Girls’ Cross-Country Preview: Fernandez, Burbank look for deep run

While the city’s four schools differ in size and division, aspirations are pretty similar for the Burbank, Burroughs, Providence and Bellarmine-Jefferson High girls’ cross-country teams.

With the season right around the corner, here is a look at the squads.

BURBANK

It was a terrific season for the Bulldogs in 2014, highlighted by an upset win over Arcadia coupled with a Crescenta Valley victory that forged a three-way tie for the Pacific League championship at Crescenta Valley Park on Nov. 6.

In that race, Burbank junior Candela Fernandez ran away with the victory in a time of 17 minutes, 57.53 seconds. That win was the beginning of a big postseason for the eventual All-Area Girls’ Runner of the Year.

Fernandez finished third at the CIF Southern Section Division I championships at Mt. San Antonio College in a time of 17:32 and eventually was fourth in state in 17:42.

Between the end of her junior cross-country season and the start of her senior year, Fernandez had a bumpy track and field campaign cut short by a fractured arm.

“I’m getting closer and closer to where I want to be,” Fernandez said. “I have some goals that I want to accomplish this season and I’m happy that I’m healthier. I want to get to where I was last year and do even better.”

As for her teammates, Burbank concluded its season at the Southern Section Division I championships as the Bulldogs took 12th. According to Burbank Coach Darin Wolf, Burbank’s advancement to the Southern Section championships marked the first time the program had accomplished that feat since 1987.

“The great thing for us is we’re returning a good group back,” Wolf said. “It’s going to be a tough league, but it should be interesting.”

Behind Fernandez, Wolf has “a solid two-three” punch in senior Caroline Adams (sixth in league in 19:24.41) and junior Kira Bochard (fifth in league in 19:20.09).

It’s expected that Burbank’s last scorers will be junior Gabby Collins and senior Adrienne Coronel, while junior Jamie Giammichele and freshman Natalie Danao are battling for the team’s final two spots.

BURROUGHS

With a few returners backs from last year’s fourth-place Pacific League team, Burroughs looks to be in position to reach the CIF postseason once again.

After a track season that saw Emily Virtue post times of 5:12 in the 1,600-meter run and 11:18 in the 3,200, the sophomore is back on the cross-country trail after placing eighth at the league finals in 19:47.62.

“She has had a very nice summer of running and looks ready to go,” Burroughs Coach John Peebles said, “so hopefully all of her hard work will pay off.

Virtue was part of a youth movement last season for Burroughs, as juniors Heidi Eligio (10th, 19:53.25) and Molly Stapelfeldt (16th, 20:26.53) finished in the top 20 in league.

This season, Peebles is expecting senior Eileen Eckles to compete for a top-three spot while senior Betsy Ramirez and freshman Teresa Perez figure to make big contributions.

Last season, Burroughs saw its year conclude at the Division I preliminaries as the squad placed 12th.

BELLARMINE-JEFFERSON

After a strong season from his top two runners in 2014, longtime Guards Coach Jim Couch is looking forward to an encore.

Last season, Bell-Jeff finished third in the Santa Fe League behind St. Anthony and St. Pius/Matthias, but produced the league champion in freshman Caitlyn Couch.

The daughter of Jim Couch, Caitlyn cruised to a league title on Nov. 4 at Santa Fe Dam in 18:02.4. Freshman teammate Valerie Zavala also performed well that day, taking third in 19:45.5.

By finishing third in league, the Guards punched their tickets to the following week’s Division V prelims, where Zavala flipped the script.

This time the ninth-grader took control as Zavala placed second in her heat of the Division V prelims in 19:29 and earned advancement to the Division V finals. Couch was not as fortunate and her season ended when she took 10th in 20:07.

“It was a big breakout effort for Valerie,” Jim Couch said of his now sophomore and Santa Fe League 3,200-meter champion (12:17). “She saved her best day for the CIF prelims. As for Caitlyn, she didn’t forget how she missed and had an overall bad day. She’s remembered that.”

Outside of the sophomore combo, Couch is expecting contributions from ninth grader Samantha Geyer, who he expects will be No. 3, along with Burroughs transfer Lauren Hutchinson. The junior appears to be the Guards’ No. 4 runner while freshman Adeleigh Ramos looks like a good candidate for No. 5.

“We’re set at our top five and we’re close to getting our top seven down, too,” Couch said. “I think it’s going to be an exciting year.”

PROVIDENCE

A one-two punch that defined a program is no more for Providence.

The Pioneers, who finished second in the Liberty League, graduated seniors Katia Dabbaghian and Rose Avakian.

Dabbaghian finished second at the league finals at Rancho Park in 20:10, while Avakian was 16th in 22:50.

Co-coach Michelle Bouchard’s top returner is sophomore Milena Mooradian, last year’s No. 3 runner. Mooradian placed 20th at the league finals in 23:17 and is the lone top-20 league placer back for the Pioneers.

Senior Jasmine Ramirez is the only other scorer returning for Providence as the runner was 32nd in league last season in 24:56.

“While we have enough girls to fill spots three through seven, it’s going to take a while before those positions are sorted out,” Bouchard said. “When you lose someone like Katia, it changes the team. She’s not easy to replace.”

Despite the key losses, Bouchard is hoping that both her boys’ and girls’ teams will advance to the CIF Southern Section preliminaries as they both did last year.