DAILY PILOT HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETE OF THE WEEK:

Portraits, the worst kind of pictures Sophia Ditty likes to take. But she has to pose this time.

With practically no one nearby, just her and the photographer, Ditty smiles every time. She laughs about her cheesy grins later because as an amateur photographer, Ditty loves to capture reality.

The camera brings her joy, as does running. They allow her to escape. Eventually they’ll be her ticket out of Newport Beach.

Traveling is what Ditty plans to do after graduating from Newport Harbor High. The Galapagos Islands, the Philippines, Puerto Escondido in Mexico, she’s been there in recent years. Anywhere she can watch giant tortoises, sharks underwater, or learn Spanish are ideal vacationing spots.

Getting away is constantly on Ditty’s mind. The senior got her chance today accompanying her Newport Harbor girls’ cross country team to Fresno. During the four-hour van ride to Saturday’s CIF State cross country championships, Ditty planned to map out the 5K course like any other trip.

This is her third straight visit to the state meet at Woodward Park. Each time her outings have improved, from finishing sixth on the team two years ago to third last year, and this year it looks like first.

Even better would be seeing the Sailors take the top spot in the Division II race after back-to-back runner-up finishes.

“I think it is fine, but some people [don’t],” said Ditty, whose only expectation, like on any trip, is to have fun. “The first year that I went to state and we got second, I think it was really close between us being first and second. I don’t remember what the [point situation] was last year. I don’t even think we were supposed to be second last year.”

First, or second, the place doesn’t matter to Ditty, who’s received interest from the University of San Francisco to run. What is important to Ditty is that the Sailors enjoy the experience. Despite this being her last CIF-sanctioned cross country event, she’s not stressed out.

“Everything that we’ve done is to get [to the state meet] and so we’re here, why worry,” she said. “If you’re not having fun, there’s no point in doing it.”

Don’t mistake Ditty for not being competitive. She’s the same teenager who battles her father, Tim Ditty, over who can take more photos while on vacation.

“We always try to take better pictures,” said Ditty, knowing last week she lost her best chance to beat her dad because she was without a camera.

She had to run. On a perfect day weather-wise and on the taxing three-mile Mt. San Antonio College course in Walnut, Ditty’s finish was a Kodak moment. What a day to deliver a personal-best performance, 18 minutes, 21 seconds, good enough for 18th, making her the first Sailor to cross the finish line en route to Newport Harbor claiming its second CIF Southern Section Division II championship in three years.

Most athletes just don’t run their best at Mt. SAC. Ditty said she cut three seconds off her previous best on any course. The mark and the team’s showing surprised Newport Harbor Coach Eric Tweit, who knows he has a talented team in Ditty, junior Erica Pearson, freshman Tori Sarris, senior Jennifer Cain, sophomore Ava Nelson, junior Desiree Alexander and senior Kelly DeYoung. But since Ditty arrived at Newport Harbor, Tweit, in his 18th season, never expected her to turn into what she is now: a No. 1 runner for a state-title contender.

“Usually when [the freshmen] come out I can pick the people who can run [exceptionally well]. With her, I completely missed it,” Tweit said. “She showed [more] promise as a long jumper in track and field. I never gave it a thought about her really doing anything in cross country. Then midway through her sophomore year, she started running some good races. She ended up being our No. 7 girl. Her junior year she took off. Her best race last year was actually in the state meet.

“She has done it perfectly, improving every year. I’ve never seen an athlete so calm under pressure. I’ve never seen her upset. She just puts her headphones on and goes into her own little world.”

A world Ditty can’t wait to explore on foot, and with camera in hand.

DAVID CARRILLO PEÑALOZA may be reached at (714) 966-4612 or at [email protected].