MURAKAMI LEADS SAUGUS TO FIRST PLACE.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 WALNUT -- At this time last year, Saugus High's Shannon Murakami was making a name for herself as the top girls' Div.I cross country runner in the state. The problem was that she considered cross country to be a team sport. The UCLA-bound distance standout relished every individual accolade that was thrown her way, but those honors paled in comparison to the postseason trophies that had evaded her Centurions team since 1978. That was the case until Saturday, when Murakami led a pack of Saugus teammates to a dominating first-place finish Noun 1. first-place finish - a finish in first place (as in a race) win - a victory (as in a race or other competition); "he was happy to get the win" in the Southern Section Div.I finals at Mt. San Antonio College Mt. San Antonio College (commonly called Mt. SAC; pronounced as the word "sack") is a community college located in the Los Angeles suburb of Walnut, California, next to California State Polytechnic University, Pomona which is just over a hill. Mt. in Walnut. ``It's such a great feeling to finally win a (sectional) title as a team,'' said Murakami, who clocked 17 minutes, 13 seconds on the three-mile course to finish two seconds behind first-place finisher Kauren Tarver from Serrano of Phelan. ``We put in so much work during the offseason to get to this point, so it feels great. I'd like to say that I had a lot to do with motivating them to get here, but the younger girls on this team are as self-motivated as anybody else out there.'' Saugus (54 points, 91:39) was scarcely challenged by second-place Fountain Valley Fountain Valley, city (1990 pop. 53,691), Orange co., S Calif.; inc. 1957. Chiefly residential, Fountain Valley also has diverse manufactures, including apparel, computer equipment, semiconductors, and medical equipment. A U.S. navy helicopter facility is there. (101, 94:16), while placing all five of its starters in the top 30. Murakami waited at the finish line as she was joined by Katie Dunn (seventh, 18:03), Amber Murakami (12th, 18:28), Brianna Jauregui (16th, 18:45) and Keri Molt (30th, 19:10). Murakami lost the individual race to Tarver after at least four lead changes, but she will have another shot at the Serrano runner Saturday at the state meet in Fresno. Saugus, the top-ranked team in the state, is a heavy favorite to win the Div.I state title. ``We're going to be pretty hard to beat at the state meet,'' Murakami said. ``But we're not going to show up overconfident o·ver·con·fi·dent adj. Excessively confident; presumptuous. o  ver·con . I know I can still improve, and I definitely expect to run better against Kauren next week.'' Crescenta Valley The Crescenta Valley is a small inland valley in Los Angeles County, California. Its name derives from its crescent-like shape, with the convex portion facing roughly northeast and the concave portion southwest. of La Crescenta (156, 95:44) finished fourth in the Div.I race to qualify for the state meet, while seventh-place Royal of Simi Valley Simi Valley (sē`mē, sĭm`ē), city (1990 pop. 100,217), Ventura co., SW Calif. in an oil, fruit, and farm region; laid out 1887, inc. 1969. (194, 97:58) took the final qualifying spot. Burroughs of Burbank's Sadee Martinez (10th, 18:25) made the state meet as an individual. Marlborough of Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. ran away with the Div.IV race, clocking 95:43 to defeat second-place finisher Maranatha of Pasadena by a six-minute margin. CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Saugus High's Shannon Murakami leads Serrano's Kauren Tarver, but Tarver ending up beating Murakami for the title. Kirby Lee/Special to the Daily News |
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