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The 9th annual Inland Empire Cross Country Challenge will likely be switched from Glen Helen Park in San Bernardino to Prado Park in Chino, according to meet organizer Rich Morales.

Morales, the girls cross country coach at Alta Loma High School, indicated Wednesday afternoon that there is a "98% chance" that the meet will be moved because Glen Helen Park has been the staging point for firefighters battling the Wrightwood fires. An official decision will be made by this morning.

As for the meet itself, this year is expected to be the biggest one in the event's history, with over 70 teams and 2,800 racers expected to compete Saturday starting at 7:45 a.m.
"Every year we've run this it's gotten bigger and bigger," Morales said. "This is the biggest meet in Southern California behind Mt. SAC and the Woodbridge Invitational."

The teams -- consisting of schools from San Bernardino and Riverside Counties -- will be broken up into three classes (Large, Medium and Small), with varsity races running from 8:54 to 10:40. The sweepstakes races -- the featured events at the meet -- will run at 9:30 (boys) and 9:50 (girls).

The Division I swimming preliminaries, scheduled for tomorrow at the Belmont Plaza Olympic Pool in Long Beach, is being moved to the Mills Aquatic Center on the Mt. SAC College campus. A continued problem with the Belmont Plaza's pump system - a problem that necessitated the moving of today's Division IV preliminaries - is the reason for the change according to a press release sent out my the CIF's main offices.

The location of events set to be held Thursday through Saturday are up in the air as the CIF consults with Belmont Plaza on the repair of the pump system. A decision on Thursday's action - and maybe Friday and Saturday's - will be made tomorrow by the CIF. Affected by the move tomorrow is the Citrus Belt League.

The CIF-SS Division IV preliminary meet set to be held tomorrow at the Belmont Plaza Olympic Pool in Long Beach, has been moved to the MIlls Aquatics Facility on the campus of Mt. SAC College.

A failure in the pump system was the reason for the move according to a press release sent out by the CIF-SS offices late this morning. The issue could affect events past Tuesday, and more preliminaries/finals in other divisions could be moved if the pump system can not be repaired quickly. A determination on that will be made Tuesday.

Local leagues affected by today's announcement include the De Anza, the Mt. Baldy and the Sunkist.

Two of the top girls basketball teams in the County, Cajon and Etiwanda, will play each other at 3 p.m. Saturday at Staples Center as part of a tripleheader that includes the Clippers' game with the Milwaukee Bucks that night. The "Downtown Showdown" will start with a game between South Torrance and Palos Verdes at 1 p.m., followed by Cajon and Etiwanda at 3 and the Bucks-Clippers game at 7:30.

The 13-0 Cowgirls, the CIF-SS Division II-A champions a year ago, are led by 5-foot-9 senior point guard Layshia Clarendon, who has signed a letter of intent to play at California, and 6-2 senior center Darshae Burnside, who has signed with Arkansas. Clarendon averages 20.5 points, 8.8 assists, 8.5 rebounds and 3.9 steals per game while Burnside averages 19.8 points and 18.5 rebounds per game.

Etiwanda comes in with a 10-5 record but played the Cowgirls tough in the championship game of the Magnolia Classic on Dec. 20, falling 60-58. The Eagles are led by senior guard Amber Williams - who averages 17.5 points and 4.3 steals per game - junior guard Natalia Hawthorne (11.8 points, 3.7 steals) and 6-1 junior center Jasmine Bernard (10.4 points, 8.5 rebounds).

Tickets to all three games are $20 for upper-deck seats and $43 for lower-level seats prior to Saturday. On Saturday, they'll be selling for $25 and $50, respectively. You can also click this link or call Rob Strikwerda at 213.742.7541 to order by phone, or via email at RAS@Clippers.com

The Central Division quarterfinal between Cajon and Ayala has been moved to 7 p.m. It's one of three games that has moved, as Palm Springs at Barstow was moved to 7 p.m., while Maranatha at Big Bear was moved to 1 p.m. Saturday.

As expected, the East Valley quarterfinal between Pasadena Maranatha and Big Bear will be on Saturday afternoon at Big Bear Middle School. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. The Palm Springs-Barstow game has been moved to 7 p.m. Friday as well.