El Camino Cross Country Determined For Success

The El Camino cross country team may be young when it comes to team leadership but coaches and athletes say they're looking forward to having a successful season.

"I feel like we're more motivated and determined (this season)," said senior Neysa Mains, whose top finishes include 17 minutes, 16 seconds over a three-mile course near Rio Americano earlier this month.

Mains, who also runs the two-mile, mile and 4X4 relay in track and field, was sidelined in 2010 with a strained internal oblique muscle.

"I think I'm going to have a great season so I'm focused," she said. "I hope to make sections."

Coach Tom Laythe said the boys team is rebuilding after losing three key seniors to graduation, while the girls are led by Mains and junior Kandace Compton. Select runners competed this past weekend in the Stanford Invitational meet.

El Camino athletes are looking forward to the prestigious Mt. Sac meet in southern California on Oct. 21. The next day, they're taking a team trip to Disneyland. League and section championships will take place at Willow Hills in Folsom.

"There are more girls on the team this year," said Compton, whose best races include 17:20 at the Rio meet right behind Mains and also does track in the mile, 800 meters, 4X4 and 400 meters. "We're trying to be more united as a whole."