High Schools / Laura Palmer : Ishio, Hornbaucher Are Cross-Country Favorites

Michelle Ishio, a senior at Mira Mesa High School, and Mira Hornbaucher, a sophomore at Rancho Buena Vista, could run away with first-place finishes in their respective races Saturday in the Mt. Carmel-Movin’ Shoes cross-country invitational at Morley Field.

The eighth invitational is expected to attract 58 schools, up from last year’s 45, and will feature 16 races by grade levels in Divisions I and II. The first 2 1/4 miles will be the same course as the Kinney National cross-country championships held in December. The boys’ course is three miles and the girls’ 2.6 miles.

“All the competition will be a little tougher,” Mt. Carmel Coach Dennis McClanahan said.

Ishio, who won the America’s Finest City half-marathon in her age group, and Hesperia’s Nichole Robbins, a Kinney nationals finalist, should highlight the girls’ Division I senior race. Hesperia has its entire team back after placing fifth in the state last year.

Hornbaucher, who won her race last year, will compete in the girls’ sophomore division. She replaces Kira Jorgensen, who graduated, as RBV’s premier runner.

Palos Verdes, the defending girls’ state Division I champion, will be making its first appearance at the meet.

Mt. Carmel senior Clay Biddle, who won the boys’ junior race last year, will be one of the top competitors in the senior race.

El Cajon Valley High played the first night home football game in its 34-year history Friday in front of 2,500 fans. Over the years, only three games have been played at the school and those were in the afternoon.

Last year, before the building of the new stadium, the Braves played their home games at four different locations.

Though they lost to Mission Bay, 7-0, in their opener, it was still a special night.

“It was a real neat feeling walking out of our own locker room, onto our own field under the lights,” Braves Coach Don George said. “It was completely different than going into some one else’s stadium. The team was really excited running out onto the field.”

West Hills High played its first-ever varsity football game Friday night and defeated Mountain Empire, 20-12.

“We played pretty good,” West Hills Coach Steve Sutton said. “We won and that was neat. We made some first-game mistakes, too many penalties. It’s back to the grindstone this week to see if we can correct some of those mistakes.”

Noteworthy opening-night performances were turned in by West Hills running backs Nick Hanline (165 yards) and Mike Campbell (120).

Poway High won the Don Clarkson Memorial Award for all-around excellence in boys’ athletics for the 1988-1989 school year, and San Pasqual won its fourth consecutive Jerry Anders Award for success in girls’ athletics, the San Diego Hall of Champions announced.

Four of the six coaches making their debuts as head football coaches this weekend collected victories--West Hills’ Sutton, Castle Park’s Jorge Macillas, Oceanside’s John Carroll and Orange Glen’s Rob Gilster.

Ramona High’s junior center Mike Murray (6-1, 250) had a full-filling, excuse the pun, experience in Maui last week when his team was on the island for a game against St. Anthony’s.

Murray encountered a restaurant with an item on the menu called the “Moose Omelette.” It was made with one dozen eggs, a pound of cheese and a pound of sausage. If the customer eats the omelet in an hour, he gets his name on a plaque. Murray took the challenge and polished it off in 55 minutes. He became only the fourth person in the 10 years of the restaurant to get his name on the plaque.

“He said he halfway felt uncomfortable but kept going,” Ramona Coach Mel Galli said. “The guys were rubbing his stomach, giving him encouragement. It was two days before he could eat another meal.”

TIMES’ PREP POLLS

San Diego Section

No. School, League Record 1. Rancho Buena Vista 1-0 (Palomar) 2. Lincoln (City Central) 2-0 3. Morse (City Eastern) 0-2 4. El Camino (Avocado) 1-0 5. Helix (Grossmont 3-A) 1-0 6. Point Loma (City Eastern) 0-1 7. Chula Vista (Metro) 1-0 8. Oceanside (Avocado) 1-0 9. Mira Mesa (City Eastern) 1-0 10. San Dieguito (Palomar) 1-0

Others Receiving Votes: Grossmont (1-0), Kearny (1-0), Mt. Carmel (1-0).