Long Beach Poly Chases Rare Feat

The Long Beach Poly boys’ cross-country team is favored to win its third consecutive Division I title in the Southern Section championships at Mt. San Antonio College on Saturday.

A victory would make the defending state champion Jackrabbits the second team since 1951 to win three consecutive major division boys’ titles.

Thousand Oaks won three Division I titles in a row in 1992-94.

Anaheim Esperanza is favored to win the Division I girls’ title, but Irvine and defending state and section champion Yucaipa could win if Esperanza falters.

Senior Alfonso Leon of Santa Ana is favored to win the boys’ individual Division I title. Senior Lauren Fleshman of Canyon Country Canyon is tabbed to take the girls’ competition.

Championships will be contested in five boys’ and girls’ divisions. The top four teams and the top five individuals not on a qualifying team, but among the top 20 finishers, qualify for the state championships at Woodward Park in Fresno on Nov. 28.

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Championship matches in 10 divisions will be contested Friday and Saturday at the Southern Section girls’ volleyball finals.

All finals are at Cypress College, which has two gyms.

On Friday at 7 p.m., Newport Harbor plays Capistrano Valley in Division I-AA and Marlborough plays Brentwood in Division IV-A.

Saturday’s schedule:

10 a.m.--San Pedro Mary Star vs. Pasadena Poly in Division V-AA and Bishop Montgomery vs. Ocean View in Division III-AA.

1 p.m.--Hemet Baptist Christian vs. Desert Christian in Division V-A and Cerritos Valley Christian vs. Santa Ana Calvary Chapel in Division IV-AA.

4:30 p.m.--Cypress vs. Santa Margarita in Division II-AA and Harvard-Westlake vs. Notre Dame Academy in Division III-A.

7:30 p.m.--Simi Valley Royal vs. Huntington Beach Marina in Division I-A and La Habra vs. Lakewood St. Joseph in Division II-A.

All finalists will compete in next week’s state tournament.