One last cross-country race to make CIF State
If one were to imagine the cross-country season to be one long road trip, then this weekend would be the point that the travelers saw signs on the side of the road detailing the distance from their destination.
Although the desired location lies in Fresno, all competitors in Saturday’s CIF Southern Section finals know exactly how much mileage is left in the trip.
All that remains is the three miles of dirt trail mapped out at the Riverside City Cross-Country Course, a stretch that most of them already familiarized themselves with last week during the section’s preliminaries.
Those who have been here before know better than to expect the same race twice. While teams on the bubble to make the CIF finals had to race hard last week, the pace is ramped up when sectional titles are put in play.
A team title may not be in the cards for local schools, but there are a couple of individuals that could have a shot at winning their divisions.
Newport Harbor High’s Alexis Garcia has his eyes on the prize. He placed second (15 minutes 13.9 seconds) in the fastest of three Division 2 heats at the prelims. His coach, Nowell Kay, says that the junior was asking for a description of the division’s fastest runner before the race.
The competitor in question was Redlands East Valley’s Elias Opsahl, who completed the three-mile trek at Riverside in 15:08.8.
“It’s possible,” Kay said of Garcia’s chances to win. “Obviously, the Redlands kid is very talented. He’s the course record-holder at [Huntington Beach’s] Central Park.”
Opsahl ran 14:56.3 in the Central Park Invitational, which is held on the same course as the Sunset League finals. Garcia has won back-to-back league titles.
Sage Hill’s Brooklyn Button is another who could challenge for individual glory. The senior transfer from Iowa won her Division 5 heat in 18:21, which was second overall among those in her division.
Sun Valley Village Christian freshman Mia Barnett topped the Division 5 girls’ field at the prelims, coming across the finish line in 18:16.2. In a light schedule of five meets, the Olympic League champion is undefeated this year.
Button heads a Lightning team that is ranked third in Division 5, the highest standing by any local team within its respective division.
A team hoping to advance to the state meet must place in the top seven of its 24-team divisional finals heat to head on to Fresno’s Woodward Park on Nov. 25. Such criteria should make the Sage Hill girls a lock to qualify.
The Laguna Beach boys’ and girls’ teams, both ranked sixth in Division 4, are projected to make the cut.
Ocean View’s boys are also ranked sixth in Division 3. The repeat Golden West League champions have preserved themselves, rather than run full-tilt in all of their races this year, in an effort to leave more in the tank for the key races in November. Now is that time.
“The training was the same, but we chose the spots where we actually tested how fast we can go,” Seahawks coach Daniel Hurtado said of his team’s approach to the season.
Last year, the Seahawks’ season ended in disappointment, as the team finished ninth at finals despite being projected to make it to state.
Edwin Montes and David Brito are the two returning starters from that team. They say things are different now after experiencing the thrill of being relevant for the first time last year.
“I feel like we weren’t ready because everyone was scared,” Montes said of last year’s ninth-place showing at the section finals. “They didn’t know what it was to be the top dogs, the main runners.
“We put ourselves on the map. We have to defend our reputation.”
Corona del Mar’s boys are right behind the Seahawks at No. 10. The Sea Kings are four deep with the junior pack of Ian Turner, Duncan Taylor, Joseph Cianfrani and Joshua Means. If CdM is to make the state field, it will need someone to step up as its fifth runner.
Other ranked teams are the No. 7 CdM girls (Division 3), led by freshman Annabelle Boudreau, and the No. 10 Fountain Valley girls (Division 1), paced by junior Ashley Faller.
In addition to the teams that make the cut on Saturday, individuals of non-qualifying teams will advance to the state meet if they are among the top five finishers in their division and place in the top 20 overall.
CIF Southern Section cross-country finals
When: Saturday. The first race is at 7:45 a.m.
Where: Riverside City Cross-Country Course (1011 N. Orange St., Riverside, CA 92501)
Fan info: Tickets are $10 for general admission, $5 for students with current high school I.D. and children ages 5-13. There is a $10 fee to park in the main lot off of Orange Street. Gates will open to spectators at 6:45 a.m.
Race schedule (locals included)
Saturday
Girls’ Division 5, 7:45 a.m.: No. 3 Sage Hill
Girls’ Division 1, 8:05 a.m.: No. 10 Fountain Valley
Boys’ Division 5, 8:25 a.m.: Sage Hill
Boys’ Division 1, 8:45 a.m.: None
Girls’ Division 2, 9:05 a.m.: Marina
Boys’ Division 3, 9:25 a.m.: No. 6 Ocean View; No. 10 CdM
Girls’ Division 4, 9:45 a.m.: No. 6 Laguna Beach
Individuals: Diane Molina, Costa Mesa, sophomore
Boys’ Division 2, 10:05 a.m.: Newport Harbor
Individuals: Luke Sutherland, Marina, senior
Girls’ Division 3, 10:25 a.m.: No. 7 CdM; Ocean View
Boys’ Division 4, 10:45 a.m.: No. 6 Laguna Beach; Costa Mesa
St. Pierre helps Biola win NCCAA title
The Biola University men’s cross-country team is in the midst of a two-year transition period to move from the NAIA to the Division 2-tier of the NCAA.
The Eagles are doing their best to stay sharp in the meantime.
Former Ocean View Seahawk Ryan St. Pierre helped the Eagles win the National Christian College Athletic Assn. Division 1 national championship on Saturday.
“I truly feel blessed to be running on this Biola team,” St. Pierre said. “As I ask around on why everybody committed here, the most common thing I hear is the team and the guys on it.
“Our brotherhood and love for each other can be seen from a mile away.”
The freshman finished ninth in 26 minutes, 12 seconds on the 8K course at Choctaw Trails in Mississippi.
Biola defeated Cedarville, from Ohio, 31-45, placing all five scoring runners in the top 12. Sophomore Gabe Plendcio took first for the Eagles in 25:27.
A handful of Orange County runners compete in the Eagles’ starting lineup. Brea Olinda’s Giovanni Orellana (fourth, 25:44.05), Canyon’s Ryan Thompson (fifth, 25:44.15) and Dana Hills’ Timothy Wilson (12th, 26:31) are among the representatives in the Eagles’ running program.
“I always saw runners from Brea Olinda, Canyon and Dana Hills as superstars,” St. Pierre said. “Now, I’m chasing them in every workout. The depth and hard work of this team pushes me to chase goals I never thought I could.”
CdM girls’ volleyball to begin CIF State playoffs
The CdM girls’ volleyball team ran into a red-hot Mater Dei squad in the CIF Southern Section Division 1 playoffs, losing to the eventual champion Monarchs in the semifinals.
The Sea Kings (23-7) will continue their season in the CIF State Open Division bracket, beginning Southern California Regionals play at top-seeded San Diego Torrey Pines on Thursday at 7 p.m.
CdM returns to the state playoffs for the first time since 2011, when it did so under the tutelage of Marissa Booker.
Coincidentally, the Sea Kings also traveled to Torrey Pines in the first round of the tournament that year, defeating the Falcons in five sets.
CdM and Torrey Pines (32-3) have met once this season, with the Falcons beating the Sea Kings 25-19, 25-19, 25-22 in the Santa Barbara Tournament of Champions on Oct. 21.
The Falcons were the CIF San Diego Section Open Division champions, sweeping San Diego Canyon Crest in the final.
Twitter: @ProfessorTurner
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