HIGH SCHOOL CROSS-COUNTRY ROUNDUP : McCrank’s Finish Nudges Hart Into First Place

The Hart High boys’ cross-country team, second-ranked in the Southern Section 3-A Division, tied No. 1 San Gabriel, 28-28, Thursday at San Gabriel High, but won the Foothill League meet because its sixth runner posted a faster time than San Gabriel’s fifth runner.

Senior Steve McCrank, the Indians’ sixth runner, placed 10th in 16:37. McCrank finished ahead of Dorro Pingarron, San Gabriel’s fifth and final scorer.

“He’s the hero,” Hart Coach Gene Blankenship said. “He’s getting better every week.”

The victory moved Hart (5-0 in league meets) into first place and gives the Indians at least a share of the league dual-meet championship for the seventh consecutive season. San Gabriel (4-1) dropped to second place.

Steve Lepken (15:38) and Hector Chavez (15:52) paced Hart with second- and fourth-place finishes.

Angel Martinez timed 15:15 to lead the Matadors.

In other boys’ meets:

North Hollywood 26, Grant 29--The Huskies captured the East Valley League title with the win at Pierce College.

Dov Waisman (16:38) and David Mazin (17:37) placed first and second for North Hollywood (3-0 in league)

Grant dropped to 2-1.

San Fernando 24, Kennedy 31--San Fernando (3-0) sewed up the North Valley League title at Pierce College. The Tigers’ Obed Aguirre finished first in a personal-best 15 minutes, 11 seconds over the three-mile course.

The Golden Cougars (2-1) were led by Warren Reich, who finished second in 16:18.

GIRLS

San Fernando 24, Kennedy 33--San Fernando snapped Kennedy’s winning streak of 49 league dual meets with the upset at Pierce College.

Aracely Flores (20:54) of Kennedy (2-1) finished first but the Tigers placed three runners in the top five finishers to clinch the league title.

Julie Hernandez (22:11) and Maria Sanchez (22:22) paced San Fernando (3-0) with second- and third-place finishes.

Bell-Jeff 27, Notre Dame 30--The sixth-ranked Guards (7-1, 5-1) survived first- and second-place finishes by Notre Dame to win a San Fernando Valley League meet at Pierce College.

Notre Dame senior Lynn Hosek finished first in a school-record time 18:41 to lead the Knights (4-3, 2-3).

North Hollywood 23, Grant 34--Rosa Melendez finished first in 19:42 to pace North Hollywood (3-0) to the East Valley League title at Pierce College.

Mari Chernow (21:35) and Rachel Gibson (21:53) placed second and third for the Lancers (1-2).