ALL-COUNTY BOYS CROSS COUNTRY 2023
RUNNER OF THE YEAR
Evan Noonan, Dana Hills, Junior
Dana Hills junior Evan Noonan was not only the fastest cross country runner this season in the South Coast League and the CIF Southern Section.
He also was the fastest in the state.
He won everything he could, and he has been selected as the Orange County boys cross country runner of the year. It’s the second year a row he has received the honor.
Noonan won the South Coast League championships with a personal-best time of 13 minutes, 39 seconds over the 3-mile course at Irvine Regional Park.
He was the CIF-SS Division 3 champion for the second year in a row. His time of 13:56 in the CIF-SS finals at Mt. San Antonio College was 16 seconds better than the second-place finisher, his teammate Jayden Hernandez. It was also the fastest time overall that day.
He was perhaps more impressive in the CIF State Championships in Fresno. Noonan covered the 5,000-meter course in 14:53.3, winning the Division III race by 17 seconds. That also was the fastest time of the day for all runners.
And he was the winner at the Orange County Championships and at the Woodbridge Invitational.
Most important to Noonan, though, was Dana Hills’ team success. The Dolphins won CIF-SS and CIF State championships.
“Our team had a breakthrough year,” he said. “We made it all the way to nationals (the Nike NXN meet).”
Noonan said he made an important adjustment this year that improved his performance.
“I pushed myself earlier in the race instead of just waiting for the late kick,” Noonan said.
He was well-prepared to excel in the CIF State meet on Nov. 25.
“I just felt very ready,” Noonan said. “I knew what I had to do. I didn’t have it in my mind that I might not win or I might fall. I was just ready to get it done.”
Dana Hills coach Craig Dunn calls Noonan “a coach’s dream.”
“You don’t see many kids like that in your coaching career,” Dunn said. “He was willing to do all the little things to make himself successful. The extra stretching, the ice baths, proper sleep, cutting out sugar. Everything it takes to be at an elite level.”
COACH OF THE YEAR
Dave Luciani, San Clemente
Dave Luciani guided San Clemente to the CIF Southern Section Division 1 championship and the CIF State Division I championship.
The Tritons won the CIF State title by a large margin, finishing with 48 points while second-place Great Oak of Temecula had 102 points.
This was Luciani’s first season as San Clemente’s head coach. He had worked in the program as an assistant coach the previous nine seasons.
He credited longtime county cross country coach Tim Butler, who served as an assistant coach for the Tritons this season.
Three of the top 10 finishers in the CIF-SS Division 1 finals were San Clemente seniors: Brett Ephraim, who finished third, and Taj Clark (ninth place) and Kai Olsen (10th place).
“We really hit our stride at the right time,” Luciani said. “When you have that level of strength and experience, it is awesome.”
ALL-COUNTY FIRST TEAM
Taj Clark, San Clemente, Sr.: Clark delivered the 26th-best time of the day (15:12.7) at the CIF State Championships, helping the Tritons win the Division I title.
Pierce Clark, San Clemente, Sr.: The twin brother of Taj Clark, Pierce’s 15:17.3 was the 13th-fastest time in the CIF State Division I final and the 33rd-best time of the day among all runners.
Max Douglass, Corona del Mar, Jr.: His 15:18.7 was the 36th-best overall time at the CIF State meet, and he was 27th overall in the CIF-SS finals.
Brett Ephraim, San Clemente, Sr.: He finished second in the CIF State Division I race. His time (14:58.6) was the ninth-best time of the day across all divisions. He was third in the CIF-SS Division 1 final and fourth in the Orange County Championships Sweepstakes race.
Ibzan Felix, Beckman, Sr.: Felix’s 14:08.2 was good enough for second place in the CIF-SS Division 1 finals, and he the sixth-best time of the day at the CIF-SS championships.
Zachary Gibson, Santa Margarita, Sr.: He finished third in the CIF-SS Division 3 finals, was Trinity League champion and was fifth in the Sweepstakes race at the Orange County Championships.
Jayden Hernandez, Dana Hills, Sr.: He was second to teammate Evan Noonan in the CIF-SS Division 3 finals in 14:12.4, was second in the O.C. Championships Sweepstakes race and had the 28th-best overall time in the CIF State meet.
Griffin Kushen, Tesoro, Jr.: He was third in the O.C. Championships Sweepstakes race, third in the CIF Southern Section Division 2 finals and 38th overall in the CIF State finals.
Evan Noonan, Dana Hills, Jr.: Noonan is the Orange County cross country runner of the year.
Ryan Stanley, Trabuco Hills, Sr.: He was eighth in the CIF State Division I finals and his 15:10.9 was the 25th-best time overall.
ALL-COUNTY SECOND TEAM
Diego Alonzo, Fountain Valley, Sr.
Bradley Arrey, JSerra, Jr.
Everett Capelle, St. Margaret’s, Sr.
Matthew Galindo, Savanna, Sr.
Dylan Jubak, Trabuco Hills, Jr.
Logan Harris, Dana Hills, Sr.
Jack Horrocks, Foothill, Sr.
Kai Olsen, San Clemente, Sr.
Saul Orozco, JSerra, Sr.
Garrett Woodruff, Dana Hills, Sr.
ALL-COUNTY THIRD TEAM
Ziyad Abdallah, Trabuco Hills, Jr.
Daniel Bulalacao, El Toro, Jr.
Micah Clemons, Trabuco Hills, Sr.
Logan Fulford, Trabuco Hills, Sr.
Dallin Harrington, San Clemente, So.
Parker Herbert, Santa Margarita, Sr.
Nathaniel Horrocks, Foothill, Jr.
Mason Nguyen, Beckman, So.
Liam Raney, Santa Margarita, Sr.
Kevin Steinman, Corona del Mar, So.
