While a majority of the San Gabriel cross country teams will be off this weekend – at least seventeen local schools will run in four different SoCal meets, all on very different courses, with different formats. SGV #2 Arcadia will make the biggest trip, flying to Oregon for the Nike Portland XC Classic (Live Results) Here’s a breakdown of the four races with a list of all the schools we know that are scheduled to compete.
Some of the Mark Keppel boys earlier this season. They will be at Griffith Park this weekend.
Staub/Barnes Invitational (Crescenta Valley Park)
Results will be here
This meet is considered something of a “Mt.SAC preview” as the hilly 3-mile course here produces times similar to the famous home of CIF XC.
Six SGV schools will get their first taste of big hills this week, led by the SGV #3 La Canada girls in the top race. Muir, Pasadena, San Dimas, Temple City and the non-Varsity runners from South Pasadena will run in the second race.
Brea Invitational (Carbon Canyon Park – Brea)
This meet runs on a 5000 meter course that combines rolling hills with a variety of terrain and footing. It also has the unique format of matching each team’s first and second runners in the same race, and then the 3’s & 4’s in the next and then the 5-6-7 runners in another race.
SGV ranked Bonita will be the top local team taking part, along with El Monte, El Rancho, St. Paul and West Covina.
Bellarmine-Sacred Heart Invitational (Griffith Park – Los Angeles)
This long-time meet was in danger of ending when the sponsoring school, Bellarmine-Jefferson closed last year. Sacred Heart of Jesus has stepped up to continue this meet, run on the super-steep hills of Griffith Park.
SGV girls #15 Alhambra will lead the local contingent here, joined my Mark Keppel and Mountain View.
Perris Valley XC Showdown (Lake Perris SRA – Moreno Valley)
This relatively new meet is aimed at smaller schools, and runs over a 2.9 mile course that mixes grass, pavement and dirt.
#11 Damien will race, along with their sister school St. Lucy’s, #14 Rosemead, and Bassett, the bosses of the Miramonte League.
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