Top Runners to Compete at Mt. SAC

Undefeated Bryan Dameworth and Deena Drossin of Agoura High will receive their stiffest challenges of the season at today’s Mt. San Antonio College Invitational, the nation’s largest high school cross-country meet.

More than 7,300 runners from 320 schools will compete in the two-day meet at Walnut, which began Friday afternoon. Today’s meet begins at 7:45 a.m.

Dameworth, who placed a disappointing 13th in last year’s individual race, is one of the favorites. He will be challenged by many of the state’s best runners, including undefeated Ian Alsen of Granada Hills, who placed fifth at Mt. SAC in 1986.

Last week, Dameworth won the Ventura County championships and Alsen won the Los Angeles County championships.

Although Drossin, a freshman, won her eighth consecutive race at the Ventura County championships, she will be hard-pressed to defeat Kira Jorgensen of Rancho Buena Vista in the girls individual race. Jorgensen, the 1987 state champion in the 1,600-meter race, placed fourth in last year’s Kinney national cross-country championships in San Diego.

Other leading entrants are Tracey Williams of Mountain View, the Southern Section 2-A champion in 1984 and ‘85, Brigid Freyne of Riverside Poly, runner-up in last season’s 4-A championships, and Tanya Thayer of Serrano. Heather Scobie of Saugus, runner-up in the past two 3-A championships, also is entered.

The boys team competition could be a preview of this year’s state championships. The top seven ranked teams in the 4-A, the top three ranked teams in the 3-A and the top-ranked 2-A team will compete.

Arroyo High of El Monte, ranked No. 1 in the state, is favored. Camarillo, ranked fourth in the 4-A, is the Valley area’s leading entry.