While digging his feet deeper and deeper into the sand, the dust and mist from the water brushed his face as his feet made their way to the pavement, down the hill and across the finish line. David Rosales never let his team down placing third, putting El Camino’s cross-country men in second place overall this last Friday at Santa Barbara’s Invitational.

After placing seventh at last week’s invitational the team revived themselves with this week’s second place result.

The men had to run only a four-mile course but this course was not easy as it included running on soft sand, thick grass, long stretches to running on hard concrete pavement.

Even with a difficult course the men were determined not to finish seventh again especially Davis Rosales who last week came in tenth place in last week’s invitational.

Anthony Lewis came in 12th place in 22:27, finishing three spots after him,  Alex Villaescusa came in 15th place coming in at 22:34. Jonathan Nakai trailed right behind in 16th place at 22:36.

Only four places behind, Justin  Caracoza ran in at 20th place coming in at 22:50.

With Freshmen Chloe Stager and Lauren Brown out due to sickness and mild injuries, freshmen  Brittany Householder made her debut placing 55th with freshman Karlie Castro-Kahn in 70th place.  Sophomore Julissa Vaca placed 78th with freshman Vanessa Ortiz 88th and freshman Shirley Mendence finish ed97th.

The next meet will be the South Coast Conference Championships at the Cerritos Regional Park Saturday Oct. 29.

“This meet will determine final conference standings as well as advancement to the Southern California Regional Championships to be held the following Friday,” coach, Dean Lofgren said.