Birmingham, Granada Hills Qualify for Cross-Country Championships

After the Mid-Valley League cross-country championships two weeks ago, Birmingham and Granada Hills appeared to be the co-favorites for the City title.

But on Tuesday, four-time defending champion Belmont defeated Birmingham, 43-51, in the second heat of the City cross-country preliminaries at Pierce College.

Birmingham placed three runners in the first four, but Belmont placed five in the top 13 to upset the Braves.

The top three teams in each heat qualify for the championships Saturday at Pierce.

Birmingham’s Sven Haug won the race with a personal best of 15:12 over the three-mile course, while Tefere Gebre of Belmont finished second with a 15:28. Haug’s time was the day’s fastest.

Ian Alsen, who has run the fastest time (15:09) in the City Section this season, led Granada Hills to victory--and a berth in the finals--in the third heat. The Mid-Valley League champion ran just hard enough to win and recorded a 15:26. Sophomore teammate Craig Lawson finished third with a personal best of 15:31.

Wilson High became the favorite for the girls City section title by soundly defeating Kennedy, 25-59, in heat one.

Sandra Rodriguez of Wilson ran 18:00, the fastest girls time in the City Section this season. Mid-Valley League champion Sheri Lawson of Kennedy finished fourth in 18:40.