CROSS COUNTRY: MURAKAMI SISTERS BOOST SAUGUS.Byline: KEVIN CONNELLY Kevin Connelly was born in Middlesbrough, England. He is an impressionist comedian, and after dinner speaker and is probably most famous for his role on the popular BBC television programme 'Dead Ringers'. Special to the Daily News VENTURA Ventura (vĕnt  `rə), city (1990 pop. 92,575), seat of Ventura co., SW Calif., on the Pacific coast in a farm and oil region; inc. 1866. -- Shannon Shannon, principal river of the Republic of Ireland and longest (c.240 mi/390 km) in the British Isles. It rises near Cuilcagh Mt., NW Co. Cavan, and flows S through the Central Plain into Co. Limerick, where it turns west in a broad estuary (c. Murakami told anyone who would listen the past
few months to watch out for the Saugus High girls' cross country
team.
The defending state Div. I state cross country champion, Murakami insisted the Centurions -- sixth-place finishers last season in state Div. I -- boasted a new crop of runners that would finally catapult catapult (kăt`əpŭlt'), mechanism used to throw missiles in ancient and medieval warfare. At first, catapults were specifically designed to shoot spears or other missiles at a low trajectory (see bow and arrow). them to the top. Saugus backed up those predictions in a major way Thursday afternoon, sweeping all four girls' events in the season-opening 17th-annual Seaside Seaside. 1 City (1990 pop. 38,901), Monterey co., W Calif., on Monterey Bay, in a fruit region; founded 1887, inc. 1954. Its economy is based largely upon tourism. California State Univ. Monterey Bay is there, on the former site of Fort Ord. Invitational in·vi·ta·tion·al adj. Restricted to invited participants: an invitational golf tournament. n. An event, especially a sports tournament, restricted to invited participants. Adj. 1. at San Buenaventura
Murakami, who has verbally committed to UCLA UCLA University of California at Los Angeles UCLA University Center for Learning Assistance (Illinois State University) UCLA University of Carrollton, TX and Lower Addison, TX , clocked a meet-best 17:26 on the three-mile course to win the senior division, while junior Katie Dunn (17:42), sophomore Brianna Jauregui (18:31), and freshman Amber Murakami (18:17) each took first in their class groupings. ``I think we proved today that the Saugus girls will be one of the best teams in the state this year,'' Murakami said, who finished well short of the course-record 16:35 set by Thousand Oaks' Kim Mortensen in 1995. ``I admit I was thinking about that course record. It was definitely right there in my mind. Although I'm not the type of runner to complain about conditions, it was a little too windy today to realistically challenge (Mortensen's) mark.'' ``It just feels great to be back out and running again. This is my senior season, so I'm expecting a lot from myself and the rest of my teammates.'' But the most impressive performance by a Murakami on Thursday was turned in by Shannon's younger sister, Amber. Running in her first race for Saugus, Amber Murakami finished fourth overall while running away with the freshman division by more than 30 seconds. ``I was really surprised that the rest of the (freshmen) runners dropped back so far,'' said Amber Murakami, who will start on varsity this year for Saugus -- ranked No. 4 in the area by the Daily News. ``There is no doubt that having a sister as talented as Shannon gives me motivation, but she's just my sister. I'm not going out here trying to beat her, or try to accomplish more than she has in cross country.'' How about simply impressing her? ``I looked at that time she ran and I thought `Wow,''' said Shannon Murakami, who did not run cross country until her sophomore season. ``It's nice to see her doing so well. It's great that she's kind of following in my footsteps, but I know she'll make a name for herself when I'm gone.'' In the boys' competition, Highland of Palmdale junior Jeremy Acosta dominated the field with a clocking of 15:06. The next closest finishers were Hueneme junior Jose Alcantar (15:19), Oak Park junior Garrison Gourdeau (15:23) and Agoura senior Chris Baird
Christopher Patrick "Chris" Baird (b. February 25 1982, Rasharkin, County Antrim) is a Northern Irish footballer who currently plays as a defender for Fulham. (15:29). kevin.connelly@dailynews.com (818) 713-3607 |
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