High School Cross-Country : Lewis Helps Burbank Clinch Title

Senior Todd Lewis set a course record as Burbank High rolled to a 15-50 victory over Burroughs in a Foothill League meet at Griffith Park on Thursday.

Lewis, the defending league champion, timed 15 minutes, 39 seconds over the 3-mile course as Burbank (9-0, 5-0 in league action) swept the first 7 places and clinched its first league dual-meet title since 1982.

“It’s been a long time coming,” Coach Dave Kemp said. “We’d finished second several times since ’82. It feels good to win it again.”

Following Lewis were teammates Mike Sanchez (16:22), Robert Lopez (17:38), Mike Segovia (17:40) and Adrian Dela Rosa (17:50).

Burbank, the No. 6-ranked team in the Southern Section 3-A Division poll, meets third-ranked Hart in the Foothill League finals at Griffith Park next Thursday.

If the Bulldogs win, they’ll wrap up their first outright Foothill League championship since 1982.

Granada Hills 19, Kennedy 36--Craig Lawson ran a personal best for the Highlanders in a North Valley League meet at Pierce College.

Lawson, the fourth-place finisher in last year’s City Section championships, ran 15:02 over the 3-mile course, lowering his previous best by 7 seconds.

Birmingham 19, Reseda 42--Junior Brian Gastelum led the Braves to victory with a time of 15:53 in the Mid-Valley League meet at Pierce.

In girls’ meets:

Burbank 18, Burroughs 37--Nicole Jimenez of Burbank remained undefeated in dual-meet competition by winning the Foothill League meet at Griffith Park.

Jimenez ran 20:35 over the 3-mile course.

L.A. Baptist 22, Western Christian 35--Karen Talamantes of Western Christian won the race, but L. A. Baptist took the next 4 places and the team victory in the Alpha League meet at O’Melveny Park.

Talamantes ran 20:05 over the 3-mile course. Gina Johnson (21:33), Kirsten Berger (21:34) and Sarah Weitzel (21:40) paced L. A. Baptist (4-1), the No. 4-ranked team in the Southern Section 1-A Division poll.

Birmingham 18, Reseda 40--Heather Ballard, a 13-year-old freshman, paced Birmingham (3-0) in the Mid-Valley League meet at Pierce.

Ballard ran a personal best of 20:06 over the 3-mile course and teammate Cheri-Lee Segal finished second in 20:53.