BOYS

Casey Clausen

SCHOOL: Alemany

SPORT: Football

YEAR: Junior

SEASON AT A GLANCE: Clausen, quarterback of the Indians’ four-receiver offense, is one of the keys to a successful season. He passed for 13 touchdowns last year, but expectations have risen for Clausen and Alemany, which is considered a contender for the Mission League title.

WEEK AT A GLANCE: Clausen completed 18 of 28 passes for 318 yards and five touchdowns in the Indians’ 46-21 season-opening victory over Hueneme. Clausen threw three first-half touchdowns, helping Alemany score 39 consecutive points and take a 46-7 lead.

GIRLS

Anita Siraki

SCHOOL: Hoover

SPORT: Cross-country

YEAR: Sophomore

LAST SEASON: Siraki placed fourth in the 1997 Pacific League cross-country championships. Her big breakthrough came at the end of the 1998 track season, however, when she ran 5:15.22 in the 1,600 meters and 11:59.68 in the 3,200 to place second in each event in the league finals.

WEEK AT A GLANCE: Siraki won the sophomore race of the season-opening Millikan Invitational at Heartwell Park in Long Beach on Saturday by clocking a course-record 18:41 over three miles. She broke the previous course record by 13 seconds and was the fastest of the meet by 39 seconds. “It was like she lived up to all the expectations in one race,” Hoover Coach Greg Switzer said.