64 Leading Runners to Race Today in National Prep Cross-Country Meet

Sixty-four of the best high school cross-country runners will be competing in the Kinney National championship meet today at 10 a.m. at Balboa Park in San Diego.

John Trautmann of Central Valley, N.Y. High School, the runner-up in last year’s race; Mark Mastalir of Sacramento Jesuit, who won the prestigous Mt. San Antonio Invitational in October; and Rueben Reina of San Antonio, Tex., loom as the top contenders in the boys’ race.

That 32-runner field will also include Daren Stonerock of Saugus High, who finished sixth in the Western Regional last Saturday in Fresno.

The girls’ field includes Melissa Sutton of Newbury Park, Tracey Williams of El Monte Mountain View and Amy Dabul of Temple City. Buffy Rabbitt of Newport Harbor in Newport Beach and Lisa Rizzo are the alternates.

Sutton outsprinted Rebecca Chamberlain of San Jose Leigh, state 3,200-meter champion and the second-place finisher in the nationals last year, to win at Fresno.

Chamberlain, Laurie Chapman of San Jose Gunderson, Erin Keogh of McLean, Va.; Carol Gray of New Prairie, Ind., and Suzy Favor of Stevens Point, Wis., are expected to challenge for the girls’ title.

Also today, Belmont High School will be looking for its fourth straight boys’ title in the City meet beginning at 10 a.m. at Pierce College.