Familiar faces likely to compete for women’s cross country title

In the past few seasons, Riverside City College and Saddleback College have been the dominant forces competing for an Orange Empire Conference championship.  Although results have been scarce so far, it appears the two programs will again be towards the top of the standings at the OEC Finals in late October.

Riverside watched Saddleback win the last two OEC titles, thus snapping a long streak of championships by the Tigers.  The two programs have been neck-and-neck for four straight years, with each winning twice and the other finishing second. 

Riverside has an experienced roster in 2021, with five sophomores on the squad and a bevy of solid freshmen.  The Tigers have run in the Redlands Invitational and Coyote Invitational thus far, finishing first and second among the community college programs on hand.  Riverside is led by the duo of sophomore Helena Valdez and freshman Elani Huntley, who have finished right beside one-another at both meets.  Valdez was first among community college harriers at the Redlands Invitational and fourth at the Coyote Challenge, while Huntley was second and fifth, respectively.

Saddleback has an all-freshman lineup in 2021 and is coming off its best season ever when it finished second at the CCCAA State Championships in 2019.  The Bobcats were third at the Tour de Cuesta to start the season and finished second among community college programs at the Biola Invitational.  Freshman Olivia Knobbe was the leader at both events for the Bobcats, finishing sixth overall at the Tour de Cuesta and second among community college participants at Biola. 

The rest of the Orange Empire Conference programs have yet to compete with a full squad at any events.  Most of the OEC field is expected to be on hand at the Golden West Invitational on September 25.   

Release by Brad Hoiseth, Saddleback SID