Budding cross country rivalry...

Much of the cross country talk in the Santa Clarita Valley this year is bound to focus on defending state Div. I champion Shannon Murakami and her Saugus girls - ranked No. 1 in the area by the Daily News.

But another intriguing story will be how Foothill League freshman standouts Amber Murakami and Bailey Miller match up once league competition begins.

Murakami - Shannon's younger sister - finished fourth place overall and first in the freshman division Sept. 7 at the three-mile Seaside Invitational in Ventura, while Miller (West Ranch of Stevenson Ranch) took first place Wednesday at the three-mile Crescenta Valley Multi-Team Meet in La Crescenta.

Although Murakami beat Miller by more than a minute when they met at Seaside, this could be the beginning of a truly great local rivalry.

kevin.connelly@dailynews.com