Gordon Posts Memorable Victory

Kristen Gordon of Concord Carondelet High put a bad memory behind her in a big way Saturday in the Mt. San Antonio College Invitational cross-country meet.

Gordon, a senior, placed a distant fourth in the team sweepstakes race at Mt. SAC last year, but she won the event Saturday with a time of 16 minutes 57 seconds over the three-mile course.

The time was 63 seconds faster than her time last year and only two seconds shy of the course record set by Santa Rosa’s Julia Stamps in that same race.

Gordon was never seriously challenged after coming through the first mile in 5:15.

Yucaipa junior Kimi Welsh finished second in 17:58 to lead the defending State Division II champion Thunderbirds to the team title with 86 points. Carondelet was second with 140, Fallbrook third with 164.

In the boys’ team sweepstakes race, senior David Lopez of Glendale Hoover placed first in 15:01 and Grass Valley Nevada Union edged Carmichael Jesuit, 157-163, for the team title.