Runners are city’s best

Jeff Tully

With mild temperatures in the 80s, conditions were ripe for possible

record-setting performances Tuesday at the annual Burbank All-City

Cross-Country Meet.

Taking advantage of the relatively comfortable setting, Burroughs

High’s Katie Vahoviak, and counterpart Gerard Herkey of

Bellarmine-Jefferson, ran to course records at the event at Carson

Park.

Vahoviak, a senior who has qualified for the CIF Southern Section

preliminaries three straight years, destroyed the field in the girls’

race, finishing the 2.6-mile course in 15 minutes 35 seconds.

Vahoviak -- who won the race by 47 seconds -- shattered the course

record of 16:26 set in 2002 by Treani Swain from North Hollywood

Oakwood.

Herkey, a senior, blazed to a new record of 13:18 in the boys’

race, besting the mark of 13:47 set in 1998 by Burroughs’ Brian

Anderson.

Herkey said the mild conditions, compared to the 90- and

100-degree temperatures that have been the norm in recent weeks,

played a part in his ability to set a new course record.

“Being cooler really made a difference,” said Herkey, who ran

14:43 at the Morro Bay Invitational Saturday. “When it’s too hot, my

throat gets dry and it’s harder for me. But it was a lot nicer

today.”

Although the meet was run on a short course, Vahoviak said she

prefers running the regular three miles.

“Hey, the longer the [course the] better for me,” said Vahoviak,

who won a city title for the second-straight season. “I like running

the longer distances. I know, that’s crazy.”

Herkey led a one-two Bell-Jeff finish, as teammate Jeff Pang

placed second in 13:43.

Despite the Guards capturing the top two spots, Burroughs won the

race with 30 points. Burbank and Bell-Jeff tied with 53 points, but

the Bulldogs were given second place by virtue of their sixth runner

finishing ahead of the Guards’ No. 6 finisher. Providence was fourth

with 83 points.

The Indians put together an impressive pack, as their top five

runners finished in the fourth through eighth spots. The team was led

by Adrian Harrison, who placed fourth in 13:47. He was followed by

teammates Morgan Walker (fifth; 14:01), Josh Betancourt (sixth;

11:03), Daniel Anderson (seventh; 14:06) and Alex Sandoval (eighth;

14:14).

The best Pioneer finisher was Joey Henderson (21st; 15:44).

In the girls’ race, Vahoviak finished ahead of teammate Adriana

Powers, who found herself in a battle for second.

Burbank sophomore Michelle Horgan made up ground on Powers, and

made a late surge 50 yards from the finish line. Horgan caught

Powers, as the two tied for second in 16:22.

The Indians completed the sweep by winning the race with 20

points. They were followed by Burbank (37), Bell-Jeff (70) and

Providence (115).

The other Burroughs scorers were Lilyana Morejon (fourth; 16:47),

Sadee Martinez (fifth; 16:52) and Michelle Martinez (17:11).

Bell-Jeff’s best finisher was Amber Herkey (10th; 17:35) and Providence’s top performer was Nadia Simon (23rd; 20:55).

“On the boys’ side, we have been trying to work on being more

consistent,” Burroughs Coach John Peebles said. “We have to run

together as a pack, as we did today.

“On the girls’ side, we have five pretty good runners. We will be

able to go as far as those five runners take us.”