Martha Pinto

School: Katella High School

Sport: Cross-Country

Class: Senior

It’s rather odd: Katella’s Martha Pinto has won three Orange County championships but had never defeated Edison’s Shelley Taylor. She never even expected to.

But at the Central Park Cross-Country Invitational Saturday, Pinto used the hills to pass Taylor twice and finally beat her in the Division II race. Pinto had a slight lead after the first mile of the three-mile course, but Taylor went ahead of Pinto twice in the second mile. Pinto was able to sprint past Taylor on the last set of hills of the race for the victory.

Pinto, a 4-foot-11, 102-pound senior, won the race in a time of 17 minutes 28 seconds. Taylor finished second in 17:54.

“She (Taylor) was the favorite, but I didn’t let her go,” Pinto said. “I knew if I let her pass me, she would have too much speed for me.”

The two last competed against one another last year at the state meet, where Taylor--the Times’ 1989 girls’ cross-country runner of the year--finished seventh and Pinto 14th.

Other top performers:

Lorraine Lau, who swept all her sets at love to lead Fullerton to tennis victories over Sonora and La Habra.

Christine Prigmore, who had 20 kills to lead Calvary Chapel to a 15-6, 15-11, 8-15, 15-6 volleyball victory over Leffingwell Christian Wednesday.

Tracy Titus, who had 19 kills to lead Loara to a 15-5, 16-14, 8-15, 16-14 victory Tuesday over El Dorado.

Tara Kroesch, who had 20 kills to lead Newport Harbor to a 10-15, 15-9, 15-12, 15-11 victory Tuesday over Woodbridge.

Michele Berkowitz, who swept her sets at love to lead Fountain Valley to a 16-2 victory Thursday over Westminster.

Rachel Buenviaje, who swept her sets at love to lead Brea-Olinda to an 11-7 victory Tuesday over Western.