PALMDALE READIES TO DEFEND CROWN\Key players return to champion Golden League track squad.

Byline: Danny Schumacher Daily News Staff Writer

Now that basketball season is over, the Palmdale girls track team might be able to show its true self.

The Falcons are the defending Golden League champs and heavy favorites to defend their crown. But they have shown just a glimpse of their talent early on because several key members were still playing for the basketball team, which was eliminated from the State Division I playoffs last week.

Palmdale is led by sprinters Kadrina Coffee and Tranisha Holmes. But there appears to be an abundance of talent everywhere else.

Coach Steve Wilson already had an opportunity to break in several promising newcomers during last weekend's National Scholastic Indoor Championships in Boston.

"I think the kids got a lot out of it," Wilson said. "It's kind of (a) strange meet to go to because everybody is at the end of their season. They run a pretty big indoor season out there."

Even though Palmdale's indoor season was brief, the opportunity to run against some of the nation's top powerhouses - Muir, Long Beach Wilson and Long Beach Poly - was invaluable.

Palmdale could very easily be right up there with those schools by the end of the season.

Here's an overview of the Golden League.

Sprints:In this area the girls could be among the best leagues in Southern California, but many outstanding sprinters will unfortunately be overshadowed by Palmdale's talented corps.

The Falcons are led by Coffee who is strongest at 400 meters - she had a personal best of 53.96 last summer in finishing second this summer at the Junior National Championships - but she will also compete in the 800, 200 and both relays.

Coffee is just one of many talented sprinters at the school. Coffee, Holmes, Edniesha Curry, Monique Nolan and Natasha Robinson could establish themselves as one of the best sprint tandems in area history.

Distances:The league boasts two of the state's top distance runners in Andrea Neipp of Highland and Danielle Day of Quartz Hill.

Neipp blossomed during cross country season, turning in a breakthrough race at the prestigious Mt. San Antonio College Invitational.

Day has been one of the area's most consistent performers for the past two seasons.

Hurdles:The league's best hurdler, Michelle Perry of Quartz Hill, is still learning the event. But with some refinement in technique, she could be dangerous when the off-season rolls around.

Perry, a junior, was the area's top returning sprinter last year and is still among the best in the state. But she is a powerful runner who might be best suited for hurdling events.

Field events:Kristi Rose, fresh off helping lead Palmdale into the state girls basketball playoffs, returns as the area's top discus thrower.

Littlerock's Cheree Hicks is the area's top shot putter and is among only 13 locals to ever throw more than 40 feet.

In the jumps, Perry is solid in the long jump and Coffee had tremendous success in the triple jump despite being a novice to the event last year.

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Photo Palmdale relayers, from left, Kadrina Coffee, Monique Nolan, Tranisha Holmes, Natasha Robinson and Edniesha Curry may be the area's best. Jeff Goldwater/Daily News