ALL-COUNTY GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY 2023
RUNNER OF THE YEAR
Holly Barker, Trabuco Hills, Junior
A change of uniforms did not change the results.
Holly Barker of Trabuco Hills is the Orange County girls cross country athlete of the year for the second season in a row.
She was the county athlete of the year in the sport last season when she was at Laguna Hills.
This fall, Barker finished second in the CIF Southern Section Division 1 finals and was second in the CIF State Championships Division I race, both of which were won by junior Rylee Blade of Corona Santiago. Barker’s time of 17 minutes, 5 seconds at the CIF State meet was her personal best for a 5,000-meter course and was the third-fastest time among all runners in the meet.
She was a winner at the Orange County Championships for the third year in a row. Barker also was victorious at the Central Park Invitational and the Saddleback Cup Challenge and was the South Coast League champion.
At the Nike Nationals on Dec. 2, she finished 12th in a loaded field with her time of 17:49.
Barker’s plan going into the season was not about putting up burner times.
“I started racing more consistently this year,” she said. “I started putting more times within the same zone. My times weren’t all over the place. It wasn’t about the insane PRs (personal records) sort of thing, it was more about being consistent.”
With many high school transfers, a change of schools leads to a change of residence. For Barker, a residence change led to the change of schools.
Trabuco Hills coach Dennis Kelly said Barker immediately fit in with her new teammates.
“She has a steadfast, day-to-day work ethic,” Kelly said. “She’s obviously talented, let’s not kid ourselves, but she works very hard and trains really, really well.”
The next move for Barker is to prepare for the track and field season in the spring. She plans to emphasize the 3,200 meters.
This past summer Barker ran a marathon – on her own. She mapped out a 26.2 miles course, a round trip of Aliso Viejo to Laguna Beach, and went for it.
“I was just curious to see what it’s like,” she said.
This is a runner who likes running.
COACH OF THE YEAR
Dennis Kelly, Trabuco Hills
Dennis Kelly guided Trabuco Hills to a third-place finish, behind Corona Santiago and Clovis Buchanan, in Division I at the CIF State Championships, The Mustangs scored 76 points.
The Mustangs were second to Corona Santiago in the CIF Southern Section Division 1 finals with 65 points to Santiago’s 49.
“We’ve got a great coaching staff at Trabuco Hills,” Kelly said, “and we’re blessed to have talented kids.”
One of those talented kids is Holly Barker, the county girls cross country athlete of the year who transferred to Trabuco Hills from Laguna Hills.
“We were state finalists last year (2022), so it’s not like the cupboard was bare,” said Kelly, who completed his 16th season as Mustangs coach. “This team had a very strong work ethic and it was a talented team.”
ALL-COUNTY FIRST TEAM
Holly Barker, Trabuco Hills, Jr.: The Orange County cross country runner of the year.
Melisse Djomby Enyawe, Corona del Mar, Sr.: She was the CIF Southern Section Division 3 champion, sixth in her division at the CIF State meet, and seventh in the Orange County Championships Sweepstakes race with her best 3-mile time of 16:42.3.
Makenzie McRae, Huntington Beach, Sr.: She finished 11th in the CIF-SS Division 1 finals and was sixth in the Orange County Championships with a 16:40.5 in the Sweepstakes competition.
Sophie Polay, JSerra, Jr.: Polay was third in the CIF-SS Division 4 finals and had the 10th-best overall time in the CIF State meet at 17:32.9.
Keaton Robar, Newport Harbor, Jr.: Robar was second in the Orange County Championships run at 16:35.40 and was seventh in her division at the CIF Southern Section finals.
Sydney Rubio, Huntington Beach, Fr.: Her 17:26.5 at the CIF State Championships was the sixth-best time of all runners at the meet and she finished ninth in the Orange County Championships Sweepstakes race.
Kaylah Tasser, JSerra, So.: Tasser’s 17:51.9 was the 25th fastest time of all runners at the CIF State meet and she finished fourth in the CIF-SS Division 4 finals and 11th at the Orange County Championships Sweepstakes run.
Gweneth Williams, El Toro, Fr.: Williams was third in the CIF-SS Division 2 finals, fifth in the Orange County Championships Sweepstakes race and 29th overall at the CIF State Championships.
Skylar Watts, Trabuco Hills, So.: She was 22nd overall at the CIF State meet at 17:51.10, 12th in the CIF-SS Division 1 finals and 10th at the Orange County Championships in the Sweepstakes race.
Summer Wilson, JSerra, So.: Her 17.31.6 was the Lions’ best time as they won the CIF State Division IV championship and she was fifth in the CIF-SS Division 4 finals.
ALL-COUNTY SECOND TEAM
Millie Bayles, Trabuco Hills, So.
Anna Desormeau, Trabuco Hills, So.
Mackenzie Forrest, Tesoro, So.
Brynn Garcia, JSerra, Jr.
Reese Holley, JSerra, Fr.
Annie Ivarsson, Dana Hills, Jr.
Quinci Lott, Dana Hills, So.
Marley McCullough, Newport Harbor, Jr.
Makena Oliva, Canyon, Sr.
Alahna Thomas, Santa Margarita, So.
ALL-COUNTY THIRD TEAM
Dakota Danaher, El Toro, Jr.
Amber Dazey, Tesoro, So.
Chloe Elbaz, JSerra, So.
Olivia Foody, Aliso Niguel, Sr.
Audrey Heath, Capistrano Valley, So.
Jordan Lee, Trabuco Hills, Sr.
Ella Murray, Pacifica Christian, Sr.
Emilie Steinman, Corona del Mar, Fr.
Riley Szuba, Santa Margarita, So.
Lucy Varela, El Toro, Jr.
