Realize 45:53 is ridiculously fast. Only nine other females in Beast history have run faster. Five of those ladies won a Foothill League individual championship during their time, six of those 10 earned at least one at-state award in cross country, and all nine ran 5:14 or faster for 1,600 meters, 10:52 or faster for 3,200 meters, and 17:51 or faster on the historic Mt. San Antonio College cross country course.
We're not saying she'll match those times, but a much-deserved break-through could happen soon. Hodge has already run one big personal best on the oval this winter, winning the second girl's 3,200-meter heat in 11:52.48 at the SCV All-Comers on Feb. 13. Looking at the bigger picture, though, Hodge could be the fifth runner Saugus needs to win the program's 11th consecutive CIF state cross country championship. The Centurions bring back the quartet of Kaylee Thompson, Mariah Castillo, Mackenna Park and Jacqueline Cascione from last fall's state championship team, as well as Abby Davis from the 2014 championship team. Saugus will already head into next cross country season as the favorite to win No. 11, but another improvement by Hodge would be a nice addition to Saugus' 2016 state championship line-up in November.