FALL HIGHLIGHTS : Drossin Shows Mettle in Strong Mt. SAC Run

Although Deena Drossin of Agoura High entered Saturday’s Mt. San Antonio College cross-country invitational in Walnut with an undefeated record, some experts had reservations about her mental toughness.

Sure she had won most of her races by more than a minute. But how would she fare when the going got tough? How would she fare when challenged by runners with accomplishments equal to hers?

Remarkably well for a freshman.

Drossin made believers of even her harshest critics by placing second among an elite field in the individual race, covering the soggy three-mile course in 17 minutes and 42 seconds, 15 seconds behind winner Kira Jorgensen of Rancho Buena Vista.

Drossin’s first loss in three years was nothing to be ashamed of. She set a girls freshman course record that put her into a tie for 10th on the all-time girls list for the Mt. SAC course.

Camarillo, ranked third in the state’s large-schools division, placed fourth in the boys team race behind No. 1-ranked Arroyo (69 points), No. 2-ranked Palos Verdes (76) and Corona del Mar (106), the state’s top-ranked team in the medium-schools division. Sophomore Abe Valdez placed eighth (15:42) to lead Camarillo (124).

Ian Alsen of Granada Hills placed fourth (15:38) and Mike Rattary of Canyon placed fifth (15:39).

Bryan Dameworth of Agoura suffered his first loss of the season in the boys individual race, placing fourth in 15:40.