Week 4: League Cluster Meets!

So now the real competition begins, with almost all of the ESGV schools competing in their first league cluster meets.  Cluster meets, in which all of a league’s schools compete as once, have replaced the older dual meets.  Some of these meets are scored as “multi-duals” in which the scorers take the results and match each team against each of the others, creating dual meets for everyone.  These meets are reported by the schools record on the day versus the other teams: 5-0 or 2-3.  The more common format is championship scoring, in which all of the schools are combined, and the low overall score wins.

With 2010 being the first year of the new league alignments, there are plenty of new match-ups and, with the Hacienda, one entirely new league.  The Mission Valley League is moving to cluster meets this year.  Intriguing match ups will be come in the Sierra League, as South Hills and Claremont face established powers Ayala and St. Lucy’s, and in the other newly structured leagues as teams sort out the new pecking orders.

Full schedule and new league lineups after the jump.

• Tuesday, September 28 – Sierra League – 5k Course at Bonelli Park/San Dimas.  The new line up is Charter Oak, Claremont, Damien/St.Lucy’s, & South Hills from the ESGV, plus Ayala & Chino Hills.  Mission Valley – 3 miles at Legg Lake in South El Monte, with the same league members:  Arroyo, El Monte, Gabrielino, Mountain View, Rosemead, & South El Monte.
• Wednesday, September 29 – Hacienda League – New, 3 mile “Top Speed” Course at Bonelli.  League lineup is Bonita, Diamond Bar, Diamond Ranch, Los Altos, Rowland, Walnut, & West Covina.  Baseline League – 3 miles at Glen Helen Park/San Bernardino.  Glendora is the lone ESGV school in this Inland Empire league. Update: Due to high heat and an early start time, the Baseline meet has been moved a week to October 6.
• Thursday, September 30 – Montview League – 3 mile course at Schabarum Park in Rowland Heights.  Azusa, Bassett, Duarte, Ganesha, Gladstone, La Puente, Sierra Vista, and Workman will face off.  Valle Vista League – 3 mile course at Bonelli.  The new lineup is Baldwin Park, Covina, Nogales, Northview, Pomona, San Dimas, & Wilson.