Rosas Leads San Pedro Girls

Heather Rosas won the girls’ race in a personal-best 18 minutes 13 seconds at the City Section cross-country championships, leading San Pedro to its second team title Saturday at Pierce College.

Rosas’ previous best of 18:33 came two years ago, when, as a sophomore, she helped the Pirates win their first City title. She trailed Roosevelt’s Maria Blazquez for the first 21/2 miles of the three-mile course Saturday before making her move.

San Pedro edged Sun Valley Polytechnic, 61-63, for the title, though both will advance to the state finals next Saturday at Woodward Park in Fresno.

Birmingham was third, South Gate fourth and Belmont fifth.

Cora Webber shaved nearly a minute off her best to finish fourth in 18:58 for San Pedro.

Manuel Ruiz (15:23) and Juan Guzman (15:29) of Monroe finished first and second in the boys’ race, but Belmont claimed its seventh consecutive title with 40 points. Monroe was second with 63 points, followed by Poly, Taft and Bell.

“What’s our secret? Hard work, I guess,” said Coach Everardo Silva, who has led Belmont to the City title every year since he took over the program in 1995.

Belmont’s best runner, Marion Ruiz, has had a hamstring injury all year but finished 11th in 16:05, one second behind teammate Alejandro Garcia. Jose Villela (15:31) and Miguel Hernandez (15:48) led the Sentinels.