Seaside Invitational Boasts Strong Field

Several of the state’s top cross-country teams and individual runners are expected to compete today in the Seaside Invitational at San Buenaventura State Beach in Ventura.

Thousand Oaks, the top-ranked boys’ team in the state Division I preseason poll, is one of five squads ranked in the top eight entered in the meet.

The others are No. 5 Hart, the three-time defending state Division I champion, No. 6 Peninsula, No. 7 Palmdale and No. 8 Canyon.

Mebrahtom Keflezighi of San Diego High, who finished third in last year’s state Division I championships, headlines the list of individual standouts.

Peninsula--third in The Harrier magazine’s national poll--is the team to beat in the girls’ meet with Thousand Oaks, Hart and Canyon leading the local entries.

Gabriela Rodriguez of Oxnard, the third-place finisher in the 3,200 meters in June’s state track championships, should be one of the top individuals.

The meet will begin at 8:15 a.m.