Lila Copeland among girls’ cross-country champions giving stellar performances

From Woodland Hills to Riverside, the buzz at the City Section and Southern Section cross-country championships on Saturday surrounded the performances turned in by talented young female runners.

Lila Copeland, a 14-year-old freshman at Palisades, won the City Section Division I girls’ title in 18:45.88 at Pierce College. She also led the Dolphins to the team title.

One week earlier, she collapsed at the finish line in the prelims, overheated. Saturday’s conditions were ideal for running three miles, a little chilly and no wind.

“I felt a lot better,” Copeland said. “My lungs felt a lot better.”

El Camino Real won the Division I boys’ title behind junior Justin Hazell, who triumphed in 14:57.87. At the Southern Section finals in Riverside, sophomore sensation Claudia Lane of Malibu had the day’s fastest girls’ time in winning Division 4 in 16:30.1. Sophomore Chloe Arriaga of Walnut won Division 1 in 16:47.5.

Temecula Great Oak won the Division 1 boys’ and girls’ titles. Ethan Comeaux of Redondo took the boys’ title in 14:43.2. The state championships are next Saturday in Fresno.

Fight consequences: The good news for the football team at Woodland Hills El Camino Real is that it has advanced to its first City Section Division I semifinal since 1980. The bad news is the Conquistadores won’t be at full strength for their game on Friday against unbeaten Harbor City Narbonne.

El Camino Real and Banning got into a brawl during the Conquistadores’ 41-27 victory. Four El Camino Real players were ejected, Athletic Director Richard Yi said. There’s expected to be video review to see if any players left the bench, which could lead to additional suspensions. Banning had numerous players leave its bench.

City uncertainty: It remains to be seen if the City Section will remove unbeaten Hawkins from the Division II playoffs. A hearing has been scheduled for Tuesday to review allegations from a Los Angeles Unified School District and City Section investigation into the football program.

Members of the City Section’s Board of Managers will decide if sanctions are warranted. Canoga Park, which lost to Hawkins, 65-7, in the quarterfinals, will practice Monday and Tuesday in case Hawkins is removed from the playoffs, Hunters Coach Ivan Moreno said Saturday. Hawkins is scheduled to play Grant in Friday’s semifinals at home.

Record game: Eric Melesio of Riverside Norte Vista set an Inland Empire record by rushing for 532 yards in 43 carries and scoring eight touchdowns in a 62-56 victory over St. Margaret’s in the Southern Section Division 7 playoffs. He has rushed for 3,914 yards and 50 touchdowns this season.

Division 1 semifinals: The match-ups are set for the Southern Section Division 1 football semifinals on Friday. Corona Centennial (11-1) will play Bellflower St. John Bosco (10-2) at Cerritos College, and Santa Ana Mater Dei (12-0) will play Rancho Cucamonga (12-0) at Orange Coast College.