Segal Posts Win Over Locke Star in Runaway

There is not much that Birmingham High cross-country runner Cheri-Lee Segal cannot do.

The South African native makes straight A’s in school despite being deaf. But when she takes to the three-mile course at Pierce College, actions often speak louder than words.

“Handicap? What handicap?” Birmingham Coach Scott King said.

Segal, a senior, timed 19 minutes, 58 seconds to win her heat in the City Section preliminaries Wednesday at Pierce College and upset highly regarded Rosetta Hunter (20:25) of Locke, the third-place finisher in last year’s City final.

“She really took charge of the race,” King said. “She’s never run three good miles before.”

Segal’s victory helped push the Braves, who placed second behind Belmont, 48-67, to a berth in the City finals, to be held Nov. 18 at Pierce.

The top five teams and top 15 individuals in each heat advance to the championship meet.

San Fernando (94) finished third in its heat ahead of Locke (96) and Narbonne (143).

Segal was not the only Birmingham runner to enjoy success.

Senior Brian Gastelum clocked 15:02 in winning his heat in the boys’ competition and led Birmingham (third with 108 points) into the final.

The early going of Gastelum’s race, though, was a tight battle.

Gastelum and Banning’s Richard Rendon were 5:10 and 5:11 at one mile, respectively. But the two-time Valley Pac-8 Conference champion opened a 40-yard lead over Rendon by two miles (10:10).

“I knew he was a contender but I didn’t think he’d be that close to me,” Gastelum said. “I was throwing in little spurts to try to get away.”

Seven-time defending City champion Belmont easily won its heat over Garfield, 34-91. Kennedy (157) placed fifth.

San Fernando senior Obed Aguirre won in 15:14 and Taft edged Venice, 45-54, to win its heat.

Taft’s girls’ team placed four runners in the top nine in winning its heat, 60-79, over San Pedro.