GIRLS’ TRACK AND FIELD / 1994 PREVIEW : Esperanza

Coach: Al Britt (14th year).

1992-93: Orange County champion, won 18th league title in school’s 22-year history last season by taking the Empire championship in 1992, Southern Section Division II runner-up.

Key returners: Carrie Caulkins, Jr., 1600; Inshirah Jones, Jr., 100 LH, 300 LH; Kristy Kierulff, Jr., HJ, LJ; Kelly O’Connor, Jr., LJ, TJ; Heather Perrin, So., 400; Courtney Pugmire, Jr., 800, 300 LH; Jenny Titus, Jr., 1600.

Key newcomer: Lynnette Anderson, Sr., HJ.

Outlook: The Aztecs’ track and field program is so consistent you can set your watch to it. Esperanza scored in eight of 15 events at the section finals a year ago and returns the bulk of its county championship squad. Section 1600-meter champion Caulkins led the county’s most formidable trio with distance mates Pugmire and Titus in cross-county last fall. Jones leads the way for the Empire League champions in both hurdle events, having run 15.63 and 46.4. Kierulff, the State champion in the high jump as a freshman, has a best of 5-10, and O’Connor was third in the section triple jump at 36-7 last season.