COMMUNITY COLLEGE ROUNDUP : Rangel, Dons Remain Unbeaten in Cross-Country

Jose Rangel and his Rancho Santiago teammates each continued streaks Saturday morning at the Irvine Invitational at Irvine Regional Park.

Rangel won his fourth individual title in as many tries this season, covering the four-mile course in 19 minutes 52 seconds. Teammates Jorge Francisco (seventh), Franky Hernandez (ninth) and Brian Mitzel (10th) also finished in the top 10 for the Dons, who won with 43 points. Rancho Santiago has won all four races its entered this season.

El Camino (50) was second and Mt. San Antonio (96) third.

Rangel, from Santiago High, battled Saddleback’s Adalberto Sanchez for the lead over the first two miles, then pulled away just before the second hill. Warren Wolf of Mt. San Antonio was second in 20:02. Ken Goodrich (20:05) of El Camino was third and Sanchez (20:12) fourth.

“This is the first race of the year where everybody is in shape,” Rancho Santiago Coach Al Siddons said. “It’s a good field and a good course but the important races are at the end of the season.”

Mt. San Antonio, with the help of two former Orange County prep standouts from Edison High--Jeanie and Jennifer Formosa--won the women’s race. Mounties runners finished in seventh through 11th place to win with 45 points. Long Beach (128) was second.

Maria Lopez of El Camino dominated the 5,000-meter race, winning in 19:01. Charlotte Mayock (19:34) of Riverside was second and Southwestern’s Maria Madueno (19:38) was third. Elli Estrada (19:42) of Rancho Santiago was fourth. Mayock won the same race last year in 19:41.

Jeanie Formosa was eighth in 20:43 and sister Jennifer (10:49) was ninth for Mt. San Antonio.