Division IV Field Eats Herman’s Dust

Dusty Herman of Nordhoff High might want to consider going out conservatively in each of his remaining cross-country races this season.

The Ranger senior has a reputation for pushing the early pace, but he stepped off the accelerator a bit Friday and it paid off with a victory in the Division IV sweepstakes race of the Mt. San Antonio College Invitational.

Herman, defending Ventura County champion, clocked 15:29 over the three-mile course to defeat runner-up Jose Perezchica of McFarland by 13 seconds and help Nordhoff to a surprisingly easy victory.

The Rangers, paced by the 1-3-8 finish of Herman, Victor Ochoa and Matthew Torres, beat second-place McFarland, 44-109.

Ochoa clocked 15:47 and Torres, a transfer from St. Bonaventure, ran 16:23.

Jose Arambula finished fifth for McFarland, the state’s top-ranked Division IV team. But the Cougars’ third, fourth and fifth runners placed 29th, 34th and 45th.

In contrast, Aidan Short finished 16th in 16:33 and Chris Proudman was 19th in 16:41 for second-ranked Nordhoff.

“I wanted to hang back and then push it in the middle of the race,” Herman said after lowering his career best at Mt. SAC by 31 seconds. “I felt more focused during the race because I had more energy and I wasn’t as tired.”

Elaine Canchola of Nordhoff matched Herman’s victory in the girls’ Division IV sweepstakes race, but the defending state champion Rangers finished fourth with 125 points.

Corona del Mar placed first with 37 points, followed by Costa Mesa at 48 and Santa Maria St. Joseph with 107.

Canchola clocked 18:24 to record the third-fastest girls’ time of the day.