Girls’ Cross-Country Preview: Expectations vary, but are still high for city trio

Even though expectations vary for the three city girls’ high school cross-country programs, it’s clear that prosperity is to be anticipated for the Flintridge Prep, Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy and La Cañada squads.

Maybe no team has made a more visible statement than Flintridge Prep.

The Rebels have spent most of their summer training along the border of Pasadena and San Marino, in the backyard of archrival Pasadena Poly and in the city of perhaps their biggest challenger, Mayfield Senior School.

Flintridge Prep enters the 2015 campaign on the heels of a phenomenal 2014 season in which the team captured the Prep League title (second straight), the CIF Southern Section Division V crown (third ever) and the program’s first CIF State Division V title.

Around every corner, the Rebels fought off the Mayfield Cubs, with two great battles taking place at league finals (30-36) and at the Southern Section Division V finals (36-42).

“We have a lot of respect for Mayfield because we know they’re going to be tough,” said Flintridge Prep co-coach Mike Roffina, who shared the duties and All-Area Coach of the Year honors with Jill Riehl. “I just believe we’re going to be a better team than last year and I think we’re going to show it early.”

The Rebels were already vaunted even with the graduation of No. 3 and No. 4 runners Ashley Lara and Lacy Coan, respectively, since five of seven returners are back.

Yet, in the offseason, highly-touted runner Sophie Gitlin joined the team.

Gitlin enters off her own banner year as the sophomore was named to the Baltimore Sun All-Metro team after winning the Interscholastic Athletic Assn. of Maryland A Conference championship with a blistering time of 18 minutes, 37 seconds, which gave the then-freshman an amazing 41-second victory.

“I guess we can’t keep her a secret forever,” Roffina said. “You put her and [junior] Natalie O’Brien in front and you’ve got a great one-two punch.”

O’Brien was the team leader last year and finished second (18:26) at the Prep League finals, third (18:53) at the Southern Section championships and ninth (19:16) in state.

“I’m excited to see what happens and I think our team is doing really well already,” said O’Brien, an All-Area selection from last year. “We’re really mentally strong right now and we’re excited to race, to show what we can do.”

Roffina and Riehl aren’t holding back, as they’re already taking a shot at one of the area’s top programs as they’ll open the season Sept. 3 versus Division I Crescenta Valley at Crescenta Valley Park.

While there are about eight runners vying for the squad’s last five sports, it appears that freshman Sasha Codiga and juniors Willow Scott, Lily Maxfield, Marissa Langely and Maia Cohen are the leaders to fill out the squad.

Championships are also the talk at La Cañada High, where the Spartans program welcomes a familiar face in Jenn Mora.

The five-year coach is back after taking a year off for family reasons and will be joined by last season’s coach, Jennifer Loya, as co-coaches.

“The coaching arraignment actually works out great because we both think and coach alike and, honestly, I can use the help,” Mora said. “As for this season, our goals are to win a Rio Hondo League championship and to reach state. We think we can do both.”

Last season, the Spartans edged San Marino, 29-39, for their third league title in four years at Lacy Park with a squad made up primarily of underclassmen.

Sophomore Katie Scoville, an All-Area selection, led the squad in 2014 and is back after winning the league crown in 18:58.37. Scoville also placed eighth at the CIF Southern Section Division IV championships in 18:36 and was 24th in the state Division IV race in 19:23.

“She’s only a sophomore, so it could be a very big year for her,” Mora said. “We have about three or four girls who we’re certain will do very well for the team.”

While La Cañada graduated its No. 2 runner in Colleen Mispagel, the rest of last year’s squad returns with sophomore Kallie Rushing (fifth at league finals in 20:08.06) likely to take over the second spot, followed by seniors Eleanor Marki and Jenny Callan along with freshman Adena Dipaolo.

As Flintridge Prep and La Cañada welcome back their top runners, Flintridge Sacred Heart waved goodbye to standout Kayla Grahn, the program’s first Mission League champion since 2007.

Grahn was an All-Area selection, finished fifth at the Southern Section Division IV finals in 18:12 and placed 11th at state in Division IV in 18:43.

“She’s one of those athletes you just don’t replace,” said Tologs Coach Kirk Nishiyama, who is entering year No. 21. “We’re not going to have a runner like her up front. Our success this year is largely going to depend on how our younger runners do.”

Along with Grahn, Flintridge Sacred Heart No. 2 runner Sarah Vega, who took 11th in league in 20:05, also graduated.

The Tologs have a few returners, though, leading with junior Monica Collins (15th in league in 20:32) and sophomore Bobbie Byrne (20th, 21:40).

Expect sophomore Franny Cross to be in the top three for Flintridge Sacred Heart, while senior Emily Beeve looks to be the team’s fourth runner.

“Our goal is to finish top three and get to CIF,” said Nishiyama, whose team finished third last season. “There are no illusions for us, we know this is a rebuilding year. But that doesn’t mean we still can’t make it to CIF. That doesn’t mean we still can’t improve as a team. Success for us won’t be measured in wins, but in improvement.”