Cross-Country Championships Get Under Way

The trail to the state high school championships begins today in Walnut, where Valley-area runners will compete in the Southern Section cross-country championships at Mt. San Antonio College.

The top five teams and individuals in three divisions will qualify for the first state championships Nov. 28 in Fresno.

The divisions in the state meet are based on student-body population: Large schools comprise more than 1,600 students, medium schools have from 801 to 1,600 and small schools number 800 or less. In the Southern Section meet, there are four divisions--4-A, 3-A, 2-A and 1-A--but they are not necessarily based on student population.

Bryan Dameworth of Agoura, Mike Esparza of Newbury Park and Mike Rattary of Canyon are the Valley-area’s leading individuals, and the Camarillo, Agoura and Canyon boys teams all have a chance to qualify for the state meet in the Large Schools Division.

Though Camarillo could qualify for state with a fourth- or fifth-place finish, the Scorpions will be hard-pressed to break into the top three in the 4-A Division--Palos Verdes, Corona del Mar and Dana Hills.

Agoura will try to upset defending champion Walnut in the 2-A Division. A Charger victory here would not necessarily assure advancement. A school qualifies based on the fastest time of its top five runners combined.

Dameworth, who placed third last year, will be seeking his first individual title. His toughest competition will come from Luis Quintana of Arroyo Grande and Scott Hempel of Walnut.

In the girls 2-A race, freshman sensation Deena Drossin of Agoura is favored to win the individual title and lead the Chargers to victory.

In the 4-A Division, Jena Haggenmiller of Thousand Oaks will try to improve upon her sixth-place finish of 1986.

The meet starts at 8 a.m. with the boys 4-A race.