2008 cross country outlook

ALL-DISTRICT RETURNERS

MATT AIROLA, Bret Harte: Returns from a season where he was the second-best Division IV boys runner in the Sac-Joaquin Section, behind only Riverbank's German Fernandez. Airola took sixth place at the CIF State Meet and was the top sophomore in the Division IV race.

JUAN SEGUNDO, Livingston: Peaked at the end of the season, placing sixth in the section Division III championships and 51st in the state in Division III. AMANDA INNES, Davis: Qualified for the state meet despite struggling through a handful of setbacks. Was second in the Modesto Metro Conference behind Beyer's Crystal Esparza and was fifth in the section in Division I.

KATIE O'CONNOR, Bret Harte: Led the Bullfrogs to the Mother Lode League title and followed that up by winning the section Division IV title in 19:56. Was 18th in the state in Division IV, and was the fifth-fastest sophomore.

STEPHANIE URIOSTEGUI, Atwater: Was off to a fast start last year, winning invitationals at Stanford and North Lake Tahoe. Was the Central California Conference champion, just missing the Donnelly Park course record. Missed the state meet due to injuries.

ON THE COURSE

Mark this date: One of the largest invitationals in the Stanislaus District is the Sixth Annual Sierra Invitational, which is Sat., Sept. 6 at Modesto's Tuolumne Regional Park (Legion Park). There are already 30 teams entered, with more to come. The varsity races are five kilometers, with the boys scheduled to go at 10 a.m. and the girls at 10:35 a.m.

Davis, Modesto chasing each other: The boys Modesto Metro Conference race should come down to Davis and Modesto. The Spartans feature two of their top runners from last year in Roberto Rosas and Chris Izquierdo. Modesto, which lost top runners Matt Maldonado and Marty Pyeatt to graduation, counters with Nic Heese and Owen Deming. The girls race should also be between Modesto and Davis. The Panthers will count on Rachel VanNess, Stephanie Stavrianoudakis and Fioana Nuestro. Davis has top runners Innes and Monica Villalobos.

Bret Harte loaded: Bret Harte's boys and girls return several top runners and look like the favorites to win not only the Mother Lode League, but the section Division IV race as well. Airola, Derek Avril, Charlie Gomes and Jacob Baugher all return to give the boys team a solid nucleus. The girls also return four strong runners: O'Connor, Sara Mikesell, Dana DeCoste and Sydney Aardal.

Old and new: Sonora's boys have experience as their top three runners -- Erik Segerstrom, John Glick and Nicholas Fortunato -- all return for their senior seasons. But the Wildcats also have intriguing youth in freshman Clancy McConnell. Sonora's top competition may come from Sierra and all-league runner John Bowers.

Turlock girls hope to take CCC back: Turlock's girls had won six consecutive Central California Conference titles until last year, when Buhach Colony won the team title. The Bulldogs return Briget Montes, Sara Latham and Jasmin Jimenez.

Close race in the TVL: Hughson coach Joel Bernard says this could be the tightest league race for the girls in the last decade. He says his Huskies -- with top runners Becky Hobby, Amber Machado, Aubrey Fisher and Kathleen Brooks -- are in the mix along with Escalon and Riverbank.

-- WILL DeBOARD