Marquand Gets Better With Age

University sophomore Allyson Marquand can do without the media hype.

She just gets the job done.

Entering her freshman year, there was talk of her talent, but little preseason fanfare.

No matter.

Marquand responded with one of the finest prep cross-country seasons in Orange County history, winning the county meet and earning all-state honors.

This fall, with expectations as high as the Turtle Rock hills where she trains, Marquand came through again. She is The Times Orange County girls’ runner of the year for the second consecutive season.

A convincing two-minute victory at the season-opening Laguna Hills Invitational preceded victories at the Woodbridge, Dana Hills and Central Park invitationals.

In the ensuing weeks, she won her second Pacific Coast League title and led the Trojans to the team title.

Shortly thereafter, Marquand earned her second trip to the state meet by virtue of a second-place finish in the Southern Section Division III finals.

But she made this trip to Fresno as an individual, because the Trojan team failed to advance as it had a year ago. For most it would be a celebratory occasion, but Marquand, who puts off post-race interviews until each of her teammates enters the finish chute, felt down.

“I’m bummed,” she said after the race. “I wanted to go there with the team.”

At the state meet in Fresno’s Woodward Park, Marquand finished second to Palmdale Highland senior Andrea Niepp--just as she had the weekend before at the section finals--running the 3.1-mile course in 17 minutes 53 seconds and earning all-state honors again.

So, as the holidays approach, Marquand can sit back and enjoy her trophy case, which is filling up quickly these days.

But she can’t relax for long.

Soccer season is already in full swing, and the Trojans would have a hard time without their all-league midfielder.

No rest for the multitalented.