All-Area Girls’ Cross-Country Team
Erika Johnson, Junior, Crescenta Valley
The junior rounded into the Falcons’ best runner down the stretch, as she was her team’s highest finisher at the CIF Southern Section Division I finals in taking 29th (17:09) at the meet at Mt. San Antonio College. Two weeks earlier, Johnson was the Falcons’ highest finished at the Pacific League finals, taking third in 18:42. Johnson also finished fifth at the Mt. SAC Division I Green Race.
Megan Melnyk, Sophomore, Crescenta Valley
Turned in a few top five efforts, including finishing both fourth at the Pacific League finals (18:48) and at the Mt. San Antonio College Division I green race (18:25) and fifth at the Staub-Barnes Division I race. Melnyk was also second in the area in taking 16th (19:05) at Clovis in the Large Schools competition and closed out her season by taking 52nd (17:36) at the CIF Southern Section Division I Finals.
Anna Frederich, Junior, La Cañada
Banner season for the Spartans standout included a fourth-place finish at the Rio Hondo League finals (18:41) at Lacy Park and a fifth-place effort (18:33) in the CIF Southern Section Division III finals at Mt. San Antonio College Division III sweepstakes race. Frederich was also 10th (17:17) at the CIF Southern Section Division III finals and 11th (19:27.65) in the Staub-Barnes Division I race.
Alissa Barraza, Junior, San Marino
Posted fastest area time at both the CIF State Finals and CIF Southern Section preliminaries and trailed only Erika Johnson for second-fastest area mark at the divisional finals. Was third (18:33) at the Rio Hondo League finals, fourth (18:22) at the state Division IV meet, fourth (19:32) at the Mt. San Antonio College Division IV green race, fifth (17:17) at the Southern Section Division IV finals and fifth (19:30.5) at the Dana Hills junior/senior run.
Evan Gancedo, Junior, Pasadena Poly
Junior won her second straight Prep League championship (18:33) at Pierce College, which was followed by a fifth-place effort (17:37) at CIF Southern Section Division V championships and a 27th-place finish (19:55) at the CIF State Division V finals. Gancedo earlier finished 12th (19:25) in the Division V Mt. San Antonio College Division V Sweepstakes race.
COACH OF THE YEAR
Jenn Strople, La Cañada
In her second season at the helm, she guided Spartans to the state meet for the first time this century after her squad took seventh at the CIF Southern Section Division III finals and also won a Rio Hondo League title.