Girls’ Track and Field

* The Proven: Edison twins Bianca and Rachael Ziemann have traded second-places finishes in state the last two years in the high jump. Santa Ana Valley senior Crystal Davis didn’t quite match her 1999 season but still produced the county’s fastest time in the 100 meters for the second consecutive year. Katella senior Cortney Stafford won a Division II title in the triple jump last season, edging Woodbridge sophomore Michelle Sanford.

* The Promising: Costa Mesa sophomore Sharon Day was a virtual unknown until winning a Southern Section Division III title in the high jump in mid-May. She came back the following week and placed second at Masters, improving her personal best by three inches with a leap of 5-9. She followed that with a tie for fifth at state. Day also has the county’s top returning time in the 400 meters (58.11).

* Preseason Top 10: 1. Mission Viejo--Dana Bethel and depth make Diablos tough in any format; 2. Corona del Mar--Julie Allen’s transfer worth a two spots in this poll; 3. Woodbridge--Same strengths as Mission Viejo; 4. Esperanza--Lost key thrower to transfer, but still dangerous; 5. Santa Margarita--More balanced this season; 6. Mater Dei--Slightly better in the invitational format; 7. Newport Harbor--Strong across the board; 8. El Modena--Good in the hurdles and relays; 9. Dana Hills--Here comes the cross-country team; 10. Santa Ana Valley--Lots of speed.

* Key Dates: April 7, Orange County Championships; April 14, Arcadia Invitational; April 21, Mt. San Antonio College Invitational; May 19, Southern Section finals at Cerritos College; May 25, Masters meet at Cerritos College; June 1-2, State finals at Sacramento City College.

* League Favorites: Century--El Modena; Empire--Cypress; Freeway--Troy; Garden Grove--Pacifica; Golden West--Santa Ana; Olympic--Orange Lutheran; Orange--Brea Olinda; Pacific Coast--Corona del Mar; Sea View--Woodbridge; Serra--Santa Margarita; South Coast--Mission Viejo; Sunset--Esperanza.

* Fast Fact: The county runners who posted the top 10 times in the 1,600 meters last season are back, led by Newport Harbor’s Amber Steen, who finished third in state in the event.