By Cary Osborne
Signal Sports Editor

Sunday December 2, 2007

One way to describe what the Saugus High girls cross country team, running under the name of Newhall Cross Country because of CIF-Southern Section rules, did Saturday in Portland, Ore., is defiant.

In one of the biggest accomplishments in any sport in Santa Clarita Valley sports history, the Centurions finished second in the Nike Team Nationals out of 22 teams.

Defending national champions Fayeteville-Manlius of New York took first place for the second year in a row, scoring 83 points to Saugus' 171.

"Last year, we didn't do too well. This year, they portrayed us as 'Oh they're from California. They won't do well in snow,'" said Saugus senior runner Katie Dunn. "But I'm so proud of our girls. ... We had to prove them wrong. We were able to run in any weather."

They and them, Dunn said, were detractors who posted messages on the Internet that the California champions could not succeed in cold weather and difficult conditions.

The conditions were much different than the Centurions had run in this season.

Saugus ran the same Portland Meadows Race Track in last year's finals, but finished 18th out of 20 teams.

Just three of the seven runners from last year's Saugus state title team made up this season's team - Dunn, Anne Randall and Brianna Jauregui.

What they saw and had to run on, over and through were choppy mud, wide puddles, snow, hills and the occasional hay barrel.

Dunn was the most successful, finishing fifth overall with a time of 19:18.

Last year, she finished 33rd.

"When I came across the finish line, I had a huge smile on my face," Dunn said. "I don't think I ever finished a race like that. Usually I'm dead."

Saugus freshman Kaylin Mahoney finished seventh with a time of 19:23.5.

Randall was 34th with a time of 20:09.5.

She repeated Dunn's sentiment about the team's critics.

"A lot of (detractors) said we were pansies. We were going to get creamed here," Randall said. "I think our race today said it all. We've always been the underdog. I don't think we need to say anything (to them)."

The only other California team in the race was from Esperanza High. It finished in 17th place. Three of the top five teams were from the state of New York.

Randall said what made the biggest difference this time around for the Centurions was their health.

Last year, the Saugus girls battled the flu.

This year, they were better prepared mentally and physically.

Saugus stayed healthy.

"We were tougher this year than last year," Randall said.

Finishing behind Randall for Saugus was teammate Jauregui in 61st place with a time of 20:40.8

Nina Moore crossed the finish line at 20:41.4 and finished 64th.

Michelle Bonja was 104th with a time of 21:18.4 and Amber Murakami was 106th finishing in 21:20.5.

Moore said there was no disappointment with not winning the event.

"We were proud to make it this far," she said.

The season has thus concluded for the Saugus girls, who figure to be a national power again in 2008.

Mahoney, Randall, Jauregui and Murakami are all underclassmen.

The Nike Team Nationals marks the first race out of 12 that Saugus has run in this season that it hasn't finished in first place.

Saugus' team score Saturday was 1:40:13.20, compared to 1:30:49 from the CIF-State Championship in Fresno Nov. 24.

"We'd like to be recognized more than just the runners of Santa Clarita. Running is a tough sport. It's not just running around to have fun. It's a tough sport," Dunn said. "I do believe we are one of the greatest teams (in Santa Clarita Valley sports history). I think we're pretty amazing."

cosborne@the-signal.com

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