McFarland High’s cross-country team

Jose Arambula gathers his thoughts during a break in training along a farm road in McFarland in 1997.  (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

Painted emblems celebrating California championships are shown in this 1999 photo of the gym at McFarland High School.   (Ken Hively / Los Angeles Times)

Members of the McFarland High School cross-country team train while running through the vineyards of McFarland in 1997.  (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

Coach Jim White attends to Erik Perez, who was thrown from a car after a tire blew out, causing the vehicle carrying members of the McFarland High School cross-country team to crash into an orange grove in 1997.   (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

McFarland High School cross-country runner Jose Perezchica, left, sprints for the finish line during the 1997 California championship.  (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

McFarland High School cross-country runner Jose Perezchica, left, races against a member of the Belmont High School team, with McFarland’s Jose Arambula running third, at a meet held at Griffith Park in 1997.  (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

Cheryl White, wife of coach Jim White, comforts McFarland High cross-country runner Salvador Medina while Ermelinda Ozuna does the same for runner Aurelio Velassco after the team lost the 1997 California cross-country championship.  (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

McFarland High cross-country coach Jim White shares a laugh with some team members in 1997, shortly after the team’s portrait was taken for the school yearbook.  (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

McFarland High’s cross-country runners, who won a seventh state championship for their school in 1999, pose with coach Jim White, who holds the team’s trophy.  (Ken Hively / Los Angeles Times)