PREP PREVIEW ’92 / GIRLS’ CROSS-COUNTRY : SIX TEAMS TO WATCH : CANYON

Coach: Mike Sayward (17th year).

1991: Sixth in Southern Section Division II, sixth at Orange County championships, Century League runner-up.

Key returners: Laura Flatauer, Jr., eighth at county championships; Megan Gillespie, Jr., the Comanches’ No. 3 runner for the past two seasons; Carrie Hoagland, Jr., also a standout high jumper; Ann Liming, Jr., should make the Comanches’ top five on all-junior squad; Nicole Luque, So., challenging for a spot among the top five; Kim Nelson, Jr., third at section finals.

Key newcomers: Allison Bunton, Fr.; Grace Lee, Fr.; Christa Marmalejo, Fr.; Becki Rizzuto, Fr.

Outlook: Like the other top teams, Canyon has superb depth. “In cross-country it’s not so much who wins the race but how quickly you can bring home that fifth runner,” Sayward said. All the best teams have a front-runner and a tremendous pack behind her. Nelson, coming off a PR of 11:14.98 for 3,200, can be considered one of the favorites in every race she enters this fall.