Boys’ Cross Country Previews

Corona del Mar Sea Kings

League: Pacific Coast

Coach: Bill Sumner (30th year)

Athletes to watch: Spencer Keith (Sr.); Ethan Hold (Sr.); Matt Paragas (So.); Alex Wild (Sr.); Leif Hellgren (Fr.).

You should know: The Sea Kings went undefeated in dual meets, won their 22nd league title in Sumner’s tenure and finished eighth at the CIF Southern Section Division 3 finals in 2012, one spot shy of qualifying for the CIF state meet ... But five of the top seven from 2012 are now in the collegiate ranks ... Sumner expects Keith, who was 33rd at the section finals, to reach the state meet and calls the senior “one of the best I’ve had in a while.” ... Sumner said missing the state meet put a fire in his belly to get every last ounce out of his runners to foster a return to Fresno.

— Barry Faulkner

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Newport Harbor Sailors

League: Sunset

Coach: Nowell Kay (12th year)

Athletes to watch: Marcell DeBarros (Sr.); Connor DiPaolo (Jr.); Christian Garcia (Jr.); Brian Shaw (So.); Jack McKasson (So.).

You should know: DeBarros was the Sailors’ clear front-runner in 2012 and he anchors the returners as the team’s captain ... Kay has been impressed with the off-season progress of Shaw and McKasson ... Kay said injuries affected last season’s postseason run as DeBarros was one of the casualties ... Kay said his team may battle for third in league, behind favorites Edison and Fountain Valley ... Other contributors figure to include Nash Mader (So.); Trey Crossley (Jr.); and Rory Fleming (Sr.). DiPaolo, Garcia and Shaw all garnered varsity experience last season.

— Barry Faulkner

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Costa Mesa Mustangs

League: Orange Coast

Coach: Steve Moreno (Fourth year)

Athletes to watch: Brett Bermudez (Sr.); Anuare Magana (Jr.); Andres Avelar (Jr.); John Hernandez (Jr.).

You should know: Bermudez finished 17th and was just three seconds off advancing to the state meet to lead the Mustangs in their first CIF Southern Section Division 4 finals appearance in about 10 years in 2012, Moreno said ... Magana was 65th at CIF finals, where departed Dakota Alford (22nd) and Jorge Jeronimo (53rd) also stood out ... Moreno said Avelar and Hernandez are new to cross country, but have been solid in track and field for the Mustangs ... Mesa was third in league last season ... The annual Big Bear camp in August has helped team bonding, Moreno said.

— Barry Faulkner

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Estancia Eagles

League: Orange Coast

Coach: Charlie Appell (24th year)

Athletes to watch: Justin Pearson (Sr.); Alberto Espindola (Jr.); Brandon Soto (Fr.); Augie Gener (So.); Eduardo Robles (Fr.).

You should know: Coach Charlie Appell graduated five seniors from the team that finished last in the Orange Coast League in 2012 and also had three would-be returners leave the program ... Pearson is a transfer from Castle Rock, Colo. and Appell declined to be specific about his potential ... Espindola was the team’s sixth man last season ... Appell is being helped by assistants Michael Appell, his son, and Natalie Macias.

— Barry Faulkner

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Sage Hill Lightning

League: Academy

Coach: Nate Miller (14th year)

Athletes to watch: Patrick Hines (Jr.); Edward Goul (Jr.); Alexis Machaca (Jr.); Cameron Knollenberg (So.); Brian Slaughter (Jr.).

You should know: The Lightning were eighth at CIF Southern Section Division 5 finals last year, missing advancing to state by one place ... Sage is ranked No. 7 in the Division 5 preseason poll this fall, though Miller believes that may be a bit generous with three of the team’s top five placers from CIF finals in 2012 off at college ... Knollenberg was 35th at CIF finals and Machaca was 73rd to score that day, though Miller considers Hines a clear team front-runner this season ... Slaughter, a baseball player, is new to the sport ... Other contributors include Parthiv Worah (Jr.) and Nick Andras (So.).

— Barry Faulkner