MTAL track

Mission Trail Athletic League

 The defending five-time Mission Trail Athletic League champion Cougars have won team titles with no more than eight athletes producing multiple points.

 That again will be the case on Saturday when Santa Catalina looks to make it six straight at Pacific Grove High.

 Laurel Wong is the class of the section in the pole vault, having cleared 13-feet-3. Wong will look to supply big points in the long jump, 100 and 400 relay.

 Carolina Bishop will chase league titles in the 100 hurdles and 300 low hurdles while Avery Blanco will produce points in four events, where she is the favorite in the triple jump.

 Pacific Grove, Stevenson and Carmel are legitimate threats to the Cougars run, particularly with their depth. Last Santa Catalina won eight events, which amounted to more than half their point total.

 Marina sophomore Aaliyah Carreras will be a disruptive force in the sprints, as she is the favorite in the 100 and 200.

 Soledad will play a role in the outcome as well as school record holder Noora Hautamaki has the top mark in the long jump and shot put, and is ranked second in the triple jump.

 King City is taking aim at its fifth straight boys team title with a cast of unknowns. Jhames Bautista will chase league titles in the 110 high hurdles and 300 intermediate hurdles.

 Stevenson's Tom Phan has been the leagues best in the long jump, triple jump and high jump all spring. The Pirates can potentially win half their events.

 One of the top throwers in the section will be on display in Pablo Villasenor, who will be the heavy favorite to win the shot put and discus for Gonzales.

 Pacific Grove's distance core includes Jake Alt and Will Stefanou, both members of the Division IV cross country championship team last fall.