Burroughs gunning for CIF
Jeff Tully
At this time last year, the Burbank High boys’ and girls’
cross-country teams were on their way to securing top-three finishes
in the Foothill League, and automatic postseason berths.
The Bulldog boys’ team placed second in league in 2003, and the
girls finished third, earning spots in the CIF Southern Section
Division I preliminaries.
However, this season, the power among the area schools has
shifted, and it’s the Burroughs squads that are in the running for
CIF spots.
In Thursday’s second league meet of the season at Griffith Park,
the Indian boys placed second and the Indian girls held down the
third-place spot.
The Burroughs teams bettered their finishes from the first league
meet Sept. 23, when the boys placed third and the girls were fourth.
If both teams finish among the top three in the league finals Nov.
4, they will secure places in the CIF preliminaries.
“We knew this is what the boys’ team is capable of doing,” said
Burroughs Coach John Peebles, whose squad finished ahead of Hart
Thursday, a team that placed second in the first league meet.
“We just have to keep up the effort and continue to work hard for
the league finals.”
In the dual-meet scoring, Canyon (5-0) won its second straight
contest. It was followed by Burroughs (4-1), Hart (3-2), Valencia
(2-3), Burbank (1-4) and Saugus (0-5).
The boys’ race was won by the Cowboys’ Adam McDonald, who ran the
three-mile course in 16 minutes 41 seconds.
Burroughs’ Daniel Anderson had a strong outing, placing third in
17:00.
“Since he ran well in the Kenny Staub [Invitational on Oct. 2],
Daniel’s confidence has been on the rise,” Peebles said. “I think he
now realizes he has the ability to run good races.”
Indian Adrian Harrison also ran well, coming in fifth place in
17:09. Teammates Morgan Walker (11th; 17:48), Kyle Hazlewood (12th;
17:55) and Josh Bentancourt (22nd; 18:11) also scored for Burroughs.
Also running for the team was Kent Melendez (25th; 18:18) and Alex
Sandoval (35th; 19:02).
Burbank was paced by Ryan Christoffersen, who was fourth in 17:02.
Also scoring for the Bulldogs was Kevin Christoffersen (16th; 18:01),
Eric Christoffersen (24th; 18:16), Matthew Carey (31st; 18:29) and
Wyatt Kessler (33rd; 18:51). Andrew Harris (39th; 19:48) also
competed.
On the girls’ side, Burbank and Burroughs received their share of
gutsy performances.
The top female runner in the area -- Indian senior Katie Vahoviak
-- was questionable for the race. Vahoviak strained a ligament in her
right foot last week and missed four days of training, as she
experienced a considerable amount of pain.
After a pain-free warmup, Vahoviak -- who has qualified for CIF
prelims as an individual three straight years -- decided to run. The
decision paid off for Burroughs, as she finished second in 19:43.
Although Vahoviak could have sat out the race and concentrated on
qualifying for the postseason individually at the league finals, she
said she wanted to compete to help her team stay in the running for a
CIF spot.
“I really don’t care about making it as an individual,” said the
2003 All-Area standout. “It means more to me that we make it a team.
I want the other girls to be able to experience what it’s like to run
in CIF.”
Shannon Murakami of Saugus won the girls’ race in 19:12.
Canyon (5-0) -- ranked No. 7 in Division I -- won the meet,
finishing ahead of Saugus (4-1), Burroughs (3-2), Hart (2-3), Burbank
(1-4) and Valencia (0-5).
One of the keys to Burroughs’ success was the effort turned in by
junior Brenda Santana, who came in 27th in 22:44 to account for the
Indians’ fifth runner.
“Brenda ran the race of her life,” Peebles said.
Burroughs’ Adriana Powers (10th; 20:38), Sadee Martinez (14th;
21:02) and Michelle Martinez (15th; 21:02) also scored. Teammate
Kerry Hodgins (38th; 25:04) and Kimmi White (42nd; 28:13) also
competed.
It was a tough day for Burbank, as the Bulldog girls were fighting
to stay in CIFcontention after finishing third in the first league
meet.
However, with runners Kiran Jolly and Michelle Horgan hobbled by
injuries, the Bulldogs just weren’t able to compete.
“Those two girls [Jolly and Horgan] haven’t worked out for
two-and-a-half weeks, and you could tell they were still hurting from
their injuries,” Burbank girls’ Coach Darin Wolf said.
“Injuries affect a team like ours more than a team that has more
depth. It’s just unfortunate it had to turn out like this.
“But I’ll say one thing. T
Bulldogs’ chances of making it to the prelims.
Amanda Browne (19th; 21:49) led Burbank. She was followed by
Natasha Christoffersen (20th; 21:49), Allison Ivie (22nd; 22:14),
Clair Bent (33rd; 23:31), Emily Ambrose (35th; 24:18), Jolly (37th;
24:46) and Horgan (39th; 25:20).
“It’s a really bad break for the girls’ team because we had so
many expectations this season,” boys’ Coach Bob Shaw said. “But you
can’t do anything about injuries. Sometimes injuries just happen.”