Canyon’s Hartman to Resume Rivalry With Quintana in Cross-Country Meet

Dave Hartman of Canyon High and Louie Quintana of Arroyo Grande, the top two returning cross-country runners in the state, will square off today in the Seaside Invitational at San Buenaventura State Beach in Ventura.

Last year, as juniors, Quintana finished second in the state Division I cross-country championships and Hartman placed sixth. Quintana, runner-up in the 1,600 meters (4 minutes 8.29 seconds) in the state track and field meet, also placed third in the Kinney national cross-country championships.

“I heard he’s in really awesome shape,” said Hartman, who has never beaten Quintana. “I feel that I’m in the best shape that I have been going into the season, but there’s no pressure to beat him. I’m not peaking for this race. I’m training right through it.”

Arroyo Grande Coach Greg DeNike said Quintana also will take a low-key approach to today’s season-opening race.

“He’s really running well,” DeNike said, “but we haven’t set any time goals (for today’s race). All our training is geared toward the big meets in November and December.”

Bryan Dameworth, last year’s Kinney national and state Division I champion, has graduated, but top-ranked Agoura, the 1989 Southern Section 2-A Division champion, should challenge 3-A champion Hart for the team title.

The Agoura girls, led by Deena Drossin, are also ranked first in the Southern Section Division II. They are favored in the girls’ competition.

Drossin, the state 3,200-meter champion in track last season (10:29.60), won the state Division I cross-country title in 1987 and ’89 and placed third in ’88.

Westlake’s Jeannie Rothman could provide Drossin with her toughest challenge. Rothman, a senior, placed third in last year’s state Division I meet and also qualified for the Kinney nationals.

Buena, ranked first in the Southern Section Division I poll, also could contend for the team title.

Twenty-seven schools are scheduled to participate in the meet, which starts at 8:30 a.m. with the frosh-soph girls’ race.