WSC CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS : Sallberg Paces Glendale to 3rd Title in a Row

The junior college cross-country season is less than two weeks from its conclusion, yet Tuesday’s Western State Conference finals at Griffith Park served as a coming-out party for Glendale College’s Jacques Sallberg.

Sallberg, a highly touted freshman from Pasadena Muir High, was sidelined early in the season because of tendinitis in his right knee, but he proved unbeatable in the WSC championships.

He timed 20 minutes 25 seconds over the 3.9-mile course to win the men’s title over Ventura’s Jorge Barajas (20:47) and Roman Morales (20:48). Glendale placed five runners among the top 12 finishers to win the meet with 32 points, followed by Ventura (46) and Moorpark (102). It was the Vaqueros’ third consecutive WSC title and fifth in six years.

The winners of the men’s and women’s team titles automatically advance to the state championships Nov. 21 in Fresno, and the second- and third-place teams are expected to receive at-large berths.

“We got out quick and just maintained from there,” Glendale men’s Coach Eddie Lopez said. “In the past, we’ve had to chase (Ventura) down at the end of the race. I didn’t want to have to do that today.”

After sharing the early lead with Barajas, Morales and Kipp Ortenburger of Cuesta, Sallberg opened a small gap on his Ventura rivals after 1 1/2 miles, watched Morales briefly take the lead, then broke away for good at the two-mile mark (10:45).

“I feel like I’m only at about 85% right now,” Sallberg said. “It’s all in your heart, so even at 85%, I figured I should be able to win.”

Luis Jacobo (fourth in 21:03), Sergio Becerril (fifth in 21:07), Gilbert Roca (10th in 21:26) and Juan Gomez (12th in 21:41) rounded out Glendale’s scoring runners.

Sophomore America Rivas of Glendale rolled to an impressive win in the women’s race with a time of 17:57 over the 2.9-mile course, but that was not enough to prevent Ventura from winning its first WSC title since 1986. The Pirates (46 points), led by runner-up Valerie Aceves, outdistanced Glendale (61) and Cuesta (82).

“Our middle runners really came through for us today,” Ventura Coach Tuck Mason said.

Isabel Saucedo (fifth in 19:08) and Melissa Bramlett (eighth in 19:32) were the Pirates’ Nos. 2 and 3 runners.