San Pedro, Belmont Win City Titles

San Pedro High won its first girls’ title and four-time defending champion Belmont won its 15th boys’ championship in 18 years Saturday at the City Section cross-country finals at Pierce College.

Valerie Flores of San Pedro won her second consecutive individual title with a time of 17 minutes, 13 seconds.

Natalie Stein of North Hollywood, the 1997 champion, was second in 18:02.

Flores placed sixth at the state championships last year--the highest finish ever by a City Section girl.

“In the first downhill, she just ran past me and I couldn’t keep up with her,” Stein said. “I can’t run that fast.”

San Pedro finished with 48 points. Belmont was second with 65, Garfield third with 108.

Other San Pedro runners in the top 15 were: Heather Rosas, fourth in 18:33; Julia Gray, sixth in 18:39 and Nicole Robidart, 13th in 19:43.

Humberto Vargas of Belmont won the boys’ race in 14:55. Sergio Campos of Marshall was second in 15:15.

Belmont’s 34 points placed it well ahead of Monroe (75) and Birmingham (88).

Other Belmont boys in the top were: Raymundo Castillo, fourth in 15:19.22; Jerry Arias, 13th in 15:48.99; and Henok Mulugeta, 14th in 15:56.46

The top two teams in each race advance to the state championships at Woodward Park in Fresno next Saturday, as do the top five individuals among the top 12 finishers not from a qualifying team.