The Cats posted a 6-0 record in the league dual meet season a year ago, and despite the loss of key personnel to graduation, Townsend thinks that Gatos had what it takes to do repeat.

"This team looks to be a combination of veteran experience and youthful speed," said Townsend.

Leading the charge for the Wildcats will be talented returners Ali Dodson, Sally Stanton and Caroline Stege, all two-time state qualifiers for the Wildcats.

Dodson, a senior, and Stege, a junior, both made it to the state meet in the 4x400 relay in each of the past two years, and Stanton, a senior, was a state qualifier in the pole vault and on that same relay team.

Juniors Shea Dailor and Michelle Johnson, senior Laney Chinn and sophomore Ariana Nicewonger are each returning Central Coast Section qualifiers for Los Gatos. Johnson and Chinn were each CCS finalists in the high jump, Nicewonger qualified in the 3,200 meters and Dailor made it in the discus.

Sophomores Monica Rude and Ali Rubnitz and freshmen Sam Peppard, Jill Goodwin and Jamie Erickson are all speedsters who join the varsity this spring.

Los Gatos opened the year last week with an 83-51 loss to Mitty in a non-league meet.

Dodson won the 400 meters in a personal best 58.79 and took the 200 in 26.75. She also teamed with Erickson, Rude and senior Cheryl Parkman for a win in the 4x100 relay in 51.9.

Stanton was tops in the pole vault at 11-0, won the 100 hurdles in 16.83 and finished first in the 300 hurdles in 48.25. Erickson ran second in 52.08 in her first attempt in the 300 hurdles.

Stege was second to Dodson in the 200 in 28.02 with Ashley Benson third in 28.37 to complete the sweep.

Goodwin was second in the 1,600 in 5:30.33 with Nicewonger third in 5:36.70, Stege was second in the 400 in 61.13, Jacqui Kemp was third in the 800 in 2:43.11 and Dailor was third in both the discus at 92-0 and the shot put at 26-11.25.

The Gatos girls competed in the Mt. Pleasant Relays on March 6.

The foursome of Benson, Goodwin, Peppard and sophomore Marlana Shile finished third in the 4x800 relay in 10:04, and Nicewonger, Goodwin, senior Ashley Harris and freshman Kristy Barker nailed fourth in the 4x1,600 relay.

The quartet of Stanton, Peppard, Shile and Dodson ran 4:12.53 to finish fifth in the 4x400 relay.

"It was a very fast field," said Townsend. "Three of the four teams who finished ahead of us were in the state meet 4x400 finals in 2003."

Stanton topped 11-0 in the pole vault and Erickson cleared 8-0. Dailor threw 29-7.5 for a personal best in the shot.