CLOSE-UPS

BOYS’ CROSS-COUNTRY

DIEGO MERCADO

Jr., West Covina

Then: Began high school with no cross-country running experience but quickly helped establish West Covina as one of the top programs in the San Gabriel Valley. Mercado, along with his twin brother, Danny, and fellow junior Jonathan Yerena, helped lead the Bulldogs to their first San Antonio League title -- and their first of two in a row -- as freshmen. Diego finished second in league as a freshman and first the last two seasons. He was 13th at the Southern Section Division I final last season, one spot ahead of his brother.

Now: Had the fastest time of the day Saturday during the Division I preliminaries at Mt. San Antonio College, covering the 2.85-mile course in a personal-best 14 minutes 59 seconds. Mercado, who set a personal best of 15:10 on the course a week earlier during league finals, had the fastest time by 13 seconds. He covered the first and last miles in identical times of 4:40.

Quote: “The idea was to take it easy,” Mercado said of the preliminaries. “I was very surprised that I ran that fast.”

-- Dan Arritt

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GIRLS’ CROSS-COUNTRY

KAUREN TARVER

Fr., Phelan Serrano

Then: Came to Serrano with the reputation for being an athlete after participating in several sports in middle school. Started distance running in seventh grade and last year at the Mt. SAC Invitational won her two-mile middle school race in 8:06, which was 42 seconds faster than the next finisher. On a slightly longer course at Mt. SAC for the Footlocker West Regionals in December, she finished third in her age group.

Now: Played in a Southern Section Division II second-round home tennis match Saturday morning against Palos Verdes Chadwick, then rushed to Mt. SAC, where she posted the second-fastest time of the day at the division preliminaries. She covered the hilly 2.85-mile course in 17:41, which was the fastest time in Division II. It was a strong rebound for Tarver, who was ill during the Mojave River League finals a week earlier and finished fourth.

Quote: “Kauren tears it up in the hills,” Coach Ken Quinn said. “I’m eager to see her get challenged.”

-- Dan Arritt

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FOOTBALL

JEREMY CAMACHO

Jr., Eagle Rock

Then: Became the starter at quarterback his sophomore season and led the Eagles to a 4-6 record and a 3-2 mark in the Northern League, good for fourth place. He was a first-team all-league selection. A three-sport athlete, Camacho also plays shortstop and is the Eagles’ point guard.

Now: Led Eagle Rock to an 8-2 record and its first league title in 16 years. He has completed 128 of 196 passes for 2,276 yards and 24 touchdowns with six interceptions. Camacho led the Eagles to their first victory over L.A. Franklin in 13 years, but his best performance may have come in Week 8, when he threw for 325 yards and four touchdowns in a 49-48 four-overtime victory over L.A. Belmont.

Quote: “He’s matured beyond our greatest expectations,” Coach Jerry Chou said. “We lost to Rowland and our best player, [linebacker] Ryan Paul, pulled his hamstring. He became the leader and that’s when we took off.”

-- Eric Stephens