HIGH SCHOOL CROSS-COUNTRY : CITY SECTION

Eddy Sanchez was the buzz at the City Section cross-country championships at Pierce College, even if his first-place finish in the boys’ final was not enough to stop Belmont’s 50-72 victory over Garfield in the team standings.

Although favorites Belmont and Birmingham lived up to advance billing by finishing atop the boys’ and girls’ standings, Garfield’s Sanchez got all the attention after he upset Belmont’s Manuel Lopez for the individual title in 15:42.

The senior had never beaten Lopez and thought he had little chance on the three-mile course. But a quick start and steady running through the final half-mile gave Sanchez a nine-second victory and helped Garfield advance to the state championships next weekend in Fresno. (The top two teams and top five individuals qualify for the state meet.)

Birmingham controlled the girls’ division, defeating Taft, 47-92. The race was really for the team title because El Camino Real freshman Jamie Newman ran as she has all season and glided to victory in 19:32 for the individual girls’ championship.