WALNUT - Having earned the distinction of being the top team in the county during the regular season, the Orange Lutheran girls cross country team took the first step Saturday toward becoming known as a force in the CIF-Southern Section.

The Lancers (1:32:05) posted the county's top team time enroute to winning their Division III heat at the CIF-SS Divisional preliminaries at Mt. San Antonio College.

“We’re blessed to have a strong team and today was an important day to practice certain sections of the course for next week,” said Lancers coach Jack Preus. “We’re confident and ready to perform and now it’s just a matter of getting out there next week and doing it.”

The Lancers (32 points) were led by junior Rebecca Bahra (17:52) who finished second in her heat.

Also in Division III, Corona del Mar (26 points) won its heat, led by senior Melanie Powers (18:05), who won the race.

“This course makes me think a lot more than others,” said Powers. “Running is such a mental sport and our team really wants it.”

Foothill senior Sierra Vega (17:23) had the top individual county time of the day, winning her heat of the Division II preliminaries.

“I just went out and ran hard and it turned out to be a good day,” said Vega.

Esperanza senior Teeny Adams (17:59) placed second in the race, leading the Aztecs (31 points) to the team win in the heat.

Dana Hills junior Alaina Alvarez (17:40) helped guide the Dolphins to a team win in its heat by finishing second overall.

“We’re looking to have all seven of our runners back next week and closing our gap down,” said Alvarez.

Capistrano Valley junior Bronte Golick (18:11) finished first in her Division I heat.

“I was able to beat it once, and now I know I can beat it again,” said Golick.

In the boys preliminaries, Trabuco Hills (34 points) won its heat and had the top team time (1:17:44) among all county schools. The Mustangs were led by junior Jantzen Oshier, who won the race in a time of 15:10, tops among all county runners.

“I just tried to push the team,” said Oshier. “We’ve worked hard and have the talent to be in the front next week.”

Anaheim senior Jose Madera (15:13) finished second in his heat of the Division I preliminaries.

“It was a pretty good race for me and I still feel really fresh for next week.” said Madera.

Laguna Beach senior Blake Hofmeister (15:50) nosed out Duarte senior Fabian Velasco (15:50) to win his Division IV heat, leading Laguna Beach (66 points) to the team win.

In Division II, Esperanza (50 points) won its’ prelim heat, led by junior Elliot Myers (15:40), who finished second.