PREP ROUNDUP : Down One Runner, Newport Harbor Still Wins

Running without its No. 3 runner, Dylan Guggenmos, Newport Harbor defeated Saddleback, 27-29, in a Sea View League boys’ cross-country dual meet Thursday at Mason Park in Irvine.

Newport Harbor, the No. 3 team in Orange County, placed four runners among the top seven to upset second-ranked Saddleback.

The Sailors’ Jared Overton captured the three-mile race in 15 minutes 14 seconds and teammates Sky Peterka (15:16) and Shahram Dezahd (15:31) finished third and fifth, respectively for Newport Harbor (5-0 in league) as 19 seconds separated the top seven runners. Newport Harbor’s Trent Bryson, who was the Sailors’ fourth man, beat Saddleback’s No. 4 to clinch the victory. Johnny Ochoa was second (15:15) for Saddleback.

Newport Harbor Coach Bim Barry said he expected the meet to be close, especially with Guggenmos, who was attending a wedding in New York, unavailable.

“The meet was going to be close with or without Guggenmos,” Barry said. “Saddleback through my coaching career (three seasons) has not lost a dual meet so to beat them in a dual meet was nice.”

In the Century League:

Villa Park 18, Foothill 41--Greg De Clark finished the 3.1-mile course at Irvine Park in 16:18 to lead Villa Park (4-0), the 10th-ranked team in Orange County.

In the Freeway League:

Buena Park 19, Troy 42--Jarrod Garritson led Buena Park (2-0) against Troy (0-2). Garritson, a freshman, ran 16:47 over three miles.

In the Empire League:

Katella 15, Los Alamitos 47--Mike Love won the race in 15:57 for visiting Katella (3-0).

In the South Coast League:

Dana Hills 19, El Toro 37--El Toro’s Rob Nelson and Dana Hills’ David Niednagel tied for first place in 16:09, but Dana Hills (3-0) took the next four places.

In Century League girls’ cross-country:

Canyon 18, Santa Ana Valley 45--Kim Nelson completed the three-mile course at Centennial Park in 18:22 for Canyon (3-0).

In the Pacific Coast League:

Laguna Hills 17, Estancia 45--Heidi Sickler helped lead Laguna Hills, capturing first place in 19:28.

In the Sunset League:

Ocean View 20, Fountain Valley 38--Sophomore Taryn Lawson finished first at 18:31 for Ocean View (4-0).

In Century League girls’ tennis:

El Modena 12, Canyon 6--Brandi Freudenberg swept at No. 1 singles, 6-1, 6-0, 6-2 for visiting El Modena (7-3, 4-0).

In the Sea View League:

Santa Margarita 14, Woodbridge 4--Sandy Needham swept, 6-0, 6-0, 6-0, at No. 1 singles for Santa Margarita (11-2, 6-1) at the Northlake Tennis Club in Irvine.

In the South Coast League:

Capistrano Valley 14, San Clemente 4--Jennie Canfield and Tia West swept, 6-2, 6-1, 6-0, for Capistrano Valley (4-5, 2-0).