Moorpark’s First State Title Comes With Few Ill Effects

His top runner vomited in the morning, but when the State junior college cross-country championships were over Saturday, Moorpark Coach Manny Trevino had his first team title.

Paced by individual champion Eleazar Hernandez and sixth-place finisher Francisco Sandoval, the Raiders totaled 73 points to easily defeat second-place Pasadena City, which had 109, at Woodward Park in Fresno.

“Everybody came through and that’s what I’m really happy about,” said Trevino, who is in his 26th year at Moorpark.

In the women’s meet, Mission nearly matched Moorpark’s feat. Marisol Barajas of Mission placed first and defending champion Mt. San Antonio edged the Free Spirit, 82-83, for the title.

Hernandez had finished second in the State championships last year after an official directed him the wrong way on the course. Things didn’t start well Saturday when he tbecame ill after taking antibiotics for a cold.

He showed no ill effects during the race, however, as he broke away from the field after 1 1/4 miles and clocked 20 minutes 11 seconds over the four-mile course.

Miguel Galindo of Ventura and Ricardo Valenzuela of Mission finished second and third in 20:33 and 20:38.

Sandoval clocked 20:52 in sixth, with teammates Jesus Villavicencio and Juan Cortes placing 20th and 21st in 21:22 and 21:23. Moorpark’s Sabino Beltran was 32nd in 21:36.

Mission’s top three finishers in the women’s race mirrored the Moorpark men.

Barajas placed first in 18:29 over the 5,000-meter course, with teammates Patricia Loera sixth in 18:55 and Wendy Vallejo 20th in 19:53.