State Cross-Country : Southern Section Dominates by Winning 5 of 6 Team Titles

Junior Bryan Dameworth of Agoura High School, senior Scott Hempel of Walnut and senior Kira Jorgensen of Rancho Buena Vista in Vista each repeated as individual champions, and Southern Section schools won five of six team titles in the State high school cross-country championships Saturday at Fresno’s Woodward Park.

Dameworth covered the 5,000-meter course in 15 minutes 3 seconds to win his second straight Division I title. In both the fastest and the closest race of the championships, Mike Williamson of Thousand Oaks was second in 15:04 and Jim Rodriguez of Santa Ana Valley was third in 15:05.

Scott Hempel of Walnut repeated as the Division II champion with a time of 15:15 and Matt Metzger of San Francisco University won the Division III race in 16:00.

Dana Hills (91 points) and Rowland (124), finished first and second in Division I; Corona del Mar won Division II with 72 points, and Sherman Indian (58 points) was first and Maranatha (102) second in Division III. Both Dana Hills and Corona del Mar had finished second in their respective divisions last year.

In the girls’ competition, Jorgensen, who won the Division II title last year, won the Division I title. Running 17:42 for the fastest girls’ time of the day, Jorgensen outdistanced Rayna Cervantes of Montebello (17:50) and last year’s Division I champion, sophomore Deena Drossin of Agoura (17:55).

Junior Karen Hecox of South Hills easily won the Division II race in 18:01, and Rachel Lewis of Santa Cruz Santa Catalina was the Division III champion in 18:50.

Palos Verdes won its second straight Division I title with 65 points, and Newport Harbor repeated as the Division II champion with 75 points. Maranatha was trying for a repeat victory in Division III, but Bret Harte of Altaville won, 54 to 102.