CHULA VISTA, Sept. 4, 2001 -- With eight returning letter-winners, the Castle Park girls cross country team looks in excellent shape to defend its South Bay League championship. The 2000 Trojan squad captured the school's first ever league title in the sport, and coach Nikki Perez doesn't see why the 2001 edition cannot hang another banner in the school's gymnasium.

"We expect to duplicate it -- to repeat," an exuberant, enthusiastic and optimistic Perez explained.

Though Castle Park lost its top runner of a year ago, all other positions return, led by No. 2 finisher Mandy Johnson and No. 3 runner Maria Magaffigan. Also back are Liz Gonzalez, Jessica Romero and Danielle Harvey, who all contended for the fourth and fifth spot on the team last year, Alana Zaragoza, Jennifer Boggs and Andrea Huntley. Romero trained with the under-19 Mexican national team over the summer while Zaragoza was among the team's top place-finishers last year, pushing Magaffigan for the third finishing position on the team.

Newcomers to the squad include junior Heidi Ross and Melina Roberson, both of whom participated in basketball and swimming last season, and sophomore Griselda Padilla, who is trying out for her first high school sport.

The Trojans will get their first opportunity to put their best foot forward at the Sept. 7 Baron Invitational at Rohr Park. The four-division race (boys and girls varsity and junior varsity teams) is set to start at 3:05 p.m. Among the local heavyweights joining Castle Park in the local field are host school Bonita Vista and two-time defending Mesa League boys champion Sweetwater.

The Red Devils are riding two successive league titles but will be tested this season by a front-running Chula Vista squad that returns nearly everyone in its lineup and the perennial contender Barons, who possess strong 1-2-3 depth this season.

"I think we'll be very competitive," said SuHi coach Tim Latham. "Right now we're dealing with some injuries that have held back our training."

Though the Devils lost their top runner from last year to graduation, the defending Mesa League champions feature a senior heavy roster in varsity runners Abdirizak Abdi, Jose Guardado, Eddie Sanchez and Cesar Torres along with junior Hector Arreloa. Abdi was the team's No. 2 runner last season with Guardado, Sanchez, Torres and Arreola all comprising a very competitive pack vying for the third and fourth spots in alternating races.

Newcomers to the varsity lineup include two promising runners, sophomore Dustin Boyer and junior Miguel Diaz, who placed second and third, respectively, at last year's conference junior varsity finals. Sophomore Edgar Llanes, who did not run last year, has also turned in a strong preseason, as had senior Sam Zapata, who ran on last year's JV squad. Other runners who will also see varsity time this season include sophomore Rogelio Gonzalez and junior John Cleveland.

Latham will also serve as tournament director for this year's scaled-down South Bay Invitational that will be held Friday, Sept. 21, at Rohr Park. Because of construction work at Southwestern College, the race could not be held there and the switch in venues to Rohr Park has resulted in a smaller field this year. Last year, 42 teams competed. This year, the field had to be limited to 15 teams - all of which will compete in one division.

The five races feature JV girls (4 p.m.), frosh/soph boys (4:30 p.m.), varsity girls (5 p.m.), varsity boys (5:30 p.m.) and JV boys (6 p.m.).

Entered teams include Bonita Vista, Carlsbad, Eastlake, Escondido, Fallbrook, Granite Hills, mar Vista, Patrick Henry, Rancho Buena Vista, San Pasqual, St. Augustine/Our Lady of Peace, Sweetwater, Valley Center and West Hills, with a 15th team to be confirmed.

"It will still be a very competitive race. There are some solid teams," Latham said.