DAILY PILOT HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETE OF THE WEEK:

If Desiree Alexander were to write a book about her high school cross country career at Newport Harbor, she would probably want to leave out the summer of 2007.

Even if she wanted to describe what took place then there probably wouldn’t be much to remember. All she can recollect is she took on an illness that left her as sick as she had ever been in her life.

Nausea, sore throat and lethargy left her confined in her home for two weeks.

Working out to prepare for her junior year? Forget about it.

Taking a trip to Mammoth to train with her teammates? Not a chance.

Alexander was only left with a setback.

She had earned varsity letters in her first two years at Newport Harbor. She was anxious to take the next step and gain further confidence that she could land a spot on a Division I college team.

But that seemed to be in limbo heading into her junior year in the fall. Still, she stayed with it and competed with the Sailors. She actually couldn’t gain her form from her sophomore year, but she was still part of Harbor’s CIF state championship in Division II.

She gained inspiration from her team to get back on course. Harbor had finished runner-up at state for two years previous to breaking through with the title in 2007.

Heading into her senior year Alexander never became ill and progressed as runner throughout the summer.

The results immediately showed in the Sailors’ first meet of the season.

She won the girls’ senior Division II race at the Laguna Hills Invitational Sept. 13. But more impressive than that, she left her former personal-best time in the dust. She finished in 17 minutes, 33 seconds, lowering her personal record by 26 seconds.

“I felt really good this whole summer,” Alexander said. “I worked pretty hard and I stayed healthy, which was the main goal. Last offseason, I don’t think I was prepared as I am this year. This year I feel I have worked harder. Last year, I didn’t train at Mammoth, but this year I did.”

Training with her teammates in Mammoth last month definitely helped Alexander, who showed she is capable of being the Sailors’ top runner this year.

Harbor Coach Eric Tweit said more than likely she will alternate with fellow senior Erica Pearson as Harbor’s lead runner. Pearson finished second behind Alexander in 17:48 at Laguna Hills.

“We knew [Alexander] was capable of this,” Tweit said. “It was just a matter of her being healthy and in good shape.”

Running with and against Pearson has also helped Alexander. They’ve been a part of the Sailors’ success the past three years and they’re anxious to leave their mark in their fourth year. They’re expecting Harbor to return to Fresno and compete at the state meet again this season.

Who knows how high the team will finish this season. Last year was a surprise, but already the Sailors are feeling better at this point of season than at this point in 2007, Alexander said.

Much of the reason for it is the two seniors, who push each other to improve.

“She does push me,” Alexander said of Pearson. “She works very hard … I don’t think we are very competitive during practice, but when it comes to racing I think everyone is competitive against each other.”

Alexander also has a school record and a spot on a college team to motivate her. She will try to break the school record — 16:33 by Whitney Blue — tonight at the Woodbridge Invitational. She’s competing in the sweepstakes race that’s scheduled to start at 9:15 p.m.

After this year, Alexander, who says she is 5-foot-2 1/4 , is planning to take her running to a higher ground. She says she wants to compete for University of San Francisco, which has shown interest in her. Alexander would llike to go there to reunite with her friend, Sophia Ditty, who graduated from Harbor this past spring and is with the Dons.

If she continues improving she’s sure to get there.

STEVE VIRGEN may be reached at (714) 966-4616 or by e-mail at [email protected].