1994 PREP PREVIEW / Girls’ Cross-Country : Six Teams to Watch : Dana Hills

Coach: Ron Buchheim (11th year).

1993: South Coast League champions; third at the Southern Section Division I-AA finals; fifth at the Orange County Championships.

Key returners: Kim Beck, Sr.; Bree Denison, Jr.; Laura Kroninger, So.; Sidney Leonard, So.; Jordi Manley, Sr.; Kristin More, Sr.

Key newcomers: Casey Bray, So; Heidi Peterson, Jr.; Kelly Reed, Jr.; Kelly Spears, So.

Outlook: With the top six runners returning from last season’s team, the Dolphins are ready to move up to the state’s elite level. Leonard finished among the top 20 at the Orange County Championships last year, while Beck placed 30th. In the South Coast League finals, Kroninger, Denison and More finished 5-6-7 to help secure the championship. More also complimented that finish with an 11th place in the section race. Manley complements one of the county’s deepest teams, and Buchheim has a wealth of talent from which to choose to fill the one remaining spot. “I’ve had a real run of talent over the last few years, so that’s helping matters a lot,” said Buchheim, who is in his third year at the Dana Hills helm after a three-year hiatus.