The Register’s girls cross country preview.
TOP O.C. GIRLS TO WATCH
Alyssa Bautista, Capistrano Valley
Bautista is part of the two-headed spear that leads Capistrano Valley. As a junior, Bautista had only two finishes outside of the top four including fourth-place at the O.C. championships, second in South Coast League and third at the CIF-SS Finals. She was first-team All-County.
Haley Herberg, Capistrano Valley
Herberg is the other half of Capo Valley’s two-headed front. Herberg collected five first-place finishes as a junior including the O.C. and South Coast League titles. Herberg fell back slightly in her final two races, which will surely give her motivation to close out her senior campaign. She was first-team All-County.
Sara Leonard, Canyon
Leonard is another of the strong seniors that will compete at the top in 2017. Leonard finished outside of the top three only twice, fifth place at Dana Hills and ninth at CIF-SS Finals. She took third at O.C. Championships and at CIF State where Leonard missed first by just 1.1 seconds. She was first-team All-County.
Ashley Messineo, El Toro
Messineo steps into the Chargers’ top spot to lead a young but experienced group. As a junior, Messnieo finished fifth at Sea View League, 14th at CIF-SS Finals and qualified for state. She was second-team All-County.
Nadia Tabrizi, JSerra
Tabrizi made huge leaps as a sophomore and has JSerra primed for team success in 2017. Tabrizi was seventh at O.C. championships and won the Trinity League. She was second at CIF-SS finals where JSerra took the Division 4 title and fifth at State. Tabrizi is coming off an injury, but the returning All-County first-teamer feels strong.