Erik Boal
GLENDALE -- A new year brings the hope and optimism of more
outstanding achievements for many local athletes. Although they will be
hard-pressed to duplicate the best efforts of 2000, the News-Press sports
staff will certainly enjoy watching them try.
Here now is a list of 12 local athletes to keep an eye on in the
winter and spring of 2001:
Anita Siraki, Hoover, track
The defending national champion in the two-mile event will have her
sights set on a repeat performance in mid-June, but two other goals will
be on the senior's mind when the track season begins in late February.
Siraki will be bidding to become only the fourth high school female
athlete to break 10 minutes in the 3,200 meters with an outside shot at
Kim Mortenson's national high school record.
The former Thousand Oaks High standout ran 9:48.59 in 1996, a mark
that is said by many track and field critics, to be unbreakable. Siraki
ran 10:18.03 to win last year's national two-mile title.
In cross-country, the 17-year-old cut 27 seconds off her 1999 national
finals time to place second at the 2000 Foot Locker National
Cross-Country Championships.
Such a dramatic improvement in track may give her a legitimate shot
come the national outdoor track finals in June.
James Jenkins, Crescenta Valley, swimming
Following what appears to be a deep run in the CIF Southern Section
boys' basketball playoffs with the rest of his Falcon teammates, Jenkins
will once again take up three-plus month hobby as a member of the CV
boys' swim team.
Then on May 12 at Long Beach's Belmont Plaza, the senior will once
again assume his place among the best sprinters in all of CIF.
Jenkins' performance at last year's CIF Division II finals was
dominant, but it wasn't good enough to be recognized as swimmer of the
meet, as then Tustin High sophomore Michael Cavic won both the Division
II 100-yard backstroke and 100 butterfly in CIF record times.
Jenkins won both the 50 and 100 freestyle events, but neither time was
strong enough to break a CIF record.
Don't be surprised if his efforts this year are.
Meredith Cervenka, Crescenta Valley, softball
The Long Beach State University-bound pitcher will have one more shot
at leading her team to a CIF Southern Section Division II title and will
continue to add to her legacy as one of the area's all-time best
pitchers.
It is uncertain whether Cervenka can improve upon last season's
astounding totals, because near perfection is tough to duplicate.
