Five perform well in Torrance races

Five youth runners representing the city of Laguna Beach Community Services Department’s cross-country team (ages six-to-15) came up with strong performances Sunday at Wilson Park in Torrance.

The Laguna five competed at the 2007 Southern California Municipal Athletic Federation’s youth Cross-Country Championships with one runner capturing first-place in her division race.

Greer Jacobs won first-place in the girls’ Division 1998 (year born) two-kilometer race in a time of 8:31.10.

In a previous event, Jacobs picked up a 10th-place finish in the Bantam girls’ 3,000-meter race with a time of 13:20.5 at the Wildcat Cross-Country Invitational held at Laguna Niguel Regional Park on Oct. 14.

Natasha Strickland recorded the next highest finish for the locals Sunday by finishing in third-place in the girls’ Division 93 three-kilometer run with a time of 9:37.88.

Marisa Merchant, competing in the girls’ Division 94 three-kilometer run, went 10:37.34 to take 10th place. Merchant also earned a 12th-place showing at the Laguna Niguel event with a 17:23.77 in the 4,000-meters.

Another 10th-place finish was turned in by Casey Koprowski who ran a 10:34.58 in the Division 96 two-kilometer race.

Sarina Strickland finished in 16th-place in the Division 96 two-meter race with a time of 10:18.08.

Medals were awarded to the top eight finishers in each division and runners who place ninth through 15th received a ribbon.

Also at the Wildcat Invitational in Laguna Niguel on Oct. 14, Laguna Beach’s Nicholas Kinsman went 19:29.61 to finish 40th in the boys’ 4,000-meter race.

The Laguna Beach youth cross-country team is coached by Fred Pichay.