FALL ATHLETES OF THE YEAR : Lack of Competition Didn’t Halt Niednagel

Daniel Niednagel of Dana Hills High School didn’t face much competition from Orange County runners this season. Sure, he was pushed in some races, but he was also first at the finish line.

Niednagel, a senior who was undefeated by county runners, dominated the season, winning the Laguna Hills, Dana Hills, and Orange County invitationals. It was not that way in 1989, when Niednagel had strong competition from San Clemente’s Mike Farrell.

Niednagel won three of four meetings with Farrell, losing by six seconds at the Orange County Invitational. After Farrell’s graduation, Niednagel wasn’t challenged in that race this fall.

“I wanted to win, because last year I lost Orange County to Farrell. That was one I wanted to get, and that was really fun to win,” said Niednagel, The Times Orange County boys’ cross-country athlete of the year.

Niednagel finished in 15 minutes 19 seconds 17 seconds ahead of Saddleback’s Eddie Salinas, who made up several yards with a furious sprint at the end. La Habra’s Mark Gonzales, who had been expected to challenge, finished ninth in 15:48.

At the Mt. San Antonio College Invitational Oct. 20, Niednagel was the top county runner, placing fourth in 15:29 in the sweepstakes race behind Arroyo Grande’s Louie Quintana, the top runner in the state, David Hartman of Canyon Country Canyon and Nevada’s Bob Ryser.

Niednagel won the South Coast League championship Oct. 26 by 200 yards, finishing in 15:17. He then qualified for the Southern Section finals, placing second in the Division I preliminaries behind Hartman. At the finals Nov. 17, Niednagel reached his season goal of qualifying for the state meet by finishing third behind Quintana and Hartman. A state meet berth had eluded Niednagel in 1989 when he finished one place short.

At the state meet Nov. 24 at Fresno’s Woodward Park, Niednagel capped his season with a third-place finish in Division I. Quintana won the race in 14:47, in front of Hartman (15:04) and Niednagel (15:37). Niednagel had the eighth-best time of the day.

At the one-mile mark of the three-mile race, Niednagel was tied for second.

“I felt good, and because the adrenaline is pumping so much in these big races, I didn’t really start feeling my effort until after the first mile,” he said.

Niednagel said he was pleased with his performance.

“There’s personal satisfaction when you meet a goal at the end of the year,” Niednagel said. “That’s what keeps you running, is setting goals and reaching them.”

Niednagel, who has a 3.7 grade-point average, wants to continue running in college. Among the schools he’s applying to are Stanford, UCLA, UC Irvine, Brown University and Biola. He said he would like to attend Stanford if accepted.

“I’ve always heard good things about the school,” he said. “Ever since I was a kid, it is one school I’ve dreamed about going to.”

TIMES ALL-COUNTY BOYS’ CROSS-COUNTRY FIRST TEAM

Runner School Yr. Mark Gonzales La Habra Sr. Mike Love Katella So. Rick Matson El Toro Sr. Daniel Niednagel Dana Hills Sr. Blake Rothschild El Toro Sr. Eddie Salinas Saddleback Sr. Danny Simon Villa Park Sr.

Runner Comment Mark Gonzales 11th in state Division II; Freeway champ. Mike Love Seventh in state Division II. Rick Matson Second in South Coast meet. Daniel Niednagel Third in state Division I, unbeaten in county. Blake Rothschild Led team to seventh in state Division I meet. Eddie Salinas Led team to third in state Division I. Danny Simon Third in seeded race at county championships.

SECOND TEAM

Runner School Yr. Juan Arvizu Santa Ana Valley Jr. Mike Bernstein Garden Grove Sr. David Brosbeck Laguna Beach Sr. Chris Lynch Laguna Hills Jr. James Mahon La Habra Jr. Mike Moreno Katella Fr. Johny Ochoa Saddleback So.

Runner Comment Juan Arvizu Led Saints to third in Southern Section I-AA final. Mike Bernstein Fifth in section Division II finals. David Brosbeck The county’s top small-schools runner. Chris Lynch Top runner at several invitationals. James Mahon Helped team to sixth in state Division II. Mike Moreno Fourth in the section II-A final. Johny Ochoa No. 2 runner on state Division I third-place team.