After competing against four of the top teams in the state last week, the cross-country team wasn’t intimidated when it went up against six of the top schools in the state placing fourth at last Saturday’s Orange Coast invitational.
San Bernardino Valley won with 43 points, right behind host Orange Coast in second place with 76 points, Glendale in third with 86 points, the Warriors finished in fourth with 116 points.
Following his disappointing performance last week due to muscle cramps, David Rosales made sure that this time he wouldn’t have any problems.
He ran with the lead pack throughout the race and took 8th with a time of 20:51 after moving through 3 miles in a quick 15:00 time and then he gradually ran through the dirt trail course.
Dezhand Bland came in 22nd place finishing with a time of 21:00.
Jon Nakai finished three places behind him in 25th place coming in at 21:17. Following those three runners, a pack of EC blue came in together 31st through 33rd place, including Alex Villescusa coming with a time of 21:24, Justin Carcoza at 21:25, and Drew Griffie at 21:28.
Billy Sanders finished out the men’s top seven in 39th with a time of 21:39.
The team was without one of its top runners, Anthony Lewis, who did not run due to illness.
That is the second time Lewis has had something stop him from running, as he hurt his ankle in the first invitational of the season.
If he is well enough to run in the upcoming invitational, Lewis will look to run the best time he can to make up for his previous absences.
Glendale, the top ranked team won easily, Lofgren said with 27 points followed by host Orange Coast with 66 in the 18-team field.
Chloe Stager once again led the women with a 97th place finishing with 22:37 over the rolling 5,000 meter (3.1 mile) course with freshman teammate Lauren Brown right behind her in 98th place finishing at 22:38.
EC has a new addition to the team, sophomore Julissa Vaca.
Vaca was the other competitor for as the team prepares to run at the upcoming Southern Cal Preview Lofgren said.
The Warriors’ next competition will be the Southern California Preview Championships Sept. 30 at Guasti Regional Park, in Ontario.
The women’s race will begin at 11 a.m. and the men’s race will begin at noon.
The team will competing against the biggest field it when it goes up against the 30-plus team event.
It will look to have a great showing and it will give them an idea of where they are right now as a team.
“I hope to see the team finish great and have a good outing,” Lofgren said. “We will look to improve and do better each and every week.”
