COLLEGE OF THE CANYONS NOTEBOOK: COUGARS ON TRACK WITH ALL-PURPOSE STARS.

Byline: Nathan Brown Staff writer

College of the Canyons' track and field team might lack great sprinters, jumpers and throwers, but it is thriving behind two athletes who can do it all.

Sophomore heptathlete Dana Rattler has led the Cougars' women's team to a 10-2 record, and sophomore multievent standout Brian Belue has been pivotal in the men's team's 11-1 start.

Rattler has qualified for the April 29 State Prelims in the seven-event heptathalon - the long jump, high jump, shot put, javelin, 100 meter hurdles, 800 meters and 200 meters - and has the fourth-best mark among Southern Californians. She is strongest in the 100 hurdles, with a best time of 15.1 seconds.

Belue, from Saugus High, regularly contributes in the high jump, triple jump, long jump, 1,600-meter relay, 200 and 400. His 400 time, 41.85, is the best in the Western State Conference (41.85). Other top athletes for the WSC leader are distance runner Salim Benmohammed, utility athlete Dan Kaafi, sprinter BT Walker and discus thrower Alex Dekok.

The women also have 53-year-old sophomore javelin thrower Linda Cohn, who is ranked second in the WSC and fifth in SoCal with a throw of 119 feet, 2 inches.

"Because of her age and that she's somewhat petite," coach Belinda Kane said, "she has to be technically sound. Her big thing is confidence, and with younger and stronger women out there, she has to believe she can do that ... and she hits it just right."

--Into the pool: Track and field coach Belinda Kane doesn't have to cancel practice because of poor weather. She had her team in the pool this week for structured workouts featuring aqua-joggers, a device fitted around the waist to keep athletes buoyant for form workouts and various aerobics.

--Making an impression: Baseball player Jeff Knosp has made the most of his 61 at-bats. He's seventh in the WSC with a .377 batting average.

Used primarily off the bench, the outfielder from Saugus High has five doubles and a .492 slugging percentage.

The Cougars (15-15 overall, 9-6 WSC) are back in contention after winning seven of their past nine games. There are 12 conference games remaining.

nate.brown(at)dailynews.com

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