Kubler Takes the Hardware by Posting an Easy Victory

Tom Kubler of Viewpoint High and the Flintridge Prep team spent most of the season as heavy favorites to win titles in the state cross-country championships.

On Saturday, they backed up those high expectations with runaway victories in the state finals at Woodward Park.

Kubler, a junior, ran 15:51 over the 5,000-meter course to win the Division V individual title by 24 seconds. Flintridge Prep defeated Downey Calvary Chapel, 69-100, for its second consecutive Division V team title.

Lancaster Desert Christian was fourth with 123 points, followed by Santa Clara with 135.

Kubler, runner-up in the state final last year, had a three-second lead after a 4:47 opening mile. His lead had grown to 13 seconds when he came through two miles in 10:08.

“After the first three-quarters of a mile, I had set my place in the race,” the confident Kubler said. “I knew that I just had to finish the race and I would win.”

Kubler’s time broke the state meet Division V record of 15:55 set by Ryan Downey of San Juan Capistrano St. Margaret’s in 1996. It was 10 seconds faster than the time he ran at Woodward Park last year but slower than the 15:27 clocking he hoped for.

That’s what senior Augie Escobar of Villa Park ran in winning the Division II title earlier in the meet.

Flintridge Prep edged Maranatha, 86-94, for its first state title last year, but the Rebels made sure their second victory wasn’t as close by placing their Nos. 1 through 4 runners within six seconds.

Senior Imran Ahmad of Flintridge Prep placed 18th in 16:55 with junior Ian Pocock 19th in 16:56, junior West Vane 20th in 16:59, junior Steve Pearson 24th in 17:01 and senior Steve McQuaid 36th in 17:34 for the Rebels.

“We ran as a team completely and totally,” Coach Ingrid Herskind said. “We’ve done that all season. . . . Our goal was to try and get someone in the top 10. The fact that we won without doing that shows what kind of team we have.”

Nordhoff placed second to No. 1-ranked McFarland in the Division IV boys’ race with Oak Park fourth.

Junior Roberto Contreras of Nordhoff finished eighth in 16:03 with senior Kent Krumpschmidt 21st in 16:25 and senior Aiden Short 28th in 16:34.

But McFarland placed six runners ahead of the Rangers’ No. 4 man in a 68-102 victory that gave the Cougars a record seven state titles since the meet began in 1987.

Oak Park was fourth with 123 points as junior Mark Nevers ran third in 15:55 and sophomore Chase Ferrell was 11th in 16:09.

Jason Lanning of Buena ran 15:49 to place 15th in the Division I race. Ryan Burnett of La Canadaran 16:09 to place 13th in the Division III race.