All-Area Boys’ Cross-Country Team
Isaiah Amos, Sophomore, Burbank
Keying the Bulldogs’ ascent to state, the sophomore individually won races at the Ojai Invitational (16:24.29) and at the Brea Olinda Invitational (16:32). Amos finished third (15:43) at the first Pacific League meet at Griffith Park, third (15:55) at the second league meet at Crescenta Valley Park and fourth (14:49) at league finals at Arcadia County Park. Amos then tied teammate Sergio Fraire (14:43) at the Division I preliminaries before taking 17th (15:21) at the Division I finals and 78th (16:25) at state.
Kyle Bueckert, Junior, Maranatha
Nobody came close to Bueckert in the Olympic League, as he won the league championship in 16:25 on Nov. 2 at Woodley Park. Bueckert also claimed an individual championship at the Grant Nunnally Invitational in 15:33.4 and finished first in the juniors race (15:34.5) at the Dana Hills Invitational. His biggest accomplishment, however, was when he finished second at the CIF State Division IV Meet in Fresno, finishing in 15:40.
Daniel De La Torre, Junior, La Salle
Culminating with a CIF title, the Lancers’ top runner claimed several victories, including winning the 1.9-mile Fastback Shootout in 9:44.34, the course’s fourth-fastest time ever. De La Torre won the Division II junior race (15:16) at the Movie Shoes Invitational and the Division IV red race at Mt. SAC in 15:35. In the postseason, De La Torre won both the CIF Southern Section Division IV preliminaries (14:52) and Southern Section Division IV championships (15:24) before finishing third in state in 15:42.
Sergio Fraire, Junior, Burbank
Fraire was runner-up (16:26.21) at the Ojai Invitational before taking third (16:36) at the Brea Olinda Invitational. As for league, Fraire took fourth (15:47) in the first Pacific League meet at Griffith Park, fifth (16:02) at the second league meet at Crescenta Valley Park and fifth (14:51) at league finals at Arcadia County Park. At the CIF Southern Section Division I preliminaries, Fraire tied for sixth (14:43), then took 33rd (15:38) at the Division I finals and 30th (15:49) at state.
Jeremy Zadoorian, Junior, Hoover
The Tornadoes’ top runner claimed a few individual victories this season, including when he was victorious in the Division II race at the Staub-Barnes Invitational (16:47.87) or when he ran away with the coveted cowbell by winning the Division III green race at Mt. SAC in 16:43. Zadoorian missed out on extending his year into the postseason primarily because of the depth and strength of the Pacific League. He was, however, a Pacific League second-teamer after finishing 10th (15.08.75) at league finals.
COACH OF THE YEAR
Trevor Marca, Burbank
Marca led his Bulldogs to their first CIF-State Meet in nine years by placing seventh at the CIF Southern Section Division I finals before finishing 11th at state. The Bulldogs defeated Burroughs, 26-30, at the All-City Meet, while also winning at the Ojai Invitational and the Brea Olinda Invitational. The Bulldogs almost knocked off defending national champ Arcadia, 27-28, in the first Pacific League on Sept. 22. The Bulldogs finished second to the Apaches in league overall.