SOUTHERN SECTION TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS : BOYS’ PREVIEW

* Saturday’s schedule: at Cerritos College. Field events, 11 a.m.; running events, 1 p.m.

* Outlook: Orange County’s chances for a team champion look slim, although Foothill could challenge Upland in the Division II. With a couple of noteworthy exceptions, the county’s top athletes are all in the Division II. Distance runner Jaime Martinez showed why he might win the 1,600 and 3,200 meters, winning his preliminary heats in both events last week. He has county-leading times of 4:17.15 and 9:08.3. Foothill’s Tad Heath and Ethan Taub and the Knights’ 1,600-meter relay team all could come up winners Saturday. Heath has run 1:53.54 in the 800 meters, Taub has a best of 48.50 for 400 and they make up half the relay team, which has run 3:17.83. The Knights ran 3:19.95 last week, the fastest qualifying time. Keep an eye on Cypress’ 1,600-meter relay team, however. The Centurions (3:25.15) have been running in the shadows for two seasons, but have a talented group led by Jimmy Hutsell and Scott Elkin. County individual champions in other divisions figure to be few and far between. One big favorite is Chad Peare of Trabuco Hills, the state’s top discus thrower, in the Division III. He won the prelims by more than 20 feet, although his winning throw was some 20 feet short of his personal-best of 191-11. He also is the division’s top shotputter and has a county-leading mark of 60-11 this season. Tony Parrish of Marina, the defending State champion in the triple jump, had the second-best mark in the Division I prelims, losing to Ty Gaines of Palmdale, 49-7 1/2 to 48-11 1/4. Those are the top marks in the state this season.