CROSS-COUNTRY : Nelson Dominates Dana Hills Meet but Wanted More

Kim Nelson’s afternoon at the Dana Hills Invitational didn’t quite turn out as she had planned.

The Canyon senior ran away with the Division II junior/senior race in 17 minutes 33 seconds, the fastest girls’ time of the day, and helped the Comanches finish second in the team competition. Some would wonder what else could go right.

“I wanted to run faster than I did last year on this course,” said Nelson, who matched her best on the Dana Hills campus course. “This was the first time I have run this fast by myself though,” she said.

Nelson was the only girl under 18 minutes on the foggy course; Corona Del Mar junior Dresden Howell (18:01) and Laguna Hills senior Heather McGlone (18:02) came close.

Howell took control of the Division I junior/senior race after the midway point, but the Sea Kings suffered their first loss of the season, finishing behind San Diego Mt. Carmel.

McGlone chased Nelson during the Division II race posting her career-best time.

Capistrano Valley standout Adalberto Sanchez posted the county’s fastest three-mile clocking of 15:05, finishing second in the Division I junior race, while the Santa Ana boys easily won a major invitational for the second consecutive week.

The Saints, who won the large school senior race at last week’s Woodbridge Invitational, placed three athletes among the top six in the Division I senior boys’ competition to edge Bell Gardens. Juan Zaragoza (15:10), Federico Duran (15:18) and Federico Morales (15:32) paced the Saints, finishing second, third and sixth.

The powerful Irvine girls’ team showed it also has a bright future, placing 1-2 in the Division I sophomore race with Jessica Corbin (18:13) and Erin Livermore (18:38). The Vaqueros, who last week upset the nation’s third-ranked team, Palos Verdes Peninsula, at Woodbridge, had five runners under 19:00, the only team to do so.

The Edison girls’ team again showed its depth, winning the Division II junior/senior competition. The defending Sunset League and Southern Section Division II champions edged Canyon, 69-73.