SOUTHERN SECTION

Saturday, Nov. 20

Southern Section Championships
At Mt. San Antonio College, 2.91 Miles

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 on a high note while helping qualify their teams for the state finals Saturday in Fresno.

The girls’ competition was highlighted by freshman Kauren Tarver of Phelan Serrano, who won the Division II race in 17 minutes 6 seconds, breaking the course record for a freshman by 17 seconds. Her time was also 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 and the next seven finishers in her race, the entire Corona del Mar team is expected to return next season.

Many eyes likely will continue to train on Tarver, who smashed the freshman course record set by Liza Pasciuto of Murrieta Valley four years ago at the Mt. SAC Invitational. Tarver covered the course in 17:41 at the preliminaries a week earlier -- after playing in a second-round playoff match with the Serrano girls’ tennis team. On Saturday, she gave way to Whitney Blue of Newport Harbor through the first mile, then took the lead heading up the switchbacks and pulled away for a 49-second victory.

“I’m worried for next year,” said Blue, a junior who finished second in a personal best 17:55. “She worked it, she was awesome.”

Tarver said she was unaware she was on a record pace.

“I just wanted to run a good time,” she said. “I wasn’t really thinking about records.”

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 then increased his pace to take a five-second lead over Tesfa at the two-mile mark.

“That took some guts,” said Tesfa, who finished sixth in this race last season.

Tesfa then 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, who finished three seconds shy of setting a course record on the same layout four weeks earlier at the Mt. SAC Invitational.

“When I came through the mile I thought we were going faster but then I heard the time (4:50) and I just kind of sank,” said Bethke, who signed with Wisconsin last week. “And my legs didn’t have it going up these hills today.”

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

“It was tough running out there alone,” said Matusak, who has signed with California. “Just on the backside here, you’re kind of in no-man’s land.”

Other winners included sophomore Chad Hall of Big Bear, whose brother, Ryan, holds the course record of 14:28. Hall won the Division IV race in 15:25.

--Dan Arritt

BOYS

Division I

TEAM

1. *Royal, 94 (78:11); 2. *Dana Hills, 106 (78:35); 3. *Murrieta Valley, 164 (79:24); 4. *Don Lugo, 166 (78:54); 5. *El Toro, 178 (79:11); 6. *Rancho Cucamonga, 182 79:55); 7. La Sierra, 184 (80:12); 8. Upland, 215 (80:54); 9. Crescenta Valley, 224 (80:58); 10. Marina, 229 (81:02); 11. Thousand Oaks, 255 (81:34); 12. El Rancho, 255 (81:44); 13. Ayala, 257 (81:38); 14. Arcadia, 270 (81:56); 15. Mission Viejo, 272 (81:48); 16. Canyon Country Canyon, 354 (83:48).

INDIVIDUAL

1. Tesfa, DL, 14:40; 2. *Diego Mercado, West Covina, 14:43; 3. Bethke, ET, 14:44; 4. Gonzalez, DL, 15:04; 5. *Price, Camarillo, 15:05; 6. *Campfield, Temecula Valley, 15:06; 7. Milloy, MV, 15:12; 8. *Harris, Los Osos, 15:18; 9. *Sidoti, La Sierra, 15:19; 10. Gonzalez, Yucaipa, 15:20; 11. Trupiano, RC, 15:21; 12. Whisman, Crescenta Valley, 15:21; 13. Jaedtke, R, 15:23; 14. Cybulski, R, 15:25; 15. Grimes, DH, 15:27; 16. Melena, Antelope Valley, 15:28; 17.Fabrega, Thousand Oaks, 15:15:29; 18. Porter, Ayala, 15:30; 19. Pederson, R, 15:31; 20. Knight, La Sierra, 15:33.

Division II

TEAM

1. *Loyola, 107 (78:55); 2. *Westlake, 115 (80:10); 3. *St. John Bosco, 120 (79:50); 4. *Placentia Valencia, 123 (80:22); 5. *West Torrance, 133 (80:39); 6. *Damien, 196 (81:32); 7. *Hemet, 201 (81:58); 8. Laguna Hills, 209 (81:58); 9. Edison, 217 (21:21); 10. Torrance, 225 (82:12); 11. Sultana, 248 (82:33); 12. Chino Hills, 288 (83:24); 13. Foothill, 293 (83:19); 14. El Modena, 294 (83:08); 15. Norwalk, 300 (83:25); 16. Troy, 353 (84:24).

INDIVIDUAL

1. Matusak, L, 14:36; 2. *Gatel, Edison, 15:08; 3. Skillens, SJB, 15:19; 4. Miller, L, 15:27; 5. Pena, PV, 15:29; 6. Totari, D, 15:34; 7. *Aukshunas, El Modena, 15:35; 8. *Patterson, Sultana, 15:38; 9. *Hayes, Edison, 15:40; 10. Yi, WT, 15:41; 11. Perez, SJB, 15:42; 12. Urak, SJB, 15:43; 13. Primm, W, 15:44; 14. *Lopez, Irvine, 15:45; 15. Ornelas, Huntington Beach, 15:47; 16. Paez, Hemet, 15:50; 17. Burns, Moorpark, 15:51; 18. Alcantar, W, 15:52; 19. Perez, Norwalk, 15:52; 20. Hayes, Foothill, 15:55.

Division III

TEAM

1. *Lompoc Cabrillo, 81 (79:36); 2. *Servite, 90 (79:48); 3. *Barstow, 108 (80:23); 4. *Oak Park, 109 (80:46); 5. *San Luis Obispo, 170 (82:37); 6. *Santa Margarita, 184 (82:51); 7. *Bonita, 192 (83:44); 8. La Canada, 193 (83:37); 9. Estancia, 197 (83:16); 10. Lompoc, 200 (83:13); 11. Corona del Mar, 202 (83:48); 12. Nordhoff, 236 (84:20); 13. Northwood, 254 (84:46).

INDIVIDUAL

1. Mosey, S, 15:07; 2. Hacker, LomC, 15:15; 3. Medigovich, SLO, 15:18; 4. Coe, LomC, 15:19; 5. Melton, Bar, 15:22; 6. *Bell, Harvard-Westlake, 15:30; 7. Brook, OP, 15:34; 8. *Lloyd, Burbank Burroughs, 15:35; 9. *Castaneda, Estancia, 15:36; 10. Chavez, S, 15:37; 11. Stromberg, SM, 15:37; 12. *Ramos, Lompoc, 15:38; 13. Robie, S, 15:39; 14. *Johnstone, Rim of the World, 15:40; 15. Page, OP, 15:43; 16. Murphy, Bar, 15:44; 17. Axline, LomC, 15:48; 18. Pondella, OP, 15:55; 19. Crouch, Yucca Valley, 15:55; 20. Duran, Nordhoff, 15:57.

Division IV

TEAM

1. *Orange Lutheran, 64 (81:50); 2. *Laguna Beach, 66 (81:56); 3. *Morro Bay, 93 (83:09); 4. *Paraclete, 131 (84:48); 5. *Fillmore, 168 (86:00); 6. *St. Bonaventure, 182 (86:34); 7. *Oaks Christian, 184 (86:31) (advances to state based of high placing sixth man, 72nd to 75th); 8. Big Bear, 184 (85:42); 9. Salesian, 203 (87:24); 10. Carpinteria, 223 (87:20); 11. CAMS, 241 (88:12); 12. Beaumont, 276 (90:01); 13. Whitney, 290 (90:09).

INDIVIDUAL

1. *C. Hall, Big Bear, 15:25; 2. *Gomez, Carpinteria, 15:40; 3. *Eubank, Santa Ynez, 15:47; 4. Ricca, OL, 15:50; 5. Muellender, LB, 15:57; 6. Eaton, LB, 16:03; 7. Schmidt, OL, 16:04; 8. *Sanchez, Beaumont, 16:05; 9. Baiz, MB, 16:10; 10. *Avitia, Escelsior Education, 16:10; 11. Bhatia, LB, 16:11; 12. Siddle, P, 16:20; 13. Hedden, LB, 16:23; 14. Buckles, Twentynine Palms, 16:26; 15. Everhart, OL, 16:28; 16. Meissner, OC, 16:30; 17. Arroyo, MB, 16:31; 18. Weary, P, 16:32; 19. Sterling, SB, 16:34; 20. Block, OC, 16:35.

Division V

TEAM

1. *Flintridge Prep, 76 (82:58); 2. *Woodcrest Christian, 87 (83:04); 3. *Santa Clara, 98 (83:42); 4. *Maranatha, 100 (83:22); 5. *Webb, 148 (84:47); 6. *Buckley, 178 (86:20); 7. *Brentwood, 180 (86:12); 8. St. Margaret’s, 195; 9. Bell-Jeff, 210 (89:02); 10. Lancaster Desert Christian, 246 (89:32); 11. Chadwick, 268 (89:11); 12. Oakwood, 279 (89:24); 13. Cate, 321 (92:40).

INDIVIDUAL

1. Burris, W, 15:37; 2. Hilling, M, 15:51; 3. Gordon, Bren, 16:05; 4. Burdett, WC, 16:07; 5. McLean, FP, 16:09; 6. Peterson, WC, 16:11; 7. *Herkey, BJ, 16:30; 8. *Acosta, LDC, 16:22; 9. Timphony, M, 16:25; 10. Adams, FP, 16:29; 11. *Pang, BJ, 16:30; 12. McLuggage, FP, 16:32; 13. *Bartlett, Chadwick, 16:35; 14. Cisneros, SC, 16:36; 15. Urban, SC, 16:37; 16. Ceniseroz, SC, 16:38; 17. Lopez, SC, 16:39; 18. Kardashian, Buck, 16:41; 19. *Guitierrez, Avalon, 16:47; 20. Karlsberg, Buck, 16:48.

GIRLS

Division I

TEAM

1. *Ventura, 41 (90:44); 2. *Fountain Valley, 120 (93:58); 3. *Thousand Oaks, 144 (94:32); 4. *Murrieta Valley, 150 (95:21); 5. *Royal, 166 (95:39); 6. *Ayala, 183 (95:49); 7. *Dana Hills, 188 (96:15); 8. Peninsula, 189 (95:10); 9. Canyon Country Canyon, 217 (96:50); 10. Saugus, 226 (96:49); 11. Warren, 291 (98:03); 12. King, 302 (99:01); 13. Corona, 312 (98:05); 14. Long Beach Wilson, 317 (99:15); 15. Esperanza, 338 (99:43); 16. Crescenta Valley, 376 (101:13).

INDIVIDUAL

1. *Escobar, Corona, 17:25; 2. *Morreale, P, 17:39; 3. *Sperry, Simi Valley, 17:44; 4. Spiker, V, 17:47; 5. *Adamyck, Glendora, 17:50; 6. Bailey, V, 17:52; 7. Fletcher, TO, 17:54; 8. Reed, FV, 17:58; 9. J. Bryant, V, 18:06; 10. *Lademan, P, 18:08; 11. Guggiana, W, 18:08; 12. Morris, Quartz Hill, 18:20; 13. T. Bryant, V, 18:21; 14. Cahn, A, 18:22; 15. Murakami, Saugus, 18:23; 16. Martinez, Rancho Cucamonga, 18:25; 17. Craft, Highland, 18:26; 18. Canterbury, DH, 18:29; 19. Boucher, MV, 18:34; 20. E. Coe, FV, 18:35.

Division II

TEAM

1. *Mater Dei, 120 (94:47); 2. *Brea Olinda, 125 (94:58); 3. *Serrano, 145 (94:36); 4. *West Torrance, 155 (95:54); 5. *Westlake, 169 (96:15); 6. *Woodbridge, 182 (96:18); 7. *Edison, 192 (97:00); 8. South Hills., 198 (96:43); 9. Newport Harbor, 202 (96:19); 10. Foothill, 231 (98:01); 11. El Modena, 251 (98:14); 12. Capistrano Valley, 269 (99:00); 13. Burbank Burroughs, 271 (98:22); 14. Garden Grove Santiago, 276 (98:20); 15. Rio Mesa, 293 (99:12); 16. Cypress, 322 (99:17).

INDIVIDUAL

1. K. Tarver, S, 17:06 (freshman course record, old mark, 17:23, Liza Pasciuto, Murrieta Valley, 2000; eighth best performer all time); 2. *Blue, NH, 17:55; 3. Gustafson, BO, 18:03; 4. Babcock, Wood, 18:11; 5. *McCune, San Marcos, 18:14; 6. *Nielsen, Irvine, 18:17; 7. *Kent-Johnson, Sunny Hills, 18:19; 8. Costantini, MD, 18:20; 9. *Wilson, SH, 18:21; 10. Adamski, Westlake, 18:21; 11. Jirges, Cyp, 18:21; 12. Baird, Agoura, 18:22; 13. Estrada, GGS, 18:22; 14. Vahoviak, BB, 18:24; 15. Kielty, WT, 18:26; 16. Davis, MD, 18:27; 17. Maddox, NH, 18:35; 18. Gross, EM, 18:33; 19. Kostrikin, E, 18:35; 20. Rogers, BO, 18:47.

Division III

TEAM

1. *Corona del Mar, 82 (95:11); 2. *Rim of the World, 117 (97:02); 3. *Oak Park, 119 (97:02); 4. *Rosary, 138 (97:14); 5. *Bonita, 138 (97:23); 6. *Harvard-Westlake, 144 (97:20); 7. *Yucca Valley, 150 (98:00); 8. Costa Mesa, 178 (98:57); 9. Northwood, 180 (99:10); 10. Nordhoff, 222 (100:32); 11. San Luis Obispo, 242 (101:21); 12. La Canada, 256 (101:50); 13. Lompoc, 284 (013:05).

INDIVIDUAL

1. Farias-Eisner, HW, 18:10; 2. Buckley, R, 18:20; 3. A. St. Geme, CdM, 18:21; 4. L. Heuring, B, 18:35; 5. *Day, Costa Mesa, 18:41; 6. Bruton, RW, 18:41; 7. Camacho, OP, 18:44; 8. *Pelayo, Bolsa Grande, 18:45; 9. Flores, CM, 18:52; 10. J. Huering, B, 18:54; 11. Darling, B, 18:54; 12. Swanson, YV, 18:56; 13. *Reuschenberg, SLO, 18:58; 14. Damon, CdM, 18:59; 15. Snyder, YV, 19:02; 16. Cummings, CdM, 19:02; 17. Lightfoot, OP, 19:03; 18. May, CdM, 19:03; 19. *Leslie, Northwood, 19:13; 20. Presley, YV, 19:18.

Division IV

TEAM

1. *Orange Lutheran, 42 (97:14); 2. *Laguna Beach, 75 (99:04); 3. *Paraclete, 79 (99:06); 4. *Fillmore, 136 (103:00); 5. *Great Oak, 170 (104:18); 6. *Morro Bay, 193 (105:41); 7. *Immaculate Heart, 195 (105:48); 8. Oaks Christian, 198 (105:17); 9. Big Bear, 199 (105:33); 10. Marymount, 241 (107:28); 11. St. Bonaventure, 278 (109:09); 12. Louisville, 282 (109:42); 13. L.A. Baptist, 288 (110:28).

INDIVIDUAL

1. *Bowles, Santa Ana Calvary Chapel, 18:29; 2. Crawley, LB, 18:31; 3. Turner, OL, 18:55; 4. Rocha, P, 18:58; 5. *Rose, St. Bonaventure, 19:00; 6. *Fleming, OC, 19:07; 7. Kerner, OL, 19:16; 8. Gordon, LB, 19:20; 9. *Ottusch, Malibu, 19:22; 10. Huerta, P, 19:23; 11. *Olmos, Rosamond, 19:26; 12. Dutch, OL, 19:27; 13. Valasquez, P, 19:27; 14. Kompaniez, Big Bear, 19:31; 15. Rendon, OL, 19:45; 16. Tubbs, Santa Maria St. Joseph, 19:50; 17. Andrew, OL, 19:51; 18. Cline, Big Bear, 19:54; 19. Smith, Malibu, 19:56; 20. Ronca, OL, 20:01.

Division V

TEAM

1. *Maranatha, 49 (98:36); 2. *Flintridge Prep, 75 (100:37); 3. *Woodcrest Christian, 89 (100:58); 4. *Lancaster Desert Christian, 118 (102:36); 5. *Chadwick, 133 (103:28); 6. *Mammoth, 180 (106:56); 7. *Brentwood, 206 (108:58); 8. Cate, 220 (108:22); 9. St. Margaret’s, 229 (107:58); 10. Webb, 235 (108:49); 11. Downey Calvary Chapel, 255 (109:55); 12. Upland Christian, 265 (110:26).

INDIVIDUAL

1. Tani Brown, Brentwood, 19:10; 2. Gill, Mara, 19:11; 3. Fcassou, Mara, 19:11; 4. *McKeon, Sage Hill, 19:19; 5. Pratt, WC, 19:20; 6. Wick, LDC, 19:24; 7. Macfarleane, Chad, 19:34; 8. Ireland, Mara, 19:43; 9. Van Der Ahe, FP, 19:45; 10. Klien, Mara, 19:45; 11. Tucker, WC, 19:53; 12. Richards, LDC, 19:59; 13. *Litherland, DCC, 20:02; 14. Iwata, FP, 20:02; 15. Schwind, Mam, 20:07; 16. *Banks, Webb, 20:08; 17. Gonzalez, FP, 20:10; 18. *Tuck, Cate, 20:11; 19. Aaron, FP, 20:16; 20. Ifrah, Bren, 20:18.

*-Teams and individuals qualifying for State Championships, Saturday, at Woodward Park (Fresno).