Preview - South Bay Cup II - 9/17/03 - Columbia park Torrance (SS)

SOUTH BAY CUP II
Wednesday 17, 2003
Columbia Park, Torrance
Hosted by Torrance High

• Participating Schools
• Beverly Hills
• San Pedro
• Bishop Montgomery
• Mary Star of the Sea
• Santa Monica
• CAMS
• Mira Costa
• Serra
• Carson
• Narbonne
• South Torrance
• Chadwick
• North Torrance
• St. Bernards
• Culver City
• Palos Verdes
• Torrance
• Gardena
• Peninsula
• West Torrance
• Redondo

Hawthorne

This year’s edition of the South Bay Cup promises to be another exciting affair. With most schools from the South Bay attending, including some State, CIF, and City Section ranked programs, the team race for the title should be a hot one.

On the boys’ side, West Torrance (Ranked 6th SS, 10th State, DII) should be the favorite. They have deadly grouping up front with Shane Caroll, John Yi, and Amir Ursani (5th , 6th , and 7th last year… 6 sec. Apart!), and very solid individuals from 4th on. City Section powerhouse, San Pedro, should also be scrapping for a team title, as they too, posses a strong pack of runners that may disturb West’s chances. Division V Chadwick (ranked 4th SS, 4th State) should also have a very strong showing. Other teams to watch are Mira Costa, very improved from last year, led by Jason Honakawa (4th in ’02), and South Torrance led by Damon Ferrara, with a very solid 2-7 behind him. Individually, look for Santa Monica’s Chris Chavez to make a statement here, after having run an impressive 16:28 at the very difficult Peninsula course! Ferrera, Honakawa, and Peninsula’s Adrian Doty will also try to steal the show.

The girls’ race features Peninsula (ranked 5th SS, 5th State), led by last year’s champion Olga Aulet-Leon. Penn will showcase another well-packed performance, which may include the likes of Brittany Morreale (2nd in ’02), Brooke Lademan, and Eiko Okamoto. West Torrance might battle here too, with Alison Kielty, Alison Stoakley, and Angela Spadafino leading the way. Mira Costa may surprise here too, following their victory at Laguna Hills, led by sisters Laura and Sara Mickleson and a talented Caslyn Cole (8th in ’02). Look out for Chadwick (3rd SS, 5th State) as they always boost a good squad. City Section San Pedro should be another team to watch, led by the Adams’ sisters, Megan and Kristen. Individuals to watch that may battle for top 10 spots include South Torrance’s Alex Salinas (winner at Milikan Invite) and supper frosh Elizabeth Jones (19:19 at Milikan!). The top spots should be battled between Peninsula, West, and Mira Costa’s top runners.

The “Cup” is given to the team with the best all-division (taking the top two individual performances per team from the 4 divisions for boys/ 3 for girls) total team time. Here all divisions are important, and time matters in all divisions. Last year West Torrance Boys won, while Peninsula took the girls’ Cup. Look for them to perhaps repeat!

SHOULD BE ANOTHER GREAT AFFAIR!!!
Israel Pose, Torrance Cross Country