Taking a Look Back!!
PreSeason 1986
Southern Section Preview

August, 1986
Southern Section Cross Country

 

Taking a Look Back!!
PreSeason 1986
Southern Section Preview

August, 1986
Southern Section Cross Country

   
Melissa Suton (Burt Davis photo) - Tracey Williams (Don Gosney picture)
and Christy Farrell (Burt Davis) all returned for the 1986 Southern Section season
as Kinney National finalists (among the top 32 in the nation!!)

Burt Davis photo
Richard Erbes, another great runner developed by Coach John
Barnes at Glendale led Southern Section 1986 returnees off his
4A 1985 Title at 15:20 at Mt. SAC and 9:05.19 in Track for 3200m!

Twenty years ago in 1986 there was no state Cross-Country Meet.  One could only speculate off of area races and the mid-season intersectional contests and the end of season Nor Cal Champonships how the diferent parts of the state would compare, with the State competition since 1987 being the best thing ever to happen to the fall harrier sport!

In 1986 it was "prime-time" for the Southern Section, with three girl returnees from the (then) Kinney National Championships, with Melissa Sutton (Newbury Park--5th), Tracey Williams (Mountain View, El Monte), and Christy Farrell also racing in the 1985 National Championship December run, and then returning for the 1986 season!  On the Boys' side, it was Richard Erbes (Glendale) who was the top returnee as a 4A Champ at 15:20 on the old, longer Mt. SAC course, and 9:05.19 for 3200m on the track his junior spring. 

Palos Verdes appeared to have the best Boys' and Girls' groups in the area prior to the season, with the State's top-ranked 1985 Girls squad returning four scorers of their top seven.  Other top Girls' groups coming into the season were Thousand Oaks, Newbury Park, and Westlake out of the Maramonte League, and Buena (Ventura), all 4A Schools.  Arroyo Grande and Saugus, coached by current San Pasqual (Escondido) Principal Steve Spraker, were the top 3A squads, with Hesperia and Walnut felt to be other strong area teams.  After the Palos Verdes' Boys, led by eventual Stanford star David Scudamore, Arroyo (El Monte), La Habra, and Buena Park were strong, with a young Walnut squad hoping to add to the Girls' award success that Fall. With the opening of Diamond Bar HS in the mid-80's, Walnut had its enrollment drop in half suddenly, but continue its success under Coach Jim Polite. 

LINK TO ENTIRE 1986 SOUTHERN SECTION PREVIEW AS PDF FILE

We will take a look at the 1986 season statewide each week this Fall and see what was happening up and down the Golden State 20 years back!!

Tomorrow - a look statewide at the 1991 season just prior to its start fifteen years ago - the state meet was in full swing and a full state preview with national rankings will be featured!