Although the Saugus girls' cross country team has won a record six consecutive state championships and La Costa Canyon is still seeking its first title, Centurions coach Rene Paragas didn't hesitate to establish the Mavericks as the team to beat in the Div. II final Saturday at Woodward Park in Fresno.
"They're going in as the favorite," Paragas said. "It's going to be a daunting task and we've got to be able to find it one more time. But we're going to do everything we can to be prepared."
La Costa Canyon, the Div. I runner-up in 2010 and second to Saugus in last year's Div. II final, had Emma Abrahamson, Kelly Lawson and Ellie Abrahamson sweep the top three spots Saturday at the San Diego Section Div. II final.
Saugus returns Abigail Frankian, Heidi Hoslet and Katie Huntington from last year's state championship lineup, which defeated La Costa Canyon 67-88. Frankian was 21st, with Huntington placing 26th and Hoslet 27th.
Following her runner-up finish Saturday at Mount San Antonio College, Samantha Ortega will try to give the Centurions an all-state honoree -- awarded to top-10 finishers -- for the eighth straight year, a streak that began with Shannon Murakami winning the Div. I title in 2005.
Katie Dunn, Kaylin Mahoney, Karis Frankian, Brianna Jauregui, Amber Murakami, Stephanie Bulder and Jenay Jauregui have earned all-state honors for Saugus in the past seven seasons.
The Centurions are looking to become only the sixth program in state history to capture boys' and girls' state championships in the same year, following Palos Verdes, which pulled off the sweep in Div. III last year. Saugus' boys took second at the section final and are seeking their first state crown.
Oak Park is the only area school to accomplish the feat, sweeping Div. IV state championships in 2002.
Westlake boys motivated by favorite status
By winning its first Southern Section Div. II boys' cross country title, Westlake has now secured the role of favorite entering the state championship Saturday.
Rich Gonzalez, editor of PrepCalTrack.com, has the Warriors with a projected 33-point advantage over Saugus in a rematch of the section final.
"Westlake has clear depth issues if any scorer is off; conversely, Saugus has the least weaknesses of any contending team," Gonzalez said.
Westlake is making its first state appearance since 2008, when the Warriors placed sixth in Div. II. Westlake's best boys' finish at the state final is fifth in Div. II in 2004.
"I don't think we'll worry about the other teams as much as we'll focus on ourselves and our preparation," said Westlake junior Mikey Giguere, who placed seventh Saturday.
"That approach has done well for us this season, so I don't think we'll change it now."
Three-peat would place Baxter in elite company
Simi Valley's Sarah Baxter is seeking a third consecutive state title Saturday -- her second in Div. I -- which would join Agoura's Deena Kastor and Bryan Dameworth as the only local runners to achieve the feat.
Baxter would become the sixth female and ninth overall to win three career state titles.
