No. 3 Tustin Prevails in Double Dual Meet

Tustin, the third-ranked boys’ cross-country team in Orange County, defeated top-ranked Santa Ana and No. 8 Saddleback in a double dual meet Thursday at Tustin.

The Tillers (2-0), running on their home course, were paced by a 1-2 finish by senior Daniel Smith (15 minutes 9 seconds) and junior C.J. Marciales (15:16) leading to a 26-31 victory over the Saints and 23-34 victory over the Roadrunners.

Smith and Marciales led from the start, but it was Tiller senior Tom Coffey’s surprise fourth-place finish (15:37), just behind Saint sophomore Juan Salgado (15:28), that sealed the victory.

“I tried to stay back and come on at the end,” said Coffey, whose previous best time on the course was 16:20. “My whole goal was that I was going for 15:30.”

Saddleback’s Jesus Alvarado finished fifth place in 15:42, two seconds ahead of Tiller sophomore Leo Gordillo.

Smith’s time was the fifth-fastest on the campus course. El Modena’s Victor Valen set the record of 14:58 in 1982.