Harriers race into season as league meet approaches
Photo by JAIMIE HSU
by EVELYN WONG
Gaining experience through weekend invitationals and daily practice, the harriers prepare for their first league meet at Legg Lake Sept. 30.
The varsity harriers competed in the Woodbridge XC Classic at the Orange County Great Park Sept. 19. The top 100 finishers in each race received medals.
Varsity boys who medaled included seniors Arturo Rivera and Abraxaz Sanchez; juniors Andres Cazares-Dominguez, Jose Govea, Josue Gutierrez and Benny Segura. Medals in the varsity girls race went to seniors Katherine Batres, Gabrielle Mendoza and Rita Villagra; junior Julia Rivera and sophomores Alicia Amamoto and Lizbeth Cano.
The Spartans competed at the Rosemead Invitational Sept. 12; due to a power outage in part of the course, however, the senior boys’ and senior girls’ races were cancelled.
Medals were awarded to the top 42 finishers in each race. Among the boys teams, runners who medaled included juniors Cazares-Dominguez, Govea and Gutierrez; sophomore Stephen Castillo and freshman Dustin Vu. In the girls’ races, sophomores Cano and Gabriela Ocariz and freshmen Marai Atanacio and Isabella Veljacic received medals.
“I truly believe that the cross country team has a chance to make history this year,” said Gutierrez, varsity boys co-captain. “With a team that only seems to get stronger with experience, I can confidently say we’re only going to improve as the season progresses.”
In their first preseason meet at the Cool Breeze Invitational Sept. 5, the top 30 finishers in each race received medals. Of the medalists from the boys team were seniors Rivera and A. Sanchez, and sophomore Damian Sanchez. Among the girls, Mendoza and Cano each received medals.
“Although we are a small group compared to past years, the girls team is doing very well this year,” said Mendoza, varsity girls co-captain. “My goal is to try to push everyone in the best way I can and to light the fire in my teammates to run their hardest, so that as a team we have the ability to win league again.”