Low-Key Trotter Is One to Beat

Quality has taken precedence over quantity for Amber Trotter of Ukiah High during her senior cross-country season.

Trotter has run in only four races entering the girls’ individual sweepstakes race of the Mt. San Antonio College Invitational on Saturday, but those efforts have resulted in four meet records, two course records and an average margin of victory of more than a minute.

They’ve also earned her recognition as a national title contender.

“The biggest thing with Amber is keeping her healthy,” Coach Jerry Drew said. “We’ve always felt that if she stays healthy, we’ve got a race horse on our hands.”

Trotter placed seventh in the national championships last year, but ran in only two low-key races during track season because of “health issues,” Drew said.

“She was just worn out after the national meet,” Drew said. “She was tired, lethargic and had no energy. She needed an extended break from racing.”

Trotter, who could challenge the Mt. SAC girls’ course record of 16 minutes 38 seconds set by Anita Siraki of Glendale Hoover last year, will be the most highly regarded runner in the two-day meet, which starts today with 31 races at the Division III, IV and V levels and ends Saturday with 57 races at the Division I and II levels.

Today’s races include the girls’ Division III sweepstakes in which Julie Allen of Newport Beach Corona del Mar and Jenna Timinsky of Encinitas San Dieguito Academy will renew their rivalry and the boys’ Division IV sweepstakes in which highly regarded Billy Nelson of Taft and a McFarland team ranked fourth in Harrier magazine’s national poll will run.

Six of the top 10-ranked Division I teams in the state will meet in the boys’ team sweepstakes on Saturday. The most eagerly anticipated event could be the boys’ individual sweepstakes, which includes defending state Division II champion Yong-Sung Leal of San Lorenzo Arroyo, Division II runner-up Carl Dambkowski of Livermore Granada and defending state Division V champion Tim Nelson of Redding Liberty Christian.

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At a Glance

What: Mt. San Antonio College Invitational

Where: Mt. San Antonio College, Walnut

When: Today, 1:30 p.m.; Saturday, 7:15 a.m.

Fast facts: More than 16,000 runners from approximately 500 high schools are expected to run in the largest high school cross-country meet in the nation.