Section Titles Are Shared by All Ages

It was out with the old guard and in with the new Saturday at the Southern Section cross-country championships.

In the boys’ competition, seniors Mark Matusak of Los Angeles Loyola and Fitsum Tesfa of Chino Don Lugo won individual titles on the 2.91-mile course at Mt. San Antonio College, completing their final Southland high school race and helping qualify their teams for the state finals next Saturday in Fresno.

Kauren Tarver of Phelan Serrano highlighted the girls’ competition, winning the Division II race in 17 minutes 6 seconds, breaking the course record for a freshman by 17 seconds. Her time was the fastest of the day by 19 seconds.

The day also belonged to the Ventura and Corona del Mar girls’ teams. Ventura easily won the Division I team title over Fountain Valley, 41-120, placing three runners in the top nine and five in the top 22.

In Division III, Corona del Mar won its ninth section title in 14 years and advanced to the state finals for a record 18th consecutive season, recording a school-record team time of 1:35.11.

Like Division I winner Alma Escobar of Corona, a junior, and the next seven finishers in her race, the entire Corona del Mar team is expected to return next season.

The most-anticipated boys’ race was in Division I, and Tesfa, Diego Mercado of West Covina and defending champion Brandon Bethke of Lake Forest El Toro didn’t disappoint. The three separated from the pack after the first mile and Mercado increased his pace to take a five-second lead over Tesfa at the two-mile mark.

Tesfa made his move into first shortly after and held on to win in 14:40, three seconds ahead of Mercado and four in front of Bethke.

Matusak wasn’t as pressed in the Division II race but still posted the fastest time of the day (14:36) and defended his title with a 32-second victory. Loyola also took home the team title, 107-115, over Westlake Village Westlake.

Dan Arritt

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Emmaline Hartel of Lake Balboa Birmingham successfully defended her City Section girls’ cross-country individual title at Pierce College, but the Patriots failed to end San Pedro’s dominance in the team competition.

The Pirates had four of the top six finishers in the team competition, including runner-up Terry Manqueros, to win their fourth consecutive championship and fifth in six years with a 29-30 victory over Lake Balboa Birmingham.

San Pedro got personal bests from Manqueros (18:13.25), Jackie Conlin (fourth in 18:50:50), Mavel Tortoledo (fifth in 18:52:28) and Megan Adams (sixth in 19:02:11). Hartel, a junior, completed the three-mile course in a personal-best 18:00.71.

San Pedro routed the field to win its third consecutive boys’ title, finishing with 54 points. Birmingham was second with 107. Gabriel Guzman, a North Hills Monroe junior, won the individual title in 15:30.55.

-- Steven Herbert