreciated. Again, thank you...

Sea View League Finals Recap...

2009-05-14T15:38:00.000-07:00

The junior varsity track and field team smothered their Sea View League competition last Friday night, scoring 275 points, second was 99. Freshman Jennifer Konishi led the way with four first places(400, 200, 4X100, 4X400), Monica Ukah won two events(100, 4X100), Alexa Brown won two events(4X100, 4X400), Angelica Douglas two(4X100, 4X400), with Alexandra Reich(800), Dani Brabender(1600), and Aubrey Baker(4X400) winning one. Other fine efforts were performed by: Alexa Brown(100, 200), Angelica Douglas(100, 200), Aubrey Baker(400, 200), Hillary Rush(400), Crystal Eng(400), Brooke Kather(800), Kora Mann(800), Alexandra Reich(1600), Makenna McGrann(1600, 3200), Amy Tolentino(3200), Hannah Nurmberg(100 Hurdles), Kassidie Stade(300 Hurdles), Cassandra Skibicki(Pole Vault), Danica Dobosy(High Jump), Jordan Pate-Clemons(Long Jump, Triple Jump), Ebony Agnew(Triple Jump), Dani Payne(Long Jump, Triple Jump), and Chane Young(Long Jump, Triple Jump).
Stupendous effort girls...you are the bedrock of the future...

Sea View League Finals Recap...

2009-05-14T15:36:00.000-07:00

Gratifying victories Friday night, with the varsity scoring 205 points to smother the Sea View League competition, and grab a third straight league titile. Even more satisfying were the amount of athletes who stayed to cheer on teammates and revel in the team championships after the meet, and take a team picture. We qualified a whopping 16 athletes for C.I.F. Division 1 Preliminaries this Saturday at Trabuco Hills High School, by far the toughest division in the state and maybe even the country, and hope to advance most to finals. School records by Percylla Nared(200-25.03), Cassandra Smith(400-58.28), Monica Todd(100 Hurdles-15.00) and Tia McFarlane, Percylla Nared, Brierra Winfrey, Michelle Wicker(400 Relay-47.98, top ten in state)...Monica Todd(100H., 300H., Long Jump, 4X400) won four events, Percylla Nared(100, 200, 4X100) won three, Cathryn Saylor(1600) won one, Adrienne Liu(Triple Jump, 4X400) won two, Brierra Winfrey(4X100, 4X400) won two, Michelle Wicker(4X100) won one, Tia McFarlane(4X100) won one, Lori Hoffman(3200), in a huge upset, won one, and Cassandra Smith(4X400) won one, and all of those athletes qualified for C.I.F. in those mentioned events.
Other athletes advancing to C.I.F. were Tia McFarlane(100), Justine Rea(3200), Michelle Wicker(100 Hurdles), Brierra Winfrey(Long Jump), Cassandra Smith(Triple Jump), Alane Sewitsky(Triple Jump), Jerrilynn Stanwood(Discus), Melissa Christiansen(High Jump), Kylie Pfeil(High Jump), and Cheryl Smith(Pole Vault).

Kudos to Trabuco hills Girls' Varsity Track And Field...tomorrow...a re-cap of junior varsity, another resounding victory...and by the way, Happy Mother's Day to all of the moms...

Coach Kelly

More........... OC Champs

2009-05-04T14:46:00.002-07:00

We fought the good fight. We scratched, clawed...and the girls did everything the coaching staff asked of them, finishing in second place at the Orange County Track And Field Championships on Saturday, losing narrowly to Dana Hills 91.5 to 87 in the varsity team sweepstakes, out of seventy-five teams. The day before the meet at a lunch get together, the O.C. girls drank Gatorade that included the mantra "Get Tough" on the plastic bottle, and were asked to be just that on Saturday. Indeed they were. As disappointed as I was driving away from Mission Viejo High School, I was solaced by the memory of our team giving it their all on Saturday.
Numerous highlights on the varsity, Percylla Nared's school record 12.40 100 and 25.20 200 finishing second and third respectively, Tia McFarlane running 12.40 also in the 100, finishing third, Cathryn Saylor's valiant effort in the 1600, running a strong second when she tripped and fell with 350 meters to go, got up, and finished eighth. Makenna Smith scoring in the 800 and 1600, Michelle Wicker scoring in the 100 Hurdles, Monica Todd winning the 300 Hurdles, second in the long jump, and scoring in the 100 Hurdles(arguably the best overall individual effort of the meet), Cassandra Smith winning the Triple Jump, Cheryl Smith scoring in the Pole Vault, and Melissa Christiansen scoring in the High Jump. Finally, our 4X100 Meter Relay team set another school record, winning easily in 48.12, which is the third fastest time in meet history, and our 4X400 meter relay(Ca.
Smith-59.5, Winfrey-59.0, Wicker-61.8, Todd-58.0) team ran second, running 3:58.50. Great job, girls...

The Frosh-Soph team also finished second in their team sweepstakes, losing
72-52 to Dana Hills. Jennifer Konishi ran a personal record 59.44 in the 400, finishing second, while Adrienne Liu ran 59.55 in the same race to finish third. Elizabeth Loper won the 100 Hurdles, running 15.73, a personal best, Adrienne Liu won the Frosh-Soph Triple Jump at 36-4.75, which would have won the varsity competition(yes, that would have reversed the varsity team scoring), Kylie Pfeil scored in both the pole vault and 100 hurdles, Alexa Brown scored in the 100, and Stephanie Smith scored in the triple jump. Finally, the 4X100 meter relay team of Monica Ukah, Jennifer Konishi, Alexa Brown, and Angelica Douglas ran 49.71 to smash the twenty-five year meet record in a winning effort, and the 4X400 meter relay(Brown-61.0, Liu-61.4, Douglas-62.8, Konishi-60.8) team ran second in 4:06.23, losing only their first race of the year in a frosh-soph competition.

A great day Saturday to be a Mustang, and thank you to the parents for your kind words and support of our efforts...We knocked on the door this season to become the first girls' track and field team to capture a varsity team title, and next season we will work harder to kick the door in. You have my word. GO BLUE!!!

OC Champs...

2009-05-04T14:46:00.001-07:00

With only two spots per event at the Orange County Track And Field Championships on Saturday, April 25, at Mission Viejo High School, just competing for us is a privelege. Thirty-four girls will compete out of 195 on the team, all have been provided a meet time schedule, and it goes as
follows:

100-V-McFarlane, Nared, FS-Ukah
200-V-McFarlane, Nared, FS-Brown, Douglas 400-V-Ca. Smith, Winfrey, FS-Konishi, Liu 800-V-Saylor, M. Smith, FS-Cadieux, Kather 1600-V-Saylor, M.
Smith, FS-Brabender, McGrann 3200-V-Cruz, H. Niles, FS-Brabender, Tolentino 100 H.-V-Todd, Wicker, FS-E. Loper, Pfeil 300H.-V-Stade, Todd 4X100-V-McFarlane, Nared, Winfrey, Wicker, FS-Ukah, Konishi, Brown, Douglas 4X400-V-Ca. Smith, Winfrey, Wicker, Todd, FS-Brown, Liu, Douglas, Konishi LJ-V-Todd, Winfrey, FS-Douglas, Pate-Clemons TJ-V-Ca. Smith, Cht. Young, FS-Liu, St. Smith SP-V-Stanwood, FS-Bush D-V-Faagata, Stanwood, FS-Bush HJ-V-Christiansen, Cooper, FS-E. Loper, Pfeil PV-V-Ch. Smith, FS-Greenhalgh, Pfeil

Good luck to all those competing. 6:30am. bus on Mustang Run, you may arrive to CANOPY near the press box at MVHS two hours before event if you choose, and expect a 6:00pm. return...You may go home with a parent. GO BLUE!!!

Mt. Sac...

2009-04-20T20:18:00.000-07:00

Three school records were broken at the Mt. San Antonio College Relays on Saturday...the 4X100 team(Tia McFarlane, Percylla Nared, Brierra Winfrey, Monica Todd) ran 48.35 to best the old record for the third time this season, and both 4X400 teams broke school bests. The frosh-soph team ran 4:04.73, obliterating the old record of 4:07.89 set in 2004, with Alexa Brown(61.8), Adrienne Liu(59.1), Aubrey Baker(60.9), and Angelica
Douglas(62.7) finishing a competitive fifth in a varsity heat. The varsity team of Cassandra Smith(60.6), Brierra Winfrey(58.7), Jennifer Konishi(59.5), and Monica Todd(59.2) ran 3:58.22, just besting the old mark of 3:58.50 set in 2005. Another highlight was freshman Cassandra Smith triple jumping 36-10 to win her competition Friday night, and that leap is the best for a freshman in the state of California this season.

On to Woodbridge and Orange County Championships...We push on!!!

El Toro

2009-04-20T20:15:00.000-07:00

---Kudos to both girls' track and field teams for resounding victories over El Toro last Wednesday, 97-39 for varsity, 118-18 for junior varsity. As I have stated, we are talented, I like to think we are organized, and the results have been speaking for themselves.

---Ten girls will travel to Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut this weekend for the Mt. SAC Relays, the second largest high school track and field invitational in California, after Arcadia: 4X100 Invitational(Saturday-2:00pm.)-Tia McFarlane, Percylla Nared, Brierra Winfrey, and Monica Todd...4X400 Seeded(Saturday-9:30pm.) "A" team, Cassandra Smith, Brierra Winfrey, Jennifer Konishi, Monica Todd, 4X400 Open(Saturday-9:45pm.)"'B" team, Alexa Brown, Adrienne Liu, ?, and Angelica Douglas, Triple Jump Seeded(Friday-6:30pm.)-Cassandra Smith, 300 Hurdles Seeded(Saturday-5:50pm.)-Monica Todd, and Long Jump Invitational(Saturday-6:00pm.)-Monica Todd. Wish us well.

---At Woodbridge in Irvine on Thursday, April 23, 2:45pm. start...

---I love track and field...

---We push on!!!

Cross Country...

2009-04-14T19:27:00.002-07:00

The 2009 cross country season schedule has been completed with the addition of the Stanford University(Palo Alto, Ca.) Cross Country Invitational, on the Stanford University Golf Course, to our schedule...September 25, 26, 27...flying to San Jose on Friday, September 25, out of Long Beach(Jet Blue-Best Price). A Saturday night trip to Pier 39 in San Francisco will be included, as well as a mini-tour of Stanford University on Friday, and of course the two races, varsity sweepstakes and junior varsity, on Saturday afternoon. Fourteen girls will travel and compete, the stopwatch will determine competitors, and myself and Mama Clemons look forward to the excursion.

Also, instead of traveling north to Ventura this season to open our racing schedule, we will travel south to San Diego on Friday, September 11, for the Mustang Invitational. We will depart around 10:00am, and return at 8:30pm...hopefully. More details will follow..

Team pictures

2009-04-14T19:27:00.001-07:00

---Team pictures are Wednesday, April 15, 2:30pm., on the football field.
Picture packets will be distributed today...

---Our El Toro meet is Wednesday, April 15, 4:30 start of field events, 5:00 running events, in our annual evening tussle with El Toro...We hope to have your daughter dismissed from the track and field meet by 9:00pm...

---Beat El Toro...

Dennis Kelly

GO BLUE!!!

Arcadia...

2009-04-14T19:25:00.000-07:00

---A positive experience at the Arcadia Invitational this past weekend, with school records being established in the 4X100(Tia McFarlane, Percylla Nared, Brierra Winfrey, Michelle Wicker), 4X200(Brierra Winfrey, Monica Todd, Alexa Brown, Percylla Nared), and our Distance Medley Relay (1200-400-800-1600) quartet smashing the school best by 25 seconds, with Ximena Cruz(3:44.8 1200), Cassandra Smith(59.5 400), Makenna Smith(2:19.5 800), and Cathryn
Saylor(5:06.2 1600) running an extremely competitive race, finishing sixth out of twenty teams, and neck and neck with the leaders with 600 meters to go. Also, our 4X400 team of freshman Cassandra Smith(60.5), sophomore Alexa Brown(60.8), freshman Jennifer Konishi(59.6), and sophomore Brierra Winfrey(60.2), ran 4:01.23, our best time this season, and won their heat.
Our shuttle hurdle team of Monica Todd, Michelle Wicker, Elizabeth Loper, and Kathryn Loper ran in the invitational race after being an alternate, led the race after two legs, and also established a school record. Individually, kudos to Monica Todd for qualifying for the night meet 300 Hurdles, our only individual to do so, and to Michelle Wicker, who ran 15.39 in the 100 Hurdles to establish another school record. Great job over the weekend by the largest contingent to ever race at the most prestigious high school track and field invitational in the country, and a huge thank you to the parents who support us by simply having their daughters at practice or at Arcadia over Easter Break, if asked, and some were requested to compete at the last minute. Just being there is a huge assistance to our efforts.
Again, thank you..

Trabuco Hills Invitational Results...

2009-04-05T19:45:00.000-07:00

---A huge thank you to the parents who worked the THHS Distance Carnival and Invitational. Again, thank you!!! The weekend, 102 schools and 2800 athletes, was an unmitigated success.

---Numerous bright moments over the weekend...both 4X100 teams broke school records, varsity(Tia McFarlane, Percylla Nared, Brierra Winfrey, Michelle
Wicker) winning in 48.41, and frosh-soph(Monica Ukah, Jennifer Konishi, Alexa Brown, Angelica Douglas) triumphing in 50.19, and Michelle Wicker ran
15.46 for 100 Hurdles, good for fourth, and missed the school record because of a 2.1 MPH headwind, and the allowable is 2.0. The other school record was freshman Kylie Pfeil pole vaulting 9-7.5 for a freshman record. Cassandra Smith, a freshman, won the varsity triple jump(36-3), sophomore Brierra Winfrey finished third(16-6) in the varsity long jump, and Cheryl Smith pole vaulted 10-6 to place second. Varsity distance was highlighted by Cathryn Saylor's strong effort in the 1600(5:08 and change...). The frosh-soph team saw freshman Adrienne Liu(60.33) and freshman Jenny Konishi(60.88) finish
1-3 in the 400, running personal records while winning heats, Liu
won(35-0.5) again in the fs triple jump, Pfeil won the fs high jump(4-10) and was third in the 100 Hurdles(16.88), and freshmen Brooke Kather and Alexandra Reich ran personal bests placing in the fs 1600(5:28 and 5:32 and
change) to highlight fs distance. Finally, the fs 4X400(Alexa Brown(60.9), Jennifer Konishi(62.6), Adrienne Liu(63.1), and Angelica Douglas(61.5) continued their excellent racing...easily winning their race Saturday.

---Our varsity(110-26) and frosh-soph(115-16) track and field teams easily beat Foothill last Wednesday...and we now set our sights on El Toro...Wednesday, April 15, the same day as team pictures(2:30) on the turf field. First field event is 4:30, running events at 5:00, in our annual evening affair at THHS. Both girls and boys' cometitions are essentially for Sea View League titles, and we look forward to the match-up. Expect your daughter to be at THHS until 9:30...

---Thirty-eight sprinters, hurdlers, and jumpers have been notified of Easter Break practices...Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday...April 7, 8, 9...8:00-10:00am, at THHS. Any questions, email me, or call(562)3559474, or contact your event specific coach. Yes, Monday is an off-day, tough for me to say, and I will take the opportunity to watch my beloved Dodgers open the Major League Baseball season in San Diego at Petco Park...

---Our girls' varsity track and field team is ranked #2 in Orange County behind Dana Hills, the highest ranking in school history, and we are proud of it. A super-strong freshmen class buoyed by strong sophomore and junior classes bodes well for the future; however, our talent level will never exceed our work ethic. The day to day process is what is important, and results will be a residue of that.

---Arcadia this weekend, the Mecca of all invitationals...varsity only, and we will send twenty-one girls, the most ever. Wish us well...

---I love track and field...

Surf City Invitational / APU Distance Carnival

2009-03-30T14:48:00.001-07:00

Kudos to the girls varsity and frosh-soph track and field teams for winning team titles at the 40-team Surf City Invitational on Saturday, March 28, at Estancia High School in Costa Mesa. The program received 50 Surf City t-shirts which will be distributed to any girl who competed, varsity or frosh-soph. Numerous highlights, varsity 4X100(Tia McFarlane, Percylla Nared, Brierra Winfrey, Michelle Wicker) winning in a school record 48.56, Percylla Nared winning the 100, and Cassandra Smith winning the triple jump for the varsity. The frosh-soph 4X100 team(Monikah Ukah, Jenny Konishi, Alexa Brown, Angelica Douglas) set a meet record of 50.74 while winning, and the 4X400 team of Alexa Brown(60.5), Jenny Konishi(61.0), Adrienne Liu(62.6), and Angelica Douglas(62.7) shattered the meet record, triumphing in 4:07.17, which is also a school record. Other frosh-soph winners were Alexa Brown(200), and Adrienne Liu(Triple Jump). Great job girls...

The distance girls ran the APU Distance Carnival yesterday. Highlights were Cathryn Saylor(5:05.11), Makenna Smith(5:07.33), Ximena Cruz(5:14.45), Lori Hoffman(5:19.77), Sabrina Rathor(5:20.33), Kamilah Foley(5:21.66), Rebecca Murillo(5:24.22), and freshman Makenna McGrann(5:31.11) in the 1600, and Hayley Niles(11:08.55) and Justine Rea(11:14.56) in the 3200 meters. Great job, girls, and GO BLUE!!!

Katella Relays Recap...

2009-03-22T21:06:00.000-07:00

Walking out of Santa Ana College Saturday was a surreal experience for me.
This track and field job is not a recreational past-time for me. I take it seriously. Six seasons into this position has witnessed an ascencion of the program. Our first three seasons we did not dare dream of defeating Mission Viejo, heck, my first year I dropped every freshman and sophomore I had that could score points and barely beat Mission's frosh-soph team in a dual meet. The varsity lost 122-14. Two seasons ago we started inching towards them, last season at Katella we were close, and this year we hammered Mission Viejo, Varsity, 116-86, winning 12 of 14 events...Frosh-Soph, 130-88. Kudos to all of the girls who have worked hard, competed yesterday, and rose to the occasion.

We set seven meet records yesterday, and mind you the meet has taken place for thirty-six years: Varsity 4X100(Tia McFarlane, Percylla Nared, Brierra Winfrey, Michelle Wicker), Varsity 4X200( Tia McFarlane, Monica Todd, Brierra Winfrey, Percylla Nared), Varsity 4X1600(Cathryn Saylor, Makenna Smith, Hayley Niles, Ximena Cruz), who shattered the record by over twenty seconds, Varsity Long Jump(Monica Todd, Cassandra Smith, Brierra Winfrey)...Frosh-Soph 4X400(Alexa Brown, Jenny Konishi, Brooke Kather, Angelica Douglas), Frosh-Soph 4X1600(Dani Brabender, Brooke Kather, Riley Logsdon, Amy Tolentino), and Frosh-Soph Sprint Medley(Aubrey Baker, Alexa Brown, Jenny Konishi, Brooke Kather). If the baton work would have been a little cleaner(blame the coach); more could have happened, all in all, again, a great day.

Again, on to our first Sea View League meet on Thursday, March 26, home, 2:45pm, versus Huntington Beach. Next weekend will see the distance runners compete at the Azusa Pacific University Distance Carnival, while everyone else travels to the Edison High School Surf City Invitational at Estancia High School in Costa Mesa. Remember, all freshmen and newcomers, last names A-L, work the Trabuco Hills Track And Field Invitational...Saturday, April 4, 8:00am-8:00pm, and if that day does not work, the rest of the alpha works Saturday, May 16, 8:00am-8:00pm, the CIF Division 1 Track And Field Preliminaries at THHS. Never a dull moment...

Thank you parents for your support...

Laguna Hills

2009-03-22T21:01:00.000-07:00

Resounding victories Thursday for the varsity, 119-17, and junior varsity, 134-2, versus Laguna Hills. As I stated before, in numerous event areas, we are a deep and talented track and field team. Weaknesses, we have some; however, all in all, many coaches would take our problems. On to Huntington Beach, Thursday, March 26, our first Sea View League competition.

The Katella Relays are this weekend. Mission Viejo High School is in this meet, and we love to compete with the Diablos. Their varsity girls' track and field team has won this meet umpteen years in a row, too many to count, we have been in their zipcode the last two years after being shellacked the three years before that, and we are going to give them our best shot, and everyone else. We will see. I just got word that our frosh-soph field event girls did well at Katella Hs today, winning the long jump, triple jump, high jump, and second in pole vault. Our discus and shot put teams did not fare as well; however, kudos to the girls who placed team above self and competed, unlike some of their teammates.

The freshmen were informed today that they are requested to be at THHS Wednesday, March 25, 7:00am, for Physical Fitness Testing. It is a late start day, and school for most does not commence until 9:35. This is a mandatory battery of tests for all of the freshmen in the state, and we are no different. If your daughter does not attend, she has to be pulled out of track and field practice for this. Please, cooperate. Please.

Remember...freshmen and newcomers...last names A-L, Saturday, April 4, 8:00am-8:00pm, for the Trabuco Hills Track And Field Invitational. Other date if their is a conflict is Saturday, May 16, C.I.F. Division 1 Preliminaries, also at THHS. Community Service hours are completed...

Parents, thank you for your cooperation...It takes a village!!! Onward...

Cougar Classic Invitational...

2009-03-15T20:10:00.000-07:00

Kudos to the girls' varsity and frosh-soph track and field teams for winning team titles at the Covina High School Cougar Classic Track And Field Invitational on Saturday, defeating second place Los Osos High School of Rancho Cucamonga 152-81 on the varsity, and handily on the junior varsity also. There were numerous point scorers...with the last victories in the 4X400 meter relays...Alexa Brown, Brooke Kather, Jennifer Konishi, and Angelica Douglas for the frosh-soph...Cassandra Smith, Michelle Wicker, Cathryn Saylor, and Monica Todd(57.7 anchor) for the varsity. Again, too many for this tired coach to name...kudos to all who competed...A great day for the Mustangs...

Tesoro Meet...

2009-03-15T20:09:00.000-07:00

A nice start to our season...wins over Tesoro for the varsity...96-35, and 95-40 for the junior varsity. First meets are typically tough from a logistical standpoint and this one was no different. Lots of girls to organize, making sure girls arrive to their events, timing races, etc. We had a girl disqualified because of a jewelry violation, and one of our top sprinters was not allowed to race because she drove herself to the meet, a violation of district policy; nevertheless, we persevered, and enjoyed the afternoon.

Multiple wins on the varsity for Michelle Wicker, Percylla Nared, Monica Todd, Jerrilynn Stanwood, and Cassandra Smith, while Brierra Winfrey, Makenna Smith, and Cheryl Smith also won events. The junior varsity saw Courtney Ringenback and Brooke Kather capture multiple events, while Angelica Douglas, Alexa Brown, Hillary Rush, Katie Howard, Monica Ukah, Amy Tolentino, Jeny Konishi, and Adrienne Liu also won competitions. Lots of personal records, too numerous to enumerate...Let's just say I was overall pleased with our collective efforts.

Selected athletes will travel to Azusa Pacific University tomorrow for the Cougar Classic hosted by Covina High School. Three per event makes for securing a seat on the 5:30am bus a tough propostion. We will return around 6:30pm. This is as deep and talented a track and field team since I began this gig six years ago with 74 athletes. Today, 191... We will continue to work hard and look forward to our first home meet versus Laguna Hills on Thursday, March 19. Thank you for your support, and GO BLUE!!!

Northwood Meet...

2008-04-29T15:47:00.000-07:00

A big win for our varsity on Wednesday, defeating Northwood 95-41, to
complete an undefeated Sea View League dual meet season. I have never, in all of my four years as the head coach of this varsity team, or my tenure as
a girls' track and field coach at my previous high school, had to endure the
number of injuries to key varsity personnel as I have had this season. Our
results are a testament to the girls who have stepped in and performed
admirably in tough situations. Junior Tia McFarlane won two events(100,
200), defeating the top sprinter by previous time in the league, to
highlight the day. Another admirable performance, to say the least, was
Monica Todd winning four events(400, 300 Hurdles, Long Jump, Triple Jump).
Other wins were: Sabrina Rathor(800), Hayley Niles(1600), Kristin
Arkin(3200), Michelle Wicker(100 Hurdles), Nicole Miller(High Jump), Rachel
Mahler(Pole Vault), and Jerrilynn Stanwood(Discus).
Our junior varsity also won Wednesday, defeating Northwood, 106-21. We have
not lost a lower level dual meet in the last five years, and this is a key
contributor to our varsity success. Winning individual events were: Brierra
Winfrey(100, 200, 4X100), Mariah Shelton(400), Aaren Cadieux(800), Kamilah
Foley(1600), Katelynn Lockwood(3200), Alexa Brown(100 Hurdles, 4X100),
Shelby Osborn(300 Hurdles), Talia Samuels(4X100), Angelica Douglas(4x100),
Nicolle Riola(Discus), Tiffany Green(Triple Jump), and Alane Sewitsky(Long
Jump). Great job junior varsity, you are the bedrock of the future.
Our success was tempered with the school events of last Wednesday. During
fifth period, around 600-700 THHS students chose not to attend class and
protest our principal's decision to cancel the grade level assembly
scheduled that day because of unruly behavior at snack by some students. I
was in the middle of the protest, looking specifically for girls' track and
field athletes who were truant to class. I found some, and to their credit,
each of the girls went to class after I told them to do so...some I had to
be a little louder than others. I fervently believe that agree or disagree
with our principal on this, there is a correct way to voice an opinion, and
an incorrect way, and in my opinion, this was not the appropriate forum to
vent displeasure. Again, for the most part, I am proud to say our girls'
track and field program acted appropriately.
Have a Mustang kind of day...
Coach Kelly
GO BLUE!!!

OC Champs...

2008-04-27T21:02:00.001-07:00

The best collective performance by a group of girls' track and field
athletes since I have been the head coach was performed last Saturday at the
Orange County Track And Field Championships. The varsity team placed fifth,
and the frosh-soph was third in the team competition. Sophomore Monica Todd
continued her torrid assault on the 300 meter hurdle school record,
scorching a 44.29 to place second, and in the process ran the third fastest
300 hurdle time in the thirty- year history of the meet. Monica also was
Orange County champion in the long jump by over a foot, and ran the anchor
leg of the 400 meter relay, a near school record 49.32, good for third
place. Also highlighting the day was senior Kristin Arkin becoming the first
female in school history to break five minutes for 1600 meters, running
4:59.43, good for fifth place. Other varsity medal winners were Tia McFarlane(400 relay), Percylla
Nared(400 relay, 100 meters), Sarah Johnson(400 relay), and Jerrilynn
Stanwood(Discus). Medal winners for the frosh-soph were Brierra Winfrey(100,
200), Alexa Brown(100), Jessica Varela(3200), Makenna Smith(3200), Elizabeth
Loper(High Jump, 100 Hurdles), Michelle Wicker(100 Hurdles), Stephanie
Smith(Long Jump, Triple Jump), Melissa Christiansen(High Jump), Hannah
Greenhalgh(Pole Vault), and Tanya Flink(Pole Vault).

2008 Cross Country

2008-04-27T21:01:00.000-07:00

---Thank you to the numerous parents who emailed or contacted me voicing
support for our trip to The Woodlands, Texas, next October 2, 3, 4, 2008,
for the Nike South Invitational, featuring top ranked teams in Arkansas,
Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas. Thirty-nine deposits(20 girls, 14 boys, 4
coaches, 1 small child) for non-stop round-trip airfare($293.06) from Orange
County to Houston have been purchased, eleven rooms have been secured at the
Hilton Garden Inn(The Woodlands), and three fifteen- passenger vans are
reserved. Expect the price to be around $430, meals not included, although
we can discuss whether or not to raise the price and include some meals.
---Pre-season girls' cross country commences Monday, May 19, following two
weeks of relaxed workouts and dismissal at 3:00, and lasts until the final
day of school. Expect practice to be 2:30-4:00 daily.
---Group One(To Be Determined) athletes will return during the Summer on
Wednesday, July 9, 6:00P.M.-8:30P.M., following a C.I.F. mandated three week
"Dead Period." Summer workouts begin Monday, July 14, 7:00-9:45A.M., for all
athletes.
---Our annual Summer Running Camp in Idyllwild is Monday, August 11-
Saturday, August 16. $225 for all meals in Idyllwild, campground lodging,
and transportation. Please make plans for this wonderful running and team
experience.
---Please make every attempt to avoid Summer School after the first session.
Parents of current freshmen, please arrange for your daughter to take Health
during her sophomore year or the FIRST Summer session, which will most
likely mean one seven period semester if you choose the school year option.
Please, again, avoid the second and third sessions of Summer School if at
all possible, so as to not conflict with vital to our team and individual
success Summer cross country workouts.
---Mama Clemons and myself look forward to the upcoming 2008 girls' cross
country season, and have a Mustang kind of day...

Woodbridge and OC Champs

2008-04-27T21:00:00.000-07:00

What a difference a year makes. One year ago our varsity was pummeled by
Woodbridge in a dual meet 83-53, this season we turned it around 78-58,
defeating the #2 ranked team in Orange County. Not running out of the zone in the 4X100 meter relay as we did last year certainly helped, in fact, we
ran an outstanding 49.1 with flawless stick work to win the event. Add to
that a clutch performance by Michelle Wicker in winning the 100 hurdles,
Rachel Mahler triumphing in the pole vault, Monica Todd winning the triple jump, long jump, and 300 hurdles, Percylla Nared winning the 100 meters,
running a strong second in the 200 meters, and a blistering second leg in
the 4X100 relay, and sweeps in the triple, long, and high jumps(Nicole
Miller capturing the latter) assisted our cause. Great job, girls. Also, our
junior varsity won 109-27, running their Sea View League record to 4-0, just
like the varsity.
This weekend is the Orange County Track And Field Championships at Mission
Viejo High School. Roughly thirty girls will compete, and the battle to earn
a lane or spot was fierce, since we can only enter two girls, per event, per
level. I look forward to watching the girls compete. Next week we face
Northwood on Wednesday, April 23, 3:15 is the start time, at THHS. The
following week are the Sea View League Preliminaries and Finals on Tuesday,
April 29, and May 2, at Irvine High School. We are allowed five girls per
event, plus wild cards, and we will let the girls know who is competing as
soon as we can. Thank you for your attendance at the meets, I appreciate
your support, and GO BLUE!!!

Arcadia Invitational

2008-04-14T20:29:00.000-07:00

---Kudos to sophomore Monica Todd for twice breaking her own school record in the 300 meter hurdles last Saturday at the Arcadia High School
Invitational. Monica ran 46.65 in a morning heat, then qualified for the
"Seeded" finals at night and ran 46.44. Monica's best her freshman year was
48.17, and this is her fourth school record this season, running 47.56 and
47.53 previously. Monica also long jumped 17-6 on Friday, missing qualifying for Saturday by one inch.

---This Saturday, April 19, is the Orange County Track And Field
Championships at Mission Viejo High School. We are allowed two girls, per
event, per level, so the competition for a spot was fierce. Girls will
receive an official form on Thursday, and most will be informed verbally
before then.

---On Wednesday, April 16, we will face Woodbridge High School, at THHS,
beginning at 2:45, with the Sea View League title on the line. Both girls'
varsity teams are 3-0, and Woodbridge is ranked third in Orange County,
while we are ranked eighth. Wish us well.

---I love track and field...

El Toro

2008-04-14T20:28:00.000-07:00

Varsity---Trabuco Hills-87 El Toro-49---Junior Varsity---Trabuco Hills-93 El Toro-43. Has a nice ring to it, don't you think??? Certain team competitions stoke my coals, and other than defeating Mission Viejo, there is no one I would rather beat than El Toro. Neighborhood rivalries on every level of competition have a way of heightening the emotions. Numerous girls contributed last Wednesday, from Jerrilynn Stanwood's upset win in the discus(118' 3"---a personal record by 8') to start the meet, to Monica
Todd's gutsy 4X400 meter relay 58.9 anchor leg to end the meet, to

freshman Hannah Greenhalgh eeking out a third place in the pole vault in a personal
best 8'6", to freshman Elizabeth Loper improving 8" in the high jump...4'6"
to 5'2"... There were, as I mentioned, many others. We performed well, to
say the least, and now on to Woodbridge on Wednesday, April 16, at Trabuco
Hills High School, who is also 3-0 in the Sea View League, and also defeated
El Toro, as well as being ranked #3 in Orange County.
The Arcadia Invitational is this weekend, a varsity only affair that is the
most prestigious track and field invitational in the country. Tonight, we
will send a 4X One Mile relay team of Kristin Arkin, Ximena Cruz, Hayley
Niles, and Makenna Smith to race in the Invitational competition against the
best girls' distance running programs in the state and country. We will also
send another team of Lindsay Enright, Rebecca Murillo, Sabrina Rathor, and
Jessica Varela to run in a "Seeded" Four by One Mile. Good luck. Also
tonight, long jumpers Samantha Hay, Stephanie Smith, Monica Todd, and
Whitney Wiles will compete, as well as discus thrower Jerrilynn Stanwood.
Tomorrow, the 4X100 meter relay will be represented by Tia Mc Farlane,
Percylla Nared, Brierra Winfrey, and Michelle Wicker, Monica Todd will run
the day 300 Hurdles, and vastly improved Hayley Niles will run the day Two
Mile. A Distance Medley Relay(1200, 400, 800, 1600) team of Ximena Cruz,
Monica Todd, Lori Hoffman, and ? will race on Saturday afternoon, and
highlighting Saturday is senior Kristin Arkin, who will be the first female
distance runner in the history of THHS to participate in a Saturday night
Invitational race...she will run the One Mile against the top competition in
the state and country. Kudos to Kristin.

Thank you for your involvment in girls' track and field, and have a Mustang
kind of day...

Mustang Invitational

2008-04-07T15:57:00.001-07:00

Watching all of the girls compete this weekend was enjoyable for me.
Highlighting the weekend was senior Kristin Arkin shattering her own school record in the 1600 meters, running 5:02.79, placing fourth in a stellar field. Kristin has earned a spot in the Invitational 3200 meters at next weekend's prestigious Arcadia Invitational, and we are awaiting confirmation of possible acceptance to the Invitational Mile Run, based on her recent improvement on Saturday. Kristin is the first female distance runner to earn a spot in an individual Saturday night race at Arcadia, and I commend her on this accompishment.
We will also run two 4X Mile Run relay teams on Friday night at Arcadia
High School. The "A" team will consist of Kristin Arkin, Ximena Cruz, Hayley
Niles, and Makenna Smith. The "B" team will include Lindsay Enright, Rebecca
Murillo, Sabrina Rathor, and Jessica Varela. Each team will compete in
separate races, with the "A" race a Who's Who of high school girls' distance
running, including: Saugus, Dana Hills, Crescenta Valley, and Fountain
Valley High Schools. Good luck to both teams...

While I do not coach the girls' distance runners, I could not help but
notice numerous personal records in the 1600 meters ran Friday night. Hayley
Niles(5:21), Makenna Smith(5:23), Rachel Moore(5:32), Danielle
Brabender(5:41), Kasie Dorr(5:42), Emilie No(5:42), Jessica Drews(5:51),
Hannah Giclas(5:53), Jennifer Dorame(5:56), Riley Logsdon (6:08), Tegan
Tingley(6:10), and Jenna Willey(6:16) are the ones that come to mind. If I
missed someone's significant PR, I apologize. Riley Logsdon has battled back
from Anemia, the fourth girls' distance runner to be afflicted with this
debilitating malady in the last eighteen months. Kudos to Riley.

---Have a Mustang kind of day...

08 Huntington Beach

2008-03-27T18:31:00.000-07:00

Our first Sea View League dual meet on Thursday, March 20, witnessed our varsity defeat Huntington Beach 92-44, and the junior varsity also triumphed 94-42. All 168 girls contributed, and I look forward to our next league competition at Foothill High School on Wednesday, April 2, which will lead off four consecutive Wednesday league tussles. Remember, our meet versus El Toro on Wednesday, April 9, will begin at 4:00(Field Events) and 5:00(Running Events) at THHS. This is an annual twilight confrontation at THHS with our crosstown rival that attracts far more parents and fans than usual.
This past weekend saw two all-time THHS school records established. Senior
Kristin Arkin ran a 10:54.44 3200 meters at the Azusa Pacific Distance Meet
Of Champions, taking twenty-nine plus seconds off of the record ran in 2007
by current junior Lori Hoffman. Also, sophomore Monica Todd ran the 300
meter hurdles in 47.56 at the Surf City Invitational, and is all alone atop
the THHS list. Kudos to both girls. Other highlights over the weekend were
sophomore Jessica Varela's 11:28.44 3200 meters, senior Whitney Wiles long
jumped 16' 9.25", Todd long jumped 16' 8.75", and freshman Stephanie Smith
long jumped 16' .75". Congratulations to all who earned the privelege of
participating over the weekend.

Practices over Spring Break are Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and
Saturday---8:00-10:30am(March 25, 26, 28, and 29) for sprinters, hurdlers,
and long/triple jumpers---Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and
Saturday---8:00-10:30am(March 24, 25, 27, and 29) for distance---and Monday,
Tuesday, and Saturday---11:00am-1:00pm--(March 24, 25, and 29) for high
jumpers. Shot put/discus should check with Coach Faagata as to exact days
and times.

Varsity sweats are FINALLY finished and will be picked up on Tuesday, March
25. Those that paid($80, program paying the balance) for them(34 out of 36
thus far) will receive them on Tuesday, April 1, lunch, in coordination with
a pizza get together. I appreciate your patience and cooperation. We march
on in search of a second consecutive Sea View League title on both levels, I
appreciate your involvement in THHS Girls' Track And Field, andd GO BLUE!!!

Laguna Hills

2008-03-19T08:14:00.001-07:00

Resounding victories over Laguna Hills on Thursday, March 13...99-33 for
the varsity, and 112-15 for the junior varsity. We compete this weekend at
the Katella Relays, frosh-soph field events on Friday at Katella High
School, and everyone else on Saturday at Santa Ana College. Our bus leaves
Saturday at 6:30am. Roughly fifty girls will compete, and we will give it
our best shot. Numerous girls who would normally participate are gone
playing club soccer or volleyball, or traveling doing various things;
however, this is why we carry 167 girls. Mission Viejo High School will be
there, and I always look forward to competing against them because of their
highly respected program.
Our first Sea View League meet is this Thursday, March 20, at Huntington
Beach High School. We depart THHS at 12:50pm, and we HOPE to return by 7:30.
Please plan accordingly.
Many injuries are popping up, especially in the sprints. Foot, ankle,
shin, knee, hip...you name it. Some are legitimate, others, you wonder. The
majority of injuries occur on Monday or Tuesday, our hard workout
days...very, very few injuries on meet days. Also, a popular time for an
injury is right before a race an athlete does not want to run. Again, some
injuries are legitimate; others, I wonder...
Thank you for your cooperation with the transportation fee. I apologize
for not delivering our varsity sweats to the girls...What I thought would
transpire with regard to delivery did not occur.

A wonderful start to our season

2008-03-11T20:01:00.000-07:00

A wonderful start to our season...resounding victories over Tesoro for both
the varsity and junior varsity, 95-41 and 98-36, respectively. This program
has advanced leaps and bounds since I began my head coaching stint five
years ago, and I look forward to the future. I will not mention any
individual names because there are numerous girls I am proud of, not just
the winners of races, or second place finishers. I am proud of this program
as a whole, all 167 on the roster including managers, and now on to Laguna
Hills and then Huntington Beach, both on the road. Expect the return from
those trips to be 7:00 for Laguna Hills, and hopefully 7:30 for Huntington
Beach. I live ten minutes from HBHS in Seal Beach, so I know all too well
that the drive home from HBHS could stretch our estimated time of arrival to
8:00.

This weekend we travel to both the Irvine Invitational for sprinters,
hurdlers, and field event people, and to the Millikan Distance Carnival at
Long Beach City College(alma mater) for the distance runners. As I told my
girls this afternoon, we are only allowed TWO girls per event at Irvine, so
the competition is fierce. Contrarily, at Millikan, the distance runners are
allowed unlimited entries because they do not race in lanes. Around fifty
female distance runners will travel to Long Beach City College, twenty-three
to Irvine...both buses depart Trabuco Hills High School at 6:00A.M., and
will return around 6:00P.M.

At yesterday's competition versus Tesoro, we had zero absences from the
meet. Today we had eighteen absences from practice. The day I can accomplish
my athletes and parents to treat practice no different than track and field
meets, I will consider that a major accomplishment. Practice is sacred to
me, and I can guarantee you that I will NEVER miss a practice for a dental,
doctor, or any kind of appointment...I schedule my life around practice and
competitions. You will have that commitment from me...every day, every hour,
and although I can not expect the fervent passion I expect of myself, please
treat practice no different than competitions. I do know that things pop up
in the lives of fourteen to eighteen-year-olds; heck, I have fifteen
freshmen missing practice for an M.U.N. conference tomorrow...just treat
practice no different than competitions, and the results will be beneficial
to your daughter...

Thank you for your involvement in Trabuco Hills Girls' Track And Field,
encourage your daughter every step of the way, and beat Laguna Hills...

2007 CaliforniaState Finals

2007-11-27T12:04:00.000-08:00

A wonderful finish to our season...our 93.31 team time at the California State Finals is the tenth fastest all time in the history of the meet ,dating back to 1987, and earned our girls a third place finish in Division 1 AND the entire state of California. Our effort earned the girls consideration...we were in the conversation...for an at-large (two teams, Saugus and Esperanza, received automatic berths, we were third) to the Nike High School National Championships of Cross Country in Portland next weekend; however, we were not selected, losing out(by a point system thatawards teams points for defeating teams during the season that qualified forNTN) to four teams from Alabama, New York(2), and New Hampshire. The girlswere extremely disappointed upon hearing the news; nevertheless, this doesnot detract from a memorable season, from Seaside to State Finals. I can not state enough positive comments about the girls decorum andpreparation the entire weekend in Fresno. Focused, settled, determined, thegirls "managed the moment" of competing in a State Final to the utmost, andthe proof is in the results. Sure, we would have loved to have defeatedEsperanza, we were only seventeen points away. The fact is, Esperanza ranwell, very well as a matter of fact, and my hat is off to them. We offer no excuses, never will, and to the girls credit, all were gracious to Esperanzaat the award's stand. All week Mama Clemons and myself were confident ourteam would run well, we did just that, and I could not be prouder as a headc oach than I am today. A huge thank you to the athletes who arrived in Fresno, ten or so, to cheeron our athletes. It was much appreciated by the athletes, believe me. The girls also appreciated the loud cheering section...parents, friends, andfans...at the award's ceremony, three teams are accorded the privilege ofclimbing the award's stand, and we were one of them. I also appreciate the numerous phone calls, emails, and correspondence to myself from parents ofvarsity or non-varsity athletes that have offered congratulatory comments onour accolades. Thank you!!! To the girls who traveled to Fresno: Kristin Arkin(12), Ximena Cruz(11),Lindsay Enright(11), Lori Hoffman(11), Rachel Moore(12), Hayley Niles(11),Sabrina Rathor(11), and Makenna Smith(10)...congratulations. The future isbright with five of our seven runners who ran Saturday returning, and a slewof enthusiastic and talented juniors, sophomores, and freshmen on thehorizon. I expect the competition for the seven varsity spots to be intensein the 2008 season, and the returners will be told on Monday that there are284 days until the Seaside Invitational on Friday, September 12, and their preparation begins immediately. To our two departing seniors and captainswho competed in Fresno, thank you. Kristin and Rachel's exemplary leadershipwas one of the reasons for our success this season, not to mention each oftheir respective running prowess. I will miss, appreciate, and never forgetthe 2007 Trabuco Hills Girls' Cross Country team. You have set the bar forfuture teams, no THHS Girls' Cross Country program did it better, and thankyou for the memory.

2007 CIF Finals

2007-11-19T16:14:00.000-08:00

No one can say that a Trabuco Hills High School Girls' Cross Country teamhas not ever qualified for the California State Finals. This morning, wedid. Instead of ecstasy reigning supreme on the girls' faces, thecelebration was a tad subdued, to say the least. Our goal was to finishsecond, the standard in C.I.F. for recognition on the award's stand, and aC.I.F. Runner-up patch; however, we finished third, behind Saugus(the bestteam in the nation in my opinion) and Esperanza, who ran a wonderful race.Am I disappointed??? Not in the least...This morning, we were the third bestgirls' cross country team in all of C.I.F., not just Division 1, and thegirls ran and performed their hearts out in a presssure-packed setting. AmI, Coach Mama Clemons, or the girls satisfied with our race??? No, we arenot, because although we ran well collectively, we believe that we did notrun our best race. Kudos to all seven: Kristin Arkin(18.06), XimenaCruz(18.30), Lindsay Enright(20.38), Lori Hoffman(18.39-PR), HayleyNiles(18.55-PR), Sabrina Rathor(18.16-PR), and Makenna Smith(18.50). Yourepresented our program with class, you fought the good fight, and nowonward to Fresno...departing Friday morning around 8:00A.M. Thank you to the thirty-five or so girls who traveled on the 5:10A.M. bus,painted their faces, cheered and ran their lungs out, and were a hugeassistance to our efforts. Parents, thank you for taking the time to driveyour daughters to THHS and supporting our cause. I was proud of our crosscountry program this morning. I have witnessed an evolution over the lastfour years in this sport that has been a joy to witness...and I look forwardto the future of the program. Keep encouraging your daughters, insist thatshe never misses practice, and remember..."Anything worth doing, is worthdoing well...," and this morning, we did it well...Thank you...

2007 CIF prelims.

2007-11-12T11:57:00.000-08:00

What a difference a year makes. Last season at C.I.F. Preliminaries, we rana team time of 97.03, including: Sabrina Rathor(18.57), WhitneyWiles(19.18), Carissa Brown(19.19), Kristin Arkin(19.44), LoriHoffman(19.45), Michelle Wicker(20.22), and Lindsay Enright(21.33). OnSaturday, we ran 92.25, including: Kristin Arkin(18.03), MakennaSmith(18.19), Sabrina Rathor(18.28), Ximena Cruz(18.30), WhitneyWiles(19.05), Hayley Niles(19.12), and Kristyn Summers(19.30). The girlsearned the second fastest team time in all of C.I.F. by a consistent day today work ethic the last twelve months, and an overall dedication to thesport of cross country. As I have stated numerous times in the past twelve months, C.I.F Finals isnot good enough anymore. Our performance at last year's finals wascollectively the worst performance by any team in the four years I have beencoaching the girls, and everything we have done as a coaching staff and teamhas been dedicated to that day. Coaches are driven by their failures, andCoach Mama Clemons and myself are no different. Our training was enhanced,every nuance of the program was evaluated and adjusted, and the girls haveresponded. Our goal of achieving the State Finals has been heightened tobeing one of the two teams on the podium for team awards, and I believe wehave the capability of being the C.I.F. runner-up, behind whom I believe isthe best team in the country, Saugus High School. Our competition will befierce...Dana Hills, Redlands, Fountain Valley, and Eperanza High Schoolsare all capable of beating us, as we are of them. When you are the OrangeCounty champion, ranked #2 in C.I.F. Division 1, and sixth(we've defeatedtwo of the teams ranked ahead of us) in the state of California, people aregunning for you...; however, the girls have proven to be resilient, and Ibelieve this Saturday will be no different, no matter the result.

A big thank to to the thirty girls who traveled with the team to cheer onnot only the girls, but the boys as well. A special thank you to juniorsRebecca Murillo and Hannah Giclas who coordinated the cheer efforts...makingsigns, paint on faces, etc. Kudos to Coach Liam Clemons...his boys' varsityteam ran their strongest performance of the season and finished with thesecond fastest team time in all of C.I.F. Preliminaries, and also have highaspirations this Saturday. Good luck to them. To say I am proud of ourgirls' accomplishments this past season would be an understement...from Seaside to C.I.F. Preliminaries, it has been quite a ride, full of numeroushighs. However, the memory of last year's C.I.F. Finals, the bitterdisappointment(as well as mine) on the girls' faces, is still a vividmemory. We will prepare this week, as we have the past twelve months, tosoothe that memory. We look forward to the competition, wish us well, andthank you for your support.

GO BLUE!!!

We Will Not Wilt In Walnut...

Sea View League championships

2007-11-06T16:31:00.000-08:00

A big congratulations to all three levels: varsity, junior varsity, andfrosh-soph, for their respective back to back Sea View League championships.Our varsity is currently the #1 ranked team in Orange County, #2 in C.I.F.Division 1, and #5 in the state of California. Our goal is to place secondat C.I.F., and become the first team in THHS history to qualify for theState Girls' Cross Country Finals, held over Thanksgiving weekend in Clovis.Congratulations to the following girls who were top seven for grade level atleague finals: freshmen-Danielle Brabender...sophomore-Makenna Smith,Kristyn Summers...junior-Sabrina Rathor(#1), Ximena Cruz, Lindsay Enright,Lori Hoffman...and senior-Kristin Arkin, Whitney Wiles, Rachel Moore, andMeredith Suman. Remember, all girls are to dress out for the next two weeks during ourrecovery time and will average one mile per day(release time is 3:00) untilNovember 16...On November 19, we will begin pre-season track and fieldtraining and release time will be around 3:45 until further notice. This isa year-round program, and as such, training never stops. Thank you for your support, good luck to varsity at C.I.F., and GO BLUE!!!

Mt. S.A.C and OC fires

2007-10-27T12:51:00.000-07:00

---On Thursday, October 25, the eight girls(one more to be added after SeaView League Finals) that have earned the privelege of representing ourgirls' cross country team in C.I.F competition completed a workout at L.A.Fitness in Lake Forest...a Mt. S.A.C. simulation of HARD running for sixminutes, on a treadmill, at race pace, immediately transitioning to threeminutes hard on an incline, recovery running of two minutes, three minuteshard on an incline, recovery running of two minutes, then finish with threeminutes hard on an incline, and after a five minute rest, repeated theworkbout two more times. This was followed by corework. Friday's workoutwill be one and one -half miles of swimming. ---A big thank you to the parents who encouraged your daughters to trainthis week by visiting a local fitness center...L.A. Fitness($5 per visit),or 24-Hour Fitness(Free if you stay...), as has been communicated to youearlier this week. I saw numerous girls' cross country athletes at L.A.Fitness on Wednesday, and my fervent hope is that the girls take theinitiative to discipline themselves to workout. As I have stated manytimes...success at the level Coach Mama Clemons and myself aspire to has aprice, such as personal accountability. ---Our tradition of traveling every season will continue in 2008 with a tripto the Stanford Invitational on September 27, 2008...the top fourteen willfly to San Jose on Friday, September 26, visit Stanford University, workout,race the next day, and be driven to San Francisco(Pier 39) for Saturdaynight fun. ---Congratulations to the girls' varsity team for their continued #1 rankingin Orange County, #3 in C.I.F. Division 1, #4 in the State Division 1, andfor being ranked #5 in the entire state of Caifornia, and one of the teamsranked ahead of us we've defeated(Fountain Valley at the Orange CountyChampionships). ---A residue of team success is an athlete being recruited. Senior KristinArkin, who has experienced an individual epiphany of sorts with breakthroughperformances at O.C. Championships(third), and Mt. S.A.C.(18.08-best ever bya THHS runner), is being heavily recruited by the University of Nevada, LasVegas...University of Nevada, Reno...and the University of California,Davis, with more schools sure to follow. Kristin's 4.25 cumulative gradepoint average, including a rigorous college- prep curriculum, doesn't hurteither. ---As I type this in my local public library in Seal Beach(much differentair quality, by the way, than what I experienced this morning in MissionViejo), I do not know if there will be school tomorrow; however, I do knowthis...all outdoor practices are prohibited until Monday...so it isincumbent for your daughter to do all she can to visit a local fitnesscenter and treadmill(45 minutes at 7-9 speed depending on ability), swim,jump rope, do something...I have no idea when we will practiceagain...Please be part of the solution, not part of the problem...

OC Champs

2007-10-16T07:55:00.000-07:00

When I sat down one year ago to type after the Orange County Cross CountryChampionships, I stated, amongst other tidbits, that seventh place...running93.16, was "not good enough."Actually, I borrowed that quote from one of the varsity athletes, who echoedthose sentiments. One year later, here we are, Orange County VarsitySweepstakes Team Champions, and the Frosh-Soph and Novice did likewise. Themeet organizer estimated(2.82 miles yesterday, conversion to three miles)our team time would have been 89.08, adding eighty seconds per runner, a4.08 improvement over last year, which would be the second fastest(justahead of Corona Del Mar-89.22-2006) ever in the thirty year history of theevent, alas, we will never know for sure. I am CERTAIN we would have bested the third fastest team time(Fountain Valley-90.39-2006).Individually...converting times...we ran 17.21(Kristin Arkin), 17.45(MakennaSmith), 17.48(Sabrina Rathor), 17.56(Ximena Cruz), and 18.18(Lori Hoffman).Last year, we ran 18.14, 18.15, 18.52, 18.53, and 19.02. Moreover, ourfrosh-soph, utilizing conversion, ran 18.39(Kristyn Summers), 18.40(DanielleBrabender), 18.54(Kamilah Foley), 19.04(Jessica Varela), and 19.18(AmandaSummers)...94.35...a 5.01 improvement over our 99.36 last year. KristinArkin...third fastest senior---Sabrina Rathor...third fastestjunior---Ximena Cruz...fourth fastest junior---and Makenna Smith...secondfastest sophomore in Orange County, garnered accolades for their efforts.Congratulations. Our fastest freshman was Danielle Brabender...again,18.40...and she is making rapid strides through this program from week toweek. The size of our team and the time schedule yesterday, not to mention ouraccomplishments and the subsequent interviews from Dyestat.cal and theOrange County Register, made it impossible to devote much individualattention after the races. Perusing the results, there were numerousoutstanding efforts...too many to list. I will be chatting with many of theindividuals who ran Saturday and recognize each of their accomplishments.This is one of the negatives of coaching a large team, sometimes it isimpossible to devote the amount of time desired the day of the race to theathletes given my responsibilities...Heck, I barely made the start of thejunior varsity race...losing track of time while talking to a reporter(Ihope that does not sound pompous, it is not meant to be...). Nevertheless,our program effort, not just the winning efforts, on Saturday, wasexemplary, and that is a testament to the amount of effort your daughter hasdevoted to this sport. Our attention now shifts to the Mt. San Antonio College(Walnut) Invitationalon Saturday, October 20, the largest high school cross country meet in thenation. Our top thirty athletes have practiced on the course three timesthus far, and if it wasn't for the P.S.A.T. make-up this Wednesday, we wouldhave practiced at Mt. S.A.C. on Wednesday, instead, we will be at R.S.M.Lake for mile repeats. One mile into the course, the girls will encounter a331 meter hill, known as the "Switchback," and later will be met by twoother tough hills. This is also the site of C.I.F. competition, and FootLocker West will hold their regional competition on the famed Mt. S.A.C.terrain, which ultimately crowns a national individual champion. I ran Mt.S.A.C. numerous times in high school, remember it well, and I look forwardto the girls testing their wares on this renowned course. Our varsity hasentered the Sweepstakes Race, which will include Saugus High School, ranked#1 in the state, and second in the nation, plus other elite teams inCalifornia, such as Torrey Pines High School from San Diego. Our decision toenter the Varsity Sweepstakes Race is a change in philosophy from previousseasons, where we "low-keyed" Mt. S.A.C. and ran all of the girls in gradelevel races, forgoing varsity competition. Coach Mama Clemons and myself,given our performances at C.I.F. Finals the last two seasons, believe achange was necessary, and we look forward to the opportunity for our girls.Also, Mt. S.A.C. will feature a State Team Champion Junior Varsity race,whereby all teams entered in the Sweepstakes Race will run their next sevengirls in a junior varsity race that will crown an unofficial State JuniorVarsity Team Champion...We look forward to that race, also. Many of you took the time to either email, phone, or personally congratulatemyself or Coach Mama Clemons for our team accomplishments at O.C. Champs.Thank you...Also, a heartfelt thank you to Jeanette Murillo for helping toorganize our team barbecue at O.C. Champs. It was a resounding success, andknowing Jeanette for a few years now, I am not surprised. I attended afamily wedding on Saturday, as well as my girlfriend's twenty year reunionthat evening, and needless to say, I was sort of floating the entireafternoon, and late into the evening. The cruel reality of this sport;however, is we are only as good as our previous workout...Take care ofpractice today, results will transpire tomorrow. My focus now is to motivatethe girls to practice efficiently on Monday, and beyond, because that is thefoundation on race day. Am I happy...rather, ecstatic, for the girls and theprogram, absolutely...Are Coach Mama Clemons and myselfsatisfied...NO...because there is always room for improvement. We push on,and I look forward to the rest of the journey. Trabuco Hills High School Girls' Cross Country-Orange County VarsitySweepstakes, Frosh-Soph, Novice Team Champions...Thank you for yoursupport...

Sea View League Cluster Meet

2007-10-11T14:47:00.000-07:00

A wonderful Thursday afternoon for our girls...Varsity, junior varsity,and frosh-soph were all victorious...in the frosh-soph-junior varsity combined race, we garnered 15 of the top 20 individual placings, including the top four. Sophomore Kristyn Summers won the race, with junior Lindsay Enright, senior Rachel Moore, and sophomore Kamilah Foley 2, 3, and 4. Top three freshmen were Dani Brabender(19.40), Sarah Daily (20.19), and Shelby Niles (20.33). Our top 5 girls ran 96.20, we ran 100.22 in 2006, a 4.02 improvement.
Our varsity ran 91.05 to win the race...we ran 94.45 in 2006, a 3.40 improvement, quite impressive for five girls. 2006, our top five times were18.32, 18.32, 19.09, 19.16, and 19.16...yesterday, we ran 17.57 (KristinArkin), 18.02 (Sabrina Rathor), 18.11(Makenna Smith), 18.13 (Ximena Cruz), and18.42 (Hayley Niles). The girls deserve this, all have worked diligently toachieve our current success; however, today is another day, and now ourfocus is to practice well this afternoon, and prepare for the Orange County Cross Country Championships. Coach Clemons and myself will tell the team this afternoon our goal is to win the varsity team championship, as well asthe frosh-soph and junior varsity...because we both believe we have the capability to capture any of those titles.---53 girls ran in 2006, 69 in 2007. 0(2006) broke 18 minutes, 1 in 2007,2 (2006) under 19 minutes, 5 in 2007...9 (2006) broke 20 minutes, 14 in 2007,15 (2006) under 21 minutes, 24 in 2007, 23(2006) broke 22 minutes, 33 in2007. Coach Clemons and myself are both proud of these statistics.---Notable individual improvements from 2006 to 2007...same course, sameThursday: Amanda Lee, 24.34-20.27...Kamilah Foley, 22.00-19.19...KristinArkin, 19.21-17.57...Ximena Cruz, 20.18-18.13...Brittany Hernandez,22.58-20.13...Sarah Brewer, 22.06-20.31...Taylor Mujica, 23.38-21.19...Katrina Otto, 23.30-22.27...Sabrina Rathor,18.32-18.02...Kristyn Summers, 19.59-19.00...Rachel Moore,22.12-19.14,...Amanda Summers, 20.42-20.11...Kasie Dorr,21.04-20.36...Hillary Rush, 22.19-21.50...and Alanna Denton, 23.40-21.35.

Bob Firman Invi. Boise, ID

2007-09-24T15:43:00.001-07:00

"Gosh, your girls are so nice." This was a comment stated to me by the
United Airlines stewardess on the plane flight home. Funny, just before
that, Coach Mama Clemons and myself were commenting to each other on the exact same sentiments. We were both chatting to each other on the airplane ride home, and one of the subjects was how well behaved our girls are, and their overall decorum: airplane rides, van rides, hotel, restaurants, race site, social activities, how exemplary it was. Oh sure, there were moments of hmmmmmmmmmmmmm. The captains made a decision to have a 6:45A.M. breakfast time for all of us Saturday morning, then go back to the rooms to dress for the race and an 8:15 departure...rather than meet dressed at 7:45(extra hour of sleep), eat breakfast, and leave. This was greeted by more than one terse comment from various team members early that morning...However, all in all, the girls co-existed well, we raced well, and it was a positive experience for all. Again, we raced well...very well. Our varsity sweepstake's team placed
third...roughly two and one-half minutes behind Mountain Brook, Alabama...ranked #21 in the country. Davis, Utah, finished second. Our grouping was phenomenal, the girls competed their hearts out...and we improved as a team. Our #2 team won Varsity Division 1...easily, defeating Mountain Brook #2 who finished second, and received a nice Nike banner and trophy to boot. This team also competed mightily, the grouping was also outstanding, and the girls received commendations from the officials at the meet, including Bob Firman himself. Our #3 team finished fourth, missing third by five points in Varsity Division 2, a change of plans from running junior varsity, and handled the competition more than satisfactorily for
their first-ever varsity experience. The girls were understandably nervous upon hearing of the change; however, all rallied and rose to the occasion. Kudos to top twenty finishers: Lindsay Enright, Whitney Wiles, Emilie No, Kamilah Foley, Meredith Suman, Kasie Dorr, and Sarah Daily...who all were
handed Nike backpacks for their efforts.

Again, a positive experience...A true cross country course, replete with
various terrain...grass, gravel, dirt, concrete...hill and dale...weather
was truly Idaho...cloudy, misty...a different vibe. We knew no one...the
competition was tough...of course after running against Saugus two weeks in
a row nothing phases us...and the girls rose to the occasion. The team was
told that this was a business trip, a chance to better themselves
individually and collectively...and all in all we accomplished this. Now
it's on to Sea View League cluster on October 4, no race this week...and a
chance for our varsity to race Foothill...who defeated us at Woodbridge,
they're ranked ahead of us in Orange County, and are the #1 ranked team in
C.I.F. Division 2, and Woodbridge. We look forward to the competition.
Parents, thank you for your support of this trip, we plan on taking
twenty-one girls again next year...if you were there you' d know why, and
Coach Mama Clemons and myself look forward to the rest of the season.

Woodbridge 2007

2007-09-17T14:38:00.000-07:00

A big thank you to all of the parents who stayed last night to support ourtwo varsity teams who ran at 7:20, and in the Sweepstake's Race at 9:15. Our#2 varsity team finished third(ran 92.40, thirty-five seconds slower thanlast year's #1 team) to Fountain Valley#1 and Saugus#2(top ranked in thestate, #3 in the nation), and our Varsity #1 team finished sixth(89.48,averaging under eighteen minutes per girl) in the Sweepsake's Race, wherethe second through sixth place teams were within forty-six seconds of eachother. Makenna Smith(10)-17.41(19.07 last year), SabrinaRathor(11)-17.44(18.30), Lori Hoffman(11)-17.53(18.39), KristinArkin(12)-18.05(19.25), and Hayley Niles(11)-18.25(19.31) combined for aforty-four second gap, while Rachel Moore(12) continued her rapid ascentthrough this program, running 18.29(20.19). Our #2 team witnessed XimenaCruz(11) run 18.09(20.11 last year), Whitney Wiles(12), in her first raceafter a long rehab, ran 18.23, Emilie No(10), in her FIRST YEAR of crosscountry ran 18.29, Kamilah Foley(10) ran 18.42(21.37-a 2.55 improvement from2006, WOW!), and Meredith Suman(12)-18.57(19.55), all post solid efforts. Asyou can see, and echoing my comments after last year's season, thecompetition for the seven varsity spots is fierce...six seconds separatedour numbers six through nine girls(Wiles, H.Niles, Moore, No) last night,and I expect this to continue the entire season.
The junior varsity race saw Kristine Andersen(11) run 20.08, verycommendable after an extended rehab, and Rebecca Murillo(11) run 20.27, asolid PR in her first year of cross country. The second place sophomore teamcombined Brittany Hernandez running 19.47(22.00 in 2006), KatelynLockwood-19.55, her first solid effort of the season, Amanda Lee-20.00, abig PR, Justine Rea-20.01 in her FIRST YEAR of cross country, and AmandaSummers-20.12(21.04) to a more than respectable finish. The second placefreshmen team were led by Dani Brabender-19.36, Sarah Daily-19.42, ShelbyNiles-19.43, Jessica Lee-20.49, and Taryn Davis-20.54, kudos on theircollective efforts, and our NOVICE team was led by AmberMosier(9)-23.18(Previous PR 27.12), and Karina Nurmberg(9)-23.19.
There were other notable occurrences...Kristyn Summers(10)-19.30(20.24 in2006), Kasie Dorr(10)-20.21(20.59), Sarah Brewer(10)-20.26(21.59), andKatrina Otto(10)-21.52(23.38) all enjoyed noticeable improvements. JessicaVarela(10) fell during the varsity race, sustained a nasty abrasion near herknee, got up, finished, and ran a respectable 19.16. Coach Mama Clemons andmyself are proud of not only the above-mentioned accolades, but our entireprogram's accomplishments last night as well. We ran well, the girls lookedlike winners, and the program conducted itself with class. We did not justrun in the Sweepstake's Race(our FIRST in the program' history), we made astatement in the process. We belong, and we plan on staying; however, ourtask is far from finished. Foothill, a Sea View League rival, benefittingfrom a key senior transfer(#2 runner), and her freshman sister(#3 runner)from Corona del Mar, defeated us last night. We meet on October 4. Seventeams qualify for State, and five(Saugus, Esperanza, Redlands, MurrietaValley, and Fountain Valley) all defeated us last night; although, otherthan Saugus, we were on the radar of the rest of the teams. My number onepriority as of this moment is Monday's workout, I will let future resultstake care of themselves, and it's now on to Boise, Idaho, and Dana Point.Again, thank you for your support last night, I look forward to the rest ofthe season, and GO BLUE!!!

Seaside Invitational

2007-09-10T10:44:00.000-07:00

I love number crunching...Here I go...
---32 competed at our last Seaside Invitational(2005), 71 in 2007. Our
team(top five girls) time in 2005 was 98.34, 92.55 yesterday, a 5.39
improvement. 92.55 is the seventh fastest team time in the history of the
twenty-five year Seaside Invitational...The team that defeated us yesterday,
Saugus(89.51), is the top ranked team in the state, and top five nationally.
So, so many girls ran well yesterday, I do not no where to start...so I
won't. 1 broke 19 minutes in 2005...5 in 2007, 3 eclipsed 20...11 in 2007, 7
under 21...22 in 2007, 15 under 22...31 in 2007...Coach Mama Clemons and
myself are proud of our accomplishments. Like Coach Clemons told the team
this morning..."I was proud to be your coach yesterday. We ran well, you
looked good, and you conducted yourself as you should." I echo those
sentiments. If you are curious of our top ten individual performances...go
to www.dyestatcal.com...
---A nice workout this morning...10, 9, 8, 7, 6, or a 5 mile run...recovery
pace, and the athletes ran well. 7:00A.M. for virtually the entire
team...5:30A.M. for Makenna Smith...and again, a solid workout this morning
considering the day we endured, and I mean endured, yesterday. Parents,
thank you for your support of this morning's workout...very, very few
unexcused absences...
---20 girls have been notified of earning a trip to Boise, ID. for the
September 22 Bob Firman Invitational. The last spot will be awarded to
either Sarah Brewer, Katelyn Lockwood, Rebecca Murillo, or Shelby Niles.
Good luck to all at Woodbridge.
---All of the athletes are expected to stay for the Varsity Sweepstake's
Race at the Woodbridge Invitational on Saturday, September 15...the race
will begin around 9:00P.M. The rest of the girls will race around
4:30-6:30P.M. Please support this. All parents are encouraged to transport
their daughter home from Woodbridge High School.
---Seven girls have earned the privelege to represent our program in the
Woodbridge Varsity Sweepstake's Race through a series of evaluations,
including Intra-Squad Race, Idyllwild 2X800 Relay, Idyllwild Race, and
Seaside. The seven will be announced to the entire team after practice on
Monday.
---Sweepstake's Race...Sweepstake's Attitude...Sweepstake's Mentality...

Parent meeting Tuesday, August 28, THHS Theatre

2007-08-25T10:17:00.001-07:00

---Practice on Saturday morning is 6:00-8:45A.M., at R.S.M. Lake. Please
park near Starbuck's. Team breakfast to follow at I.H.O.P. in
R.S.M...9:00-10:30 A.M. Please encourage your daughter to attend the
breakfast and to download a flier.
---Practices next week are 7:00-9:45A.M. If you are involved in Link Crew on
Wednesday and Friday, practice is 5:00-6:45A.M.
---All girls' cross country runners have the option of attending "Round-Up"
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday at 11:30A.M., which is the official
time for any THHS student involved in a co-curricular activity. Your
daughter is not allowed to skip practice to attend "Round-Up," nor may she
tell me that she wants to look nice for "Round-Up," so she can not practice.
Please pay A.S.B.($40 to THHS) and transportation($85 to S.V.U.S.D.) fees at
"Round-Up."
---Parent meeting this Tuesday, August 28, THHS Theatre, 6:30-7:30P.M., to
discuss any and all aspects of cross country. Please be there!!!
---Please check our website...runningmustangsxc.com...for updated
information, including the spirit pack, which you can download for your
convenience. Spirit pack fee is due by August 31...uniforms, etc. to be
handed out Saturday, September 1, after practice.
---Sweepstake's Race...Sweepstake's Attitude...Sweepstake's Mentality...

A super pair of workouts

2007-08-25T10:16:00.001-07:00

---A super pair of workouts this morning. Vista Del Lago hills for the THHS
group, and Switchback repeats at Mt. S.A.C. in Walnut for the later in the
morning group. Senior Kristin Arkin led group one with ten repetitions of
our hill loop at Mt. S.A.C. in forty-five minutes, while freshman Sarah
Daily led group two with nine loops. All of the athletes in both groups
performed a commendable workout, and tomorrow's practice is 7:00-9:45A.M. at
THHS. Do not forget a beach towel.
---Parent meeting this Tuesday, August 28, THHS Theatre, 6:30-7:30P.M., to
discuss any and all aspects of cross country. Please be there!!!
---A.S.B.($40 to THHS), and transportation($85 to S.V.U.S.D.) fees are to be
paid at "Round-Up," August 27-30...Spirit pack fee...$225 for new athletes,
$105/? for returning athletes, is due to Coach Kelly before August 31. A
hard copy of the spirit pack costs will be distributed on Friday, August 24.
---Please refer to our website...runningmustangsxc.com...for updated
information regarding our girls' cross country program...
---We Will Not Wilt In Walnut...

Senior Captians 2007

2007-08-21T10:28:00.000-07:00

---Congratulations to senior Meredith Suman, who was named our fourth senior captain for the 2007 season...joining Kristin Arkin, Rachel Moore, and Whitney Wiles. Meredith is a four year participant in cross country,possesses the requisite character and leadership skills to perform the job well, and she will be an asset to our program, to say the least. Kudos to Meredith, the distinction is well deserved.

2007 XC Camp

2007-08-21T10:19:00.001-07:00

---Well, we made it...Not only did we make it, but we also experienced anextremely successful and gratifying running camp in Idyllwild. 54 girls, byfar our largest turnout to date, 49 boys, scenic runs, wonderful meals,swimming, softball, and a walk to town, competitions...Speaking of competitions, congratulations to junior Sabrina Rathor for winning our camprace, covering 3 miles in 18.56, very commendable after a tough week oftraining, and junior Hayley Niles finished second in 19.07. Aaren Cadieux was the top freshman with Sarah Daily finishing second...Emilie No was the top sophomore, Kristyn Summers was second, and Kristin Arkin was the topsenior, with Michelle Reed second. A big thank you goes out to the parents of Kristine Andersen and Tegan Tingley...Brett and Kelly Andersen and Tracy Tingley...for their volunteer work the entire camp...from shopping tosupervision to cooking...and all points in between...thank you. Idyllwildwill now be our annual destination, and our 2008 camp is scheduled forAugust 11-16...Please set aside those dates now. ---Practice is 7:00-9:45A.M. this week, except Thursday and Saturday.Thursday's practice is either 8:30A.M.-2:30P.M.(includes the sixty minute bus ride) at Mt. S.A.C. in Walnut for our current top twenty girls, or5:30-8:30A.M. at THHS. We are restricted as to the number of athletes thatcan practice at Mt. S.A.C., or I would transport everyone. Saturday'spractice is 6:00-9:00A.M. at R.S.M. Lake, with a team breakfast to follow atI.H.O.P. in R.S.M. ---Please pay transportation ($85 to S.V.U.S.D.) and A.S.B.($40 to THHS) feesat "Round-Up" the week of August 27-31, and the spirit pack fee($225 to THHSfor new athletes...$105/? for returners) is due to Coach Kelly the week of August 27-31. Thank you... ---A parent meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, August 28, 6:30-7:30P.M., THHSTheatre, to cover any and all aspects of girls' cross country. Please planto attend... ---Nineteen days, Friday, September 7...our first competition, the Buena High School Seaside Invitational at Ventura State Beach...second day ofschool, bus departs at 6:30A.M., we will return at 10:00P.M. Schedule isfreshmen-2:00...sophomores-2:30...juniors-3:00...seniors-3:30...The boys'races will follow ours...Our second competition is the Woodbridge HighSchool(Irvine) Invitational on Saturday, September 15...all races are4:45P.M. or after, and exact times will be forwarded at a later date. ---Anything worth doing is worth doing well... Coach Kelly GO BLUE!!!

Sea View League dual meet season

2007-04-27T19:41:00.000-07:00

A satisfying end to our Sea View League dual meet season...defeating Northwood on both levels, Varsity and Junior Varsity. Varsity ended the dual meet season 4-1, while Junior Varsity finished 5-0. Satisfying as it was, I am certainly not satisfied with the level of prowess our overall program has attained. Most coaches never are. We need to mature emotionally to rise to that next level, and I will do everything in my power to see that this takes place. Sea View League Preliminaries and Finals are next week, Tuesday and Friday, at THHS. Our Varsity can grab a share of the Sea View League championship if we can defeat Woodbridge at league finals. Scoring is on a 10-8-6-4-2-1 basis, so six places count. Sixteen events, and they all count the same. Can we win...YES...Will we win, that is another question. We will be prepared, the girls will be ready, and as always, we look forward to the competition. Thank you as always for your support. This is always a melancholy time for me...As corny as it sounds, I deplore the season ending...I enjoy it so, so much. Be that as it may, I look forward to the next few weeks with much, much anticipation...and may the Mustang in the sky be with us...

Houston, we have a problem...

2007-04-20T11:47:00.000-07:00

"Houston, we have a problem..." Early in the meet, this is what our team experienced after unexpected negative results in both the 4X100 meter relay and the discus events. Our varsity team fell behind early, witnessed some outstanding individual accomplishments throughout the meet; however, it was for naught as we were defeated by Woodbridge in a first place showdown, 73-63. Could haves and should haves do not count in this business, results do. Excuses such as running on a dirt track are just that...EXCUSES. Bottom line, we did not garner enough positive performances to win. Woodbridge did, I congratulate them, and their team is certainly deserving of a #2 ranking in Orange County. We are a work in progress, both physically and emotionally.

Yes, this team is the most talented individually in the four years I have been the head coach, and next year we will be even more formidable. We lose four senior point scorers from yesterday, and will return a host of skilled young athletes. The task at hand, however, involves much more than ability. A year-round approach to this sport is necessary to maximize one's potential. Too many of our athletes are seen only three months of the year; consequently, the results are not what could have been. I want to clarify my "three month comment." I am not speaking about the athletes involved in other sports. I certainly support the participation in other athletic endeavors. Success at the level we are striving for requires a year-round commitment to track and field...at the very least participating in our pre-season track and field class during the Winter quarter.

It was reported to me upon arriving at THHS after the meet that some girls were being "bullied" by other athletes during the ride home on the bus. This disturbed me, because frankly, I believed the sincerity of the girls who had the courage to report the incidents. This will be invesigated, scrutinized carefully, and will NOT be tolerated. I apologize, as the head coach of this program, for the actions of some of my team members. Nothing bothers me more than people who bully people...whether it is children or adults. Again, this will be taken care of.

Now it is on to the Orange County Track And Field Championships at Mission Viejo High School. 39 girls and 26 boys will showcase their talents and I wish them well. Parents, thank you for your support of track and field, and I look forward to the rest of the season. I love track and field...

Victories against El Toro

2007-04-05T09:54:00.000-07:00

The victories last night against El Toro were gratifying, to say the least. We have not defeated El Toro's varsity in the last five years, so that was especially noteworthy...not only for myself and the rest of the coaching staff, but for the ten seniors who have participated in the program for the past 3-4 seasons: Carissa Brown, Nicole Doherty, Brittany France, Shannon Lane, Samantha Lee, Erin McInnis, Christina Murillo, Jillianne Naval, Jacklyn Stribling, and Brooke Watt. This now places us in a position to capture a Sea View League championship. The opponent will be Woodbridge, ranked third in Orange County, also undefeated in the Sea View League, and boasting one of the top three 1600 meter runners in the nation.

Parents, thank you for your support of last night's track and field meet against El Toro. The crowd was estimated at five times what we usually receive at a home meet. The fans were loud and supportive, on both sides, and the athletes I spoke with today were appreciative. The competition ended around 9:45P.M., which means the athletes did not arrive home until after 10:00. We started last night's dual meet at 6:00 for running events, 5:00 for field events...next year we will adjust the starting times to 5:00 for field events, 5:30 for running events. All in all, the concept of a night meet against a local rival is a sound one, both for the athletes and the parents, and it will continue.

This weekend we travel to Arcadia High School for the prestigious Arcadia High School Track And Field Invitational. In its fortieth year, or thereabouts, Arcadia attracts the best of the best from not only southern California, but around the country as well. We will send around twenty-five girls and boys, running and competing in a variety of relays, field events, and distance races. J.T. Sullivan, one of the top high school distance runners in the nation, who is considering Notre Dame and Harvard, will run the invitational 3200 meters, with a legitimate chance to win, and we wish him well. Scotty Blair, one of the top 1600 meter runners in the state of California, will run the 1600. Good luck, Scotty, and to all of the athletes fortunate enough to participate.

To the 110 parents and the 60 or so freshmen(A-L) and newcomers who volunteered their time at last weekend's Trabuco Hills High School Distance Carnival and Invitational, THANK YOU!!! 98 schools, over 1900 athletes, and the positive feedback we received is a residue of your hard work and selfless attitude. A special thank you to the many parents who assisted in the supervision of volunteers...Mrs. Doherty, Ed and Teri Durst, Sandy Grose, Dorian Hinesly, Tom and Linda Lucero, Patty McLure, Jeanette Murillo, Briggite Otto, Jack and Becky Recla...just to name a few...and to the parents who assisted in the day of construction of the meet: Bob Blair, Tom Grose, Greg Hopper, Mr. Mosier, Mr. Nguyen-Le, Steve Wicker, Mr. Zupancic...again, just to name a few.

I hope you enjoy your Easter and Spring Break...I love track and field...and GO BLUE!!!

Coach Kelly

4.01.07 New individual records set at THHS Invitational

2007-04-02T11:48:00.000-07:00

New individual records set at THHS Invitational

A new school record was established by sophomore Ximena Cruz in the 1600 meter run...5:15.03..., the old record was set by Lindsay Grose in 2001, who ran 5:16.00. This is Ximena's second school record in less than two weeks, running to a 3200 meter record of 11:27.62 at the Distance Meet Of Champions on March 24. Freshman Percylla Nared set a new freshmen 100 meter record...12.60...and freshman Kelsey Wilson bettered her own freshmen pole vault record...jumping 9'6". Great job Ximena, Percylla, and Kelsey...and GO BLUE!!!

Second Sea View League victory

2007-03-29T14:38:00.000-07:00

Our second Sea View League victory in as many tries. Next up, El Toro(April 3, THHS, 6:00 first running event)...who will be a much stiffer test than our previous opponent. This is the best track and field team, on both levels, since I began this head coaching gig four years ago. Are we talented enough to capture a Sea View League championship...I do not know; however, I do no one thing, we will not be out- prepared. My coaching staff and myself will do everything in our power to attain a league title, and I look forward to the competition.

Some outstanding individual performances against Foothill, including a PR by freshman Jessica Varela in the 1600(5:31.6), Kamilah Foley(5:37.4 1600 PR), Brittany Hernandez(12:40.6 3200 PR), Amanda Olsen(4'8" High Jump), Michelle Wicker(17.5 100 Hurdles PR), Christina Murillo(37' Triple Jump PR), Percylla Nared(12.3/26.0 100-200 PR), Lori Hoffman(11:43.1 3200), and Kathryn Loper's 16.8(PR) victory in the 100 hurdles. Have I left some people out...absolutely...and hopefully I did not ruffle too many feathers. This week does not lend itself to time.

Thank you for your support of the girls' track and field program. From 76 athletes my first year(2004), to the current 155, this program will move forward not only in numbers, but spirit as well. Thank you to Toki Rathor for his painstaking work on our new and improved website. I love track and field. GO BLUE!!!

Sea View League competition

2007-03-23T19:59:00.000-07:00

A super effort, both collectively and individually, to begin Sea View League competition. Our 88.5-47.5 varsity win included individual wins for: Brittany France(Discus), Shannon Lane(800, 1600 relay), Kathryn Loper(100 Hurdles), Christina Murillo(Triple Jump, 1600 Relay), Percylla Nared(100, 200, 400 and 1600 Relay), and Monica Todd(400, 300 Hurdles, and 400 Relay). Others turning in strong performances to assist our cause were: Margot Cuero, Nicole Doherty, Lori Hoffman, Kenyatta Long, Rachel Mahler, Tia McFarlane, Nicole Miller, Jordan Sharon, Katie Simone, and Jerrilynn Stanwood.

Our junior varsity 108-28 triumph was highlighted by individual wins for Sara Johnson(100,200, Long Jump, and 400 relay), Autumn Purkey(High Jump), Sabrina Rathor(1600), Makenna Smith(3200), Makenzie Stade(100 Hurdles, 400), Jessica Varela(800), and Kelsey Wilson(Pole Vault). Other notable efforts were performed by: Sara Brewer, Tiffany Charters, Melissa Christiansen, Rachel Eckes, Kolini Faagata, Kamilah Foley, Marie Friedel, Melissa Higgins, Amy Linzmeier, Katelyn Lockwood, Katelyn McLeod, Amanda McNeill, Kim Meredith, Rachel Moore, Elizabeth Nguyen, Amanda Olsen, Amanda Summers, Carley Wells, and Michelle Wicker.

Great job girls, and GO BLUE!!!

Next dual meet is Wednesday, March 28, 2:45P.M., versus Foothill, at THHS. I love track and field!!!

Kudos to our runners...3.16.07

2007-03-18T17:04:00.000-07:00

Kudos to sophomores Ximena Cruz(5:21.0 1600) and Lori Hoffman(11:46.2 3200), and junior Kristin Arkin(5:21.2 1600), for being listed in the Friday, March 16, Orange County Register Sport's page top Thursday marks for track and field. Ximena's 1600 meter effort is her second school record in five days, breaking the old sophomore 1600 meter record of 5:26.0, ran by Lindsay Grose in 2000. Kudos also to freshmen Makenna Smith(5:39.1victory), Jessica Varela(5:40.9), Amanda Mc Neill(5:52.5), and Sarah Brewer(5:58.1) for their effort in the
1600, to freshmen Katelynn Lockwood(12:29.4 victory), Kamilah
Foley(12:45.1), and Amanda Summers(13:00.3) in the 3200 meters, and to
freshman Michelle Wicker, who won the 800 meters in 2:40.2.
Our distance program is off to a great start, and the best of luck to all
competing at the Katella Relays at Santa Ana College on Saturday...

Distance News...3.12.07

2007-03-18T17:03:00.000-07:00

Unfortunately some news is not positive. It was reported to me this
afternoon(Monday) that a significant number of girls either cut the run by
going down streets that lessened the miles, walked significantly, or were
seen sitting on a bench near the high school during the run. The workout was
described by Coach Clemons as "one of the worse ever..." The girls involved
are not in group one...our more experienced girls; rather, most were our
less experienced girls. Nevertheless, please be advised that there will be
consequences such as being confined to the track during subsequent road
runs, or being cut from the program. Parents, we are in the supervision
business...Please impress upon your daughter, as will we, that an honest
effort is paramount to our success, and is essential for their safety and
well being. There are around 90 distance runners, and two coaches...and for
us to succeed your daughter needs to listen, perform the run described, and
do so with appropriate effort. Thank you for your cooperation...

GO BLUE!!

Track Distance news...3.12.07

2007-03-18T17:01:00.000-07:00

Kudos to Ximena Cruz for breaking the sophomore 3200 meter track and field record last Saturday at the Millikan Distance Carnival, running 11:36.1., and winning the race in the process. The old record was 11:48.0, ran by Lindsay Grose in 2000. Ximena did not run a single varsity cross country race last season; however, her workout diligence in the off-season and consistent day to day work ethic is obviously paying dividends. Ximena ended her day anchoring the victorious Distance Medley Relay team, running the 1600 meters in 5:24.1. Other team members were Whitney Wiles(1200), Carissa Brown (400), and Lori Hoffman(800). In that same 3200 meter race, sophomore Lori Hoffman ran second in 11:49.0. Lori is the freshmen 3200 meter record holder at 11:42.24, and the effort on Saturday is also an indication of a diligent work ethic. Kudos to Lori. Last Thursday at San Clemente, 16 girls ran 5:50.1 or faster in the 1600 meters, 10 broke 5:40, and two broke 5:30. Top times were recorded by Ximena Cruz, Kristin Arkin, and Shannon Lane. All credit go to the coaches...Liam, Melissa, and Micah Clemons, for their expertise, hard work, and dedication. Remember...success in cross country involves a year-round commitment and many, many girls(53 are running distance in track and field) have bought in to that philosophy. Encourage your daughters to keep up the hard work.

Dennis Kelly
GO BLUE!!!

Cross Country News...3.01.2007

2007-03-18T16:55:00.000-07:00

Parents,
Last Saturday, February 24, six girls(Kristin Arkin, Ximena Cruz, Margot Cuero, Lori Hoffman, Shannon Lane, and Megan Racine) ran times that rank in the top fifteen for our 4.5 mile tempo run, a benchmark workout performed throughout the year in both cross country and track and field. Three(Cruz, Cuero, and Racine) are new to the list, while the other three(Arkin, Hoffman, and Lane) improved an already existing top- fifteen performance.

The top 15 are:

1.Whitney Wiles (11) 29.51 (9/2/2006)
2. Kristin Arkin (11) 30.24 (2/24/2007)...Previous Best...32.18...(7/31/06)
3. Sabrina Rathor (10) 30.24 (9/2/2006)
4. Lindsay Enright (10) 30.34 (9/2/2006)
5. Lori Hoffman (10) 31.08 (2/24/2007)...Previous Best...31.15...(8/7/2006)
6. Hayley Niles (10) 31.13 (7/24/2006)
7. Claire Fleming (12) 31.21 (8/1/2005)
8. Carissa Brown (10) 31.22 (10/2/2004)
9. Shannon Lane (12) 31.28 (2/24/2007)...Previous Best...31.59...(8/29/2006)
10. Ximena Cruz (10) (2/24/2007)...First Attempt Ever...
11. Kristin Glen (12) 31.31 (10/2/2004)
12. Stephanie Armstrong (12) (8/23/2005)
13. Christine Hughes (12) (10/2/2004)
14. Margot Cuero (12) (2/24/2007)...First Attempt Ever...
15. Megan Racine (10) (2/24/2007)...Previous Best...34.24...(9/2/2006)

Tempo times have been carefully recorded since the 2004/05 school year
involving approximately 125 runners. Kudos to all on the list, and those
running the miles to improve yourselves. Keep striving. GO BLUE!!!

THHS XC 1.24.07

2007-03-18T16:50:00.000-07:00

A big thank you to the girls' cross country parents for your support of our practices Wednesday and Thursday during finals week. 52 girls are involved in pre-season track and field distance workouts...48 ran the workout (steady 40 minutes on the track) this afternoon(Wednesday), solidifying the term student/athlete...Of the four who did not...two are injured, one informed us of a DMV appointment in advance, and one left school early. Not a bad percentage...

Practice tomorrow...Thursday...and I expect the workout to end no later than

3:00...Again, thank you...

Pre-season track...1.10.07

2007-03-18T16:38:00.000-07:00

Parents,

Track and Field distance running pre-season conditioning is well underway, in its eighth week to be exact, and 52 girls are participating. Liam Clemons is overseeing all workouts, I am assisting him until the second semester begins, and at that time Melissa Clemons will become the assistant coach. A two week workout plan, devised by Coach Clemons, was distributed to all of the girls before the break, a significant number of the girls reported performing most, if not all of the workouts, and this was evidenced yesterday(Tuesday) during a team 1200 meter time trial. The results, especially for early January, were promising, and the next eight weeks will be geared solely to prepare your daughter for the upcoming season which begins Thursday, March 8, at San Clemente. Another ten girls are playing soccer and also plan on running distance events for the track and field team. Their goal is to run three workouts per week at their convenience, a steady state run of 50-60 minutes, so as to be better prepared for the rigors of training for the 800-1600-3200 meter events. All athletes will be encouraged to run a workout on Saturdays, on her own, until the regular season begins on Monday, February 12. Please...please encourage your daughter to do so...

I look forward to the upcoming track and field season...GO BLUE!!!

PS Inclement weather is not a reason to not bring your gear for a workout.
We practice rain or shine...