All-Area Girls’ Cross-Country Team
Candela Fernandez, Sophomore, Burbank
Started her season by taking fourth (12:00.67) in the sophomores race at the 1.9-mile Fastback Shootout course. Turned in a brilliant effort in winning the Ojai Invitational large-schools’ race in a program-record time of 18:42. Placed 13th at the Mt. San Antonio College Invitational Division I race in 18:46 and finished third at the Pacific League Finals in 17:45.62 in helping lead the Bulldogs to third in league. Concluded a strong season by taking 14th at the CIF Southern Section Division I preliminaries at Mt. SAC in 18:29.
Megan Melnyk, Junior, Crescenta Valley
Won the varsity blue race at the Woodbridge Invitational in 17:43 and took fourth (18:32) in the Mt. SAC Invitational Division I race. Finished fourth at the Pacific League Finals in 17:50.28 in pacing the Falcons to second in league as a team. Just missed qualifying to the CIF Southern Section Division I Finals, as she took eighth (18:22) in the second heat of the Division I prelims.
Rebecca Mencia, Sophomore, Crescenta Valley
Earned seventh (18:28) in the blue race at the Woodbridge Invitational and was 25th (19:46) in the Mt. SAC Invitational Division I race. Finished eighth at the Pacific League Finals in 18:36.38 and followed that up by taking 25th at the CIF Southern Section Division I preliminaries second heat at Mt. San Antonio College in 19:08.
Colleen Mispagel, Junior, La Cañada
Kicked off the year by taking sixth (12:52.39) in the juniors race at the 1.9-mile Fastback Shootout race. Helped Spartans to a team victory at the Bellarmine-Jefferson Invitational by placing fifth in 19:40. Was also 15th in the Mt. San Antonio College Invitational Division III sweepstakes race in 18:50 and finished third at the Rio Hondo League finals in 18:58. Finished season placing 10th (18:50) in the second heat of the Division III preliminaries.
Haley Witzeman, Junior, Crescenta Valley
Was eighth (18:31) at the Woodbridge Invitational varsity blue race and ninth (20:04.18) at the Staub Invitational. Took 24th at the Mt. San Antonio College Invitational Division I race in 19:45 and then was 10th (18:48.84) at the Pacific League finals. Capped season by finishing 27th in the second heat of the Division I preliminaries at Mt. SAC in 19:15.
COACHES OF THE YEAR
Michael Roffina and Jillian Riehl, Flintridge Prep
The duo led the Rebels to quite a remarkable season, as Flintridge Prep won the Brentwood Invitational and placed fifth in the small-schools race at Clovis. The Rebels also took second to West Point Grey Academy of Canada, 51-56, at the Mt. San Antonio College Division V sweepstakes race. Flintridge Prep then continued its historic season by upsetting two-time defending league champion Mayfield, 26-40, in winning at Prep League championship at Los Angeles Pierce College. Two weeks later, the Rebels crushed Woodcrest Christian, 52-117, for a CIF Southern Section Division V title before concluding the season by taking third at the state Division V championships in Fresno.