Long Beach Poly Boys Repeat in Division I

Long Beach Poly High overcame an illness to one of its top runners to win its second consecutive Division I boys’ title in the state cross-country championships at Woodward Park on Saturday.

The Jackrabbits, with ailing junior Aaron Durham finishing 22nd, totaled 115 points to defeat second-place Santa Ana, which had 116, and third-place Saugus, which had 117, in the closest three-team finish since the state meet began in 1987.

Poly’s workouts were tailored all season to produce its best performance at the state championships, but when Durham missed school because of a chest cold Wednesday, other Jackrabbit runners were forced to make up for his absence Saturday.

Senior Tyler Noesen placed 14th for Poly with a time of 15 minutes 44 seconds over the 5,000-meter course. Senior teammate Martin Conrad was 17th in 15:48 and Durham 22nd in 15:54.

Freshman Oscar Mendez placed 45th in 16:19 for the Jackrabbits and senior Nicholas Brulois, who also had been sick, was 66th in 16:39.

Southern Section teams won eight of the 10 titles.

Anaheim Katella capped an undefeated season with a 40-112 victory over Escondido San Pasqual in the Division II boys’ race.

Ojai Nordhoff swept the Division IV races. The Rangers won their sixth boys’ title in eight years with a 59-108 victory over Central Valley and their fifth girls’ championship in nine years with a 54-55 upset of Corona del Mar.

Senior Justin Willingham of Modesto Beyer posted the fastest boys’ time with a 15:18 clocking in the Division I race.

Sophomore Sara Bei of Santa Rosa Montgomery had the fastest girls’ time. She clocked 17:22 in the Division III race to win her second consecutive title.