For Drossin, Fine Finish Partly Matter of Course

For Deena Drossin, high school cross-country ventures have become a question of mind over matter.

In three years at Agoura High, Drossin has conquered almost every course on which a major championship has been run.

Almost. Balboa Park in San Diego, the venue of the Kinney national championships, still looms.

“I’ve never done well at nationals,” Drossin said. “Mostly it’s because I don’t like the course, so it’s my attitude going into the meet.”

But after her performance in the Mt. San Antonio College invitational on Saturday, Drossin may be on her way to an attitude adjustment.

In the girls’ team sweepstakes race, Drossin equaled the seven-year-old course record of 17 minutes 16 seconds. The effort over the rugged, three-mile course was especially noteworthy because Drossin has been dueling with allergies lately. She also had to push herself--Veronica Barajas of Channel Islands, her closest competitor, finished second in 18:02.

“I was feeling really bad before the race but I felt better when I got running,” Drossin said. “I felt really relaxed and comfortable. If anything, it hurt mentally.”

The mental part of competition apparently is what has plagued Drossin most in the national meet. Agoura Coach Bill Duley says Drossin is much more successful when she is considered a potential winner.

“I think when everyone talks about other people being favorites and she’s not mentioned, it sort of affects her,” Duley said of Drossin in connection with the Kinney nationals. “In the past she’s just been thought of as just one of the other runners.”

Drossin, a two-time state Division I champion, has been a major force in cross-country in California since her freshman year. But she has never been considered a serious contender for the national title. She finished 11th, 17th and 13th in the national meet the past three years.

“Out of the state she’s not real recognized,” Duley said.

That is something that Drossin, 17, plans to rectify. Besides a third state title, Drossin is gunning for a top-five finish in the national meet on Dec. 8.