Boys’ Cross-Country Preview: Hype begins to build for Burroughs
With varying degrees of expectations, the city of Burbank’s four high school boys’ cross-country teams set out with common goals.
For Burroughs, Burbank, Bellarmine-Jefferson and Providence highs, each hopes to improve throughout the course of the year and contend in their respective leagues.
BURROUGHS
The rankings, accolades and attention have certainly built up throughout the offseason for the Indians.
Burroughs was listed on Dyestatcal.com’s “watch list” as one of the state’s top 12 programs. That same website listed junior Alexander Hirsch as the No. 80 runner in the country.
As for Milesplit.com, the running website ranked Burroughs as No. 27 in California based solely on its returners from the CIF State team. That ranking, however, didn’t factor in Hirsch, who missed the state final due to an injury.
“You know, I haven’t seen the rankings, but I would guess that that’s based on the success we’ve had the last two seasons,” Burroughs Coach John Peebles said. “We have a lot of young guys, but also six kids who have run the state meet, so it’s a nice mix. We still have to prove it on race day.”
Hirsch missed good portions of last season with a shin injury, but is back this season.
Hirsch is one of six returners with state experience along with senior Timothy Wells and juniors Jacob Calderon, Jagdeep Chahal, Andrew Hoxsie and Chris Hoxsie.
Seniors Patrick Wells and Daniel Fendrich will be vying for the Indians’ No. 7 spot.
Last season, different runners stepped for Burroughs.
At the Pacific League finals, in which the Indians topped Arcadia, 37-45, graduated senior Justin Villagran was Burroughs’ No. 1 runner and took fourth (14 minutes 50.25 seconds), while Chahal was the second Indian across the finish line and took sixth (15:04.85).
When Burroughs took sixth at the CIF Southern Section Division I Championship, the Indians had four runners across through 50, including No. 3 Chahal (43rd, 16:06.7) and No. 4 Timothy Wells (47th, 16:08.4).
Finally at state, where Burroughs took 12th, Chahal (31st, 15:44) took first for his squad, while Wells was third (66nd, 16:12.1).
Burroughs commences the season Saturday at the Great Cow Run at Cerritos High.
BURBANK
There’s a change up top for Burbank this season as the former assistant coaching tandem of Robert Hammell and Kathryn Nelson is sharing the co-coaching duties this season.
While Burbank has about 12 runners battling for seven starting spots, the team is relatively young and inexperienced.
The Bulldogs graduated their top two runners from last season, Jonas Macromallis and Adam Navar, but return No. 3 and 4 in seniors Elijah Parrott and Angel Flores.
“With the boys, you have our two team captains who will lead us,” Nelson said. “And I think it’s actually a strength to have so many young runners because there’s nowhere to go but up.”
Outside of Parrott and Flores, the Bulldogs return sophomore Jahir Olvera, who will be flanked by newcomers Nick Glover, Sergio Bernal, Peter Al-Hasani and Samir Malhotra.
Last season, Burbank finished fourth in the Pacific League and advanced to the CIF Southern Section Division I prelims.
This season, Hammell and Nelson have targeted another top four finish in league. The pair is hoping that Burbank can return to the Division I finals.
Burbank has a small, non-scoring meet Thursday at Santa Clarita’s Central Park before opening the season at the two-day Rosemead Invitational, which begins Sept. 9.
BELLARMINE-JEFFERSON
Before the season even got underway, the Guards were issued a stiff challenge due to league reassignment.
Bell-Jeff was moved up from the Santa Fe League to the more competitive Camino Real League.
“It’s going to be a real challenge for us and we’ll see how it goes,” longtime Guards Coach Jim Couch said. “The good thing is that we have more runners than last year, which will help.”
Bell-Jeff finished fifth at league finals at Santa Fe Dam with only five runners present.
This season, Couch has between 10-14 boys, depending who is dropped to junior varsity. Couch returns a pair of valuable runners, led by sophomore Nick Montijo.
The youngster became the Guards’ top runner and placed sixth at the league finals in 18:02.
“Last year, it was really his first year running and he did a great job,” Couch said.
Junior Tim Carlson, who captured the league’s 800-meter championship in track and field last season, also figures to be a strong competitor.
Couch has a newcomer he’s excited about in freshman Eric Flores, who has an excellent chance of winning the Guards’ No. 3 spot.
The Guards open the season Saturday at the Cool Breeze Invitational at the Rose Bowl.
PROVIDENCE
There’s no question who is expected to be the Pioneers’ top runner in 2016. No, the only doubt is who will follow.
Providence co-Coach Michelle Boucher believes she has a bona fide leader back in All-Liberty League runner Ryan Donnelly, who will be a junior this season.
“He’s a strong runner and a good finisher,” said Boucher, who will be sharing the co-coaching duties this season with Ross Genovese. “He’s a guy who is going to be near the front in the Liberty League and may contend for a title.”
When asked who her No. 2, 3 and 4 runners were, Boucher took a bigger pause.
“Well, that’s a good question,” she said. “We have a good pack behind Ryan. Now, as to who is going to step up and take over those spots, that’s still a wait and see. I do think, though, that Ryan will be out in the front and I hope that his gap won’t be too big over the rest of the group.”
Sophomore Conrad Davis has impressed through summer practices and has the edge to become the Pioneers’ No. 2 runner, although transfer Lorenzo Edgar is also a strong candidate.
Last season was a bit of a surprise as the Pioneers finished out the league’s top three (fourth place) and missed the postseason for the first time “in at least five years,” Boucher said.
The good news for Boucher and Genovese is that program has about 18 boys, which provides depth.
Providence opens the season with its own invitational Sept. 7 at the 2.6-mile course at remodeled Johnny Carson Park.
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Andrew J. Campa, andrew.campa@latimes.com
Twitter: @campadresports
