Orange Coast’s Women Follow Riel to Victory

Christine Riel used some smart tactics to win the individual title, and she and her Orange Coast teammates showed some of their overall strength to take the women’s team title at the Irvine cross-country invitational Saturday.

Riel kept a steady pace early and was in the front pack as it moved through the hilly section of the 3.2-mile course in Irvine Regional Park.

Once the runners hit the flatter section in the second part of the race, Riel, a sophomore, started her charge that ended with her winning in 19 minutes 25 seconds in the crisp morning wind. Riel finished 15 seconds ahead of second-place Mary Akor of El Camino.

“She’s a really smart runner,” Pirate Coach John Goldman said of Riel. “She’s one of the smartest runners in the state. She just knows how to race.”

Orange Coast finished with 48 points and second-place San Diego Mesa had 57. Saddleback (136) was third.

Orange Coast’s team victory was impressive for two reasons: First, it came against the best field the Pirates will face until the Southern California regionals, which are held in early November on the same course. Secondly, the Pirates were without their top runner Donna Harris. Harris, the defending conference champion, didn’t race because of a sore ankle.

Araceli Martinez of Orange Coast was third in 19:57 and Lisa DeFazio of Saddleback was fourth in 20:11. Orange Coast’s other scoring finishers were Mara Caples (sixth), Chiharu Kumagai (12th) and Penni Proffitt (26th).