Simi Valley girls' cross country runners young and confident

IRIS SMOOT/Acorn Newspapers IN TIP-TOP CONDITION- Laura Cadwell, left, and Nicole Trent of Simi Valley High jog the final few yards of their early-morning run for the Pioneer girls' cross country team on Wednesday. Although they've lost their top runner from last season, the Simi Valley High girls' cross country team is out to prove this year's squad won't miss a beat.

Last year the Pioneers had success on the track by placing second in the Marmonte League and 10th at the CIF Division II State Championships.

This year's squad, however, will be without star runner Anna Sperry, who graduated last spring and is now attending BYU. Simi head coach Roger Evans said that, although the team is inexperienced, he still expects big things this season.

"In my time coaching at Simi Valley, this is the youngest varsity team I have ever coached," Evans said. "Although we are inexperienced, there is no doubt we will be good this year. This is an amazing group of girls that have a lot of talent. They have a lot of heart, and they work very well together as a team."

IRIS SMOOT/Acorn Newspapers TAKING OVER- Liberty Miller will be the No. 1 runner for the SVHS girls' cross country team. Taking Sperry's place in the limelight this season is sophomore Liberty Miller. At last year's state championships Miller ran a time of 18:40, good enough for second on the team. Miller admitted that she received great advice while training with Sperry.

"I don't feel bad when people compare me to her since it is definitely a compliment," Miller said.

"She taught me ways to think better to help myself run faster. I liked being the No. 2 runner behind her, but at the same time, this year it's kind of exciting to be the No. 1 runner and see just how well the team can do without her."

Evans said it's unfair to compare anyone to Sperry, but he did go on to say that Miller had a better freshman season than Sperry did.

"Anna didn't come into her own until her sophomore year, and Liberty had a great freshman year," Evans said. "I do see a lot of similarities between the two runners, such as that they both have a very positive attitude. Liberty also trains very hard and is very team-oriented with her goals. What remains to be seen over the next couple years is her fortitude and her fight for success."

Backing up Miller in the No. 2 spot this year is junior Daniela Retano. Retano is also looking forward to the new season.

"I've been working really hard to try and improve my mileage," Retano said. "I'm currently trying to get my time under 20 minutes for each meet race."

Rounding out the rest of the team are the Miller sisters, sophomore Alexis and freshman Amanda (no relation to Liberty), who will be the Pioneers' No. 3 and No. 4 runners. Kimberly Rowland is the No. 5 runner, while Angie Hernandez, Brooke Popp, Nicole Rietveld, Mandy Severance and senior team captain Cayla Korven will also be expected to contribute.

"It seems like we are more motivated this year," Korven said. "Everyone on the team has a great attitude."

Although the team may have lost one Sperry this season, it gained another when Anna's older sister, Caren, joined the team as an assistant coach.

Caren Sperry is trying to help guide the Pioneers back to the state finals, something she knows a lot about as she was a member of the first Simi Valley girls' cross country team in history to reach the finals in 2001. Sperry will also be teaching ninth-grade science at SVHS.

"I think she is a good coach." Amanda Miller said. "She knows a lot about how to avoid injuries, how to push yourself and when to start to surge in a race."

Evans is hoping that, even though this year's team is young, it can continue to build on last year's success.

"Our goal last year was to get to state, but once we got there we wanted to do more than just show up," Evans said. "Our ultimate goal would have been to be on the podium once the race was over, but getting 10th in state was great.

"This year's team has the same motivation to do well. They really want to get back to state, and I hardly ever have to get on them because they did something wrong. I can't wait for the season to start."