Newcomers lead way for La Cañada cross-country
SAN MARINO – Apparently experience is overrated, at least for the La Cañada High cross-country program.
A pair of runners making their Lacy Park high school debuts led the Spartans as the reigning champion girls were dominant again in winning and the boys slipped to third place in the Rio Hondo League’s first meet Thursday afternoon at Lacy Park.
If there was a setback for the CIF Southern Section Division IV fifth-ranked Spartans girls, it came when the team was informed that head coach Nick LaCapria would not be able to attend the meet.
The fifth-year coach has been hospitalized since Saturday with complications from a car accident suffered over the summer.
Perhaps that served as motivation for the Spartans girls, who walloped South Pasadena, 26-73.
For a third consecutive season, the Spartans were led by a new pace-setter in the opening race as freshman Kayley Bond raced to victory in a time of 18 minutes, 20.02 seconds in her first run at Lacy Park since middle school.
“I was a little surprised because I’m a little bit sick from last night,” Bond said, “but I felt like today, we were all running for coach Nick. I hope when he sees this he’ll feel better.”
Three Spartans led Thursday’s race before Bond took over a little past the midway point and eventually held off San Marino’s Olivia Ruiz (18:26.46).
Reigning league champion Adena Dipaolo finished third for La Cañada in 18:38.92 and wasn’t surprised by her team’s effort, despite the circumstances.
“The good thing for us is that we know what to do,” Dipaolo said. “Yes, we have some young runners, but there are others who have been here for a while and it’s our responsibility to lead.”
The Spartans finished their first five runners through the first 11 spots as Sarah Arthur (fourth, 18:39.55), Ellaney Matarese (seventh, 19:24.95) and Kallie Rushing (11th, 20:13.32) rounded out the scoring.
“It’s a pretty good group of girls and the expectations are to still win today and to win league,” said assistant coach Pam Catabas, a former runner for LaCapria, who took over the head coaching duties Thursday.
On the boys’ side, the Spartans finished third with 68 points behind Division III 10th-ranked South Pasadena (29) and Temple City (60). The spot is one position down from last season, when the Spartans finished runner-up to South Pasadena.
La Cañada had a new face lead the way as junior Owen Serricchio finished second in 16:30.56 behind winner Oliver Chang (16:13) of South Pasadena.
“This is my first time here and all I wanted to do was run as fast as I could,” Serricchio said. “I just wanted to hang as long as I could.”
Senior Ryan Van Slooten turned in another strong effort for the Spartans in finishing sixth in 16:45.39.
“I feel pretty good. I left it all out there,” Van Slooten said. “I like to go out conservatively and don’t get distracted by other runners going too fast or too slow. You have to run your race.”
La Cañada added two more top-20 placers in Shaan Sandhu (17th, 17:27.83) and Sheldon Watanabe (18th, 17:36.64).
The La Cañada boys will get another chance at moving up at the league’s second meet on Oct. 11 at Crescenta Valley Park.
Twitter: @campadresports
