Grossmont College Wins Division of Irvine Invitational Cross-Country Meet

The Grossmont College men’s cross-country team, led by the first-place finish of sophomore Martin Sandoval, won the its division of the Irvine Invitational on Friday at Irvine Regional Park.

Sandoval covered the four-mile course in 19 minutes and 35 seconds. Grossmont won the competition with a score of 22 points. Though Orange Coast College and Los Angeles Trade Tech were next with 75, Orange Coast was awarded second place because of better placement of runners.

Abel Ramos of Trade Tech was second in 19:43. Orange Coast didn’t placed a runner in the top 10, rather, the Pirates depended on a heavy packing of runners in the middle of the field for success.

Sal Vargas (20:36) placed 12th for OCC, Tom Burns (20:47) was 13th, Sal Alcarez (20:50) was 15th and Martin Zemanek (20:53) was 16th.

Rancho Santiago (84 points) placed fourth in men’s competition, followed by Cerritos (133), Fullerton (150), Saddleback (170) and Golden West (241).

Rancho Santiago was led by Dave Miller (20:15) who finished sixth and Sergio Ocadiz (20:20) who finished seventh.

In the women’s competition, Kathy Kiernen ran the three-mile course in 17:30 to lead Orange Coast to another second-place finish, this time behind Miracosta.

Miracosta’s Tina Cheney was second in 17:57. Laura Lazoy (18:39) of OCC finished fifth.

Rancho Santiago (100) was third, followed by San Diego Mesa (103), Fullerton (121), Cerritos (153), Golden West (182), L.A. Trade Tech (194) and Cypress (264).