Fountain Valley cross-country rolls to dual meet sweep of Ocean View

Oppressive winds made for conditions that were far less than ideal for a cross-country race on Saturday afternoon.

Despite the elements, Fountain Valley High School’s Kaho Cichon was a blur in leading the host Barons to an 18-39 win over Ocean View in a Huntington Beach Union High School District dual meet.

Cichon ran a lifetime-best time of 17 minutes 46.1 seconds, finishing well ahead of the field and recording her second individual victory in as many weeks. She narrowly bested her time of 17:47.3 in a season-opening win over Westminster on Feb. 13.

The junior standout, who was the Surf League champion last season, said she felt motivated to break 18 minutes in a 3-mile race this season. While flat courses like the ones seen on most high school campuses should mean fast times given consistent training, Cichon is continuing to aim higher.

“I hope by the end of this year, I run sub-17:30,” Cichon said. “I feel like the biggest milestone for me after this would be breaking 17 [minutes], and I would really like to do that before the end of senior year.”

Ocean View’s Elizabeth King competes against Fountain Valley’s Samantha Martinez during the Huntington Beach Union High School District cross-country dual meet at Fountain Valley High School on Saturday.

(Kevin Chang / Staff Photographer)

Fountain Valley’s scoring five was completed by Sydney Macklin (second, 19:27.8), Samantha Martinez (fourth, 19:35.2), Lauren Berg (fifth, 20:24.8) and Evelyn To (sixth, 20:32.4).

Ocean View’s Elizabeth King, the returning Golden West League champion, paced the Seahawks in finishing third with a time of 19:34.6.

“She’s always going to show up and give you her best, but today, I’m not surprised, but I’m definitely impressed because she showed up to race,” Ocean View cross-country coach Enrique Najera said. “It would have been easy to give up in this wind, but that’s just not in her, so definitely a great day for Elizabeth.”

Fountain Valley senior Dezi Hernandez claimed victory in the boys’ race with a time of 15:40.3, as the Barons topped the Seahawks 23-37.

Hernandez indicated that he was unaccustomed to running at the front of the pack coming into the season, but as a senior, he is showing a sense of urgency. He said he wants to be an inspiration to his teammates.

Fountain Valley’s Dezi Hernandez competes against Ocean View during the Huntington Beach Union High School District cross-country dual meet at Fountain Valley High School on Saturday.

(Kevin Chang / Staff Photographer)

“I wanted to just inspire my teammates and all the younger guys,” Hernandez said. “You don’t give up. If there isn’t a season, don’t just quit. Keep pushing yourself. Who knows? You’ll have races that come up, and then you can prove yourself.”

A pack of Fountain Valley runners all came in within about 30 seconds of each other to clinch the team’s triumph. Benjamin Prado (fourth, 16:16.9), Ethan Lam (fifth, 16:32.8), Jaden Nguyen (sixth, 16:40.2) and Diego Alonso (seventh, 16:47.0) rounded out the scoring quintet for the Barons.

Ocean View received strong showings from Diego Gonzalez (second, 16:09.7) and Parker Walpole (third, 16:15.4).

Walpole provided some insight into what it was like to race in the wind.

“It felt like I was going against the wind at least three different directions,” Walpole said. “It was kind of just going everywhere. There was a lot of open spaces when we were out in the fields and stuff. It was pretty tough. My throat was dry, my mouth was dry the whole time.”

Ocean View’s Parker Walpole beats Fountain Valley’s Benjamin Prado to the finish line for third place during the Huntington Beach Union High School District cross-country dual meet at Fountain Valley High School on Saturday.

(Kevin Chang / Staff Photographer)

BOYS’ CROSS-COUNTRY

3-mile course

Fountain Valley 23, Ocean View 37

1. Hernandez (FV) 15:40.3; 2. Gonzalez (OV) 16:09.7; 3. Walpole (OV) 16:15.4; 4. Prado (FV) 16:16:9; 5. Lam (FV) 16:32.8; 6. Nguyen (FV) 16:40.2; 7. Alonso (FV) 16:47.0; 8. D’Ambrosio (FV) 16:55.6; 9. Linza (OV) 17:06.1; 10. Hill (FV) 17:06.8

GIRLS’ CROSS-COUNTRY

3-mile course

Fountain Valley 18, Ocean View 39

1. Cichon (FV) 17:46.1; 2. Macklin (FV) 19:27.8; 3. King (OV) 19:34.6; 4. Martinez (FV) 19:35.2; 5. Berg (FV) 20:24.8; 6. To (FV) 20:32.4; 7. Martinez (OV) 21:23.0; 8. Miller (OV) 21:34.5; 9. Brito (OV) 21:36.4; 10. Ertel (FV) 22:13.9

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