The Claremont boys earned the SGV’s only podium place in Saturday’s California State Cross Country Championships at Woodward Park in Fresno, while the Covina girls had the top girls performance with their fourth place finish in Div IV.
It was a bit of a rough day for our local teams, with only three of the nine, the above two plus the La Serna boys performing ahead of the average for Southern Section teams in their race.
Three SGV athlete’s made the State Meet’s ten person podium. Audrey Suarez (Jr, Mayfield) was the only girl, finishing 3rd/17:53 in Div. IV, 9 seconds off of her winning time in 2018. On the boys side, Claremont junior Jack Keough-Lansford led his team’s strong Div II effort with a 7th/15:14 finish, while Eduardo De Paz (Sr, Baldwin Park) was 3rd/15:31 and the top CIF-SS athlete in Div III. Jack and Eduardo’s times rank them =17th and =48th, respectively, among the SGV All-Time Top 50 Performers on this storied 5000m course.
The SGV’s results, by division, are after the jump
SGV Teams & Athletes at the 2019 State Meet
Div II Girls – Claremont had a rough day and finished 7th in 93:41, ending an incredible three year run of championships Junior Angie Gushie led the first three across the line 15th/18:10. She now ranks 26th A-T SGV.
Div III Girls – Arroyo had advanced to both CIF Finals and the State Meet for the first time ever, but never got going here, finishing 20th in 102:23. Senior Kelly Luna-Flores was their leader at 76th/19:54
Div II Boys – Claremont, 3rd here last year with an arguably better team, and 4th in the incredibly loaded CIF D2 Finals, ran a really strong race to move up to again to 3rd/78:29. In addition to Keough-Lansford, senior Adam Trafecanty joined the All-Time Performer’s list with his 17th/15:28. He’s =32 SGV on this course.
Div III Boys – As noted above, Eduardo De Paz (Sr, Baldwin Park) finished 3rd overall, running only 11 seconds slower than his 3 mile time at CIF Finals. where he was eighth. He was the top Southern Section runner here by 3 places. Pasadena soph Isaiah Givens could not duplicate his efforts at the SS Final and the earlier Clovis Invite here, but still just missed the podium with his 11th/15:40 finish.
Arroyo returned to Fresno for the first time since their win in the first State Meet in 1987 but suffered a bit of an off day and finished 13th/83:02
Div IV Girls – Covina were a big fourth place, and second best SS team, moving up one spot from Finals. They were led by a big effort from senior Katelyn Voung, who bounced back from a rough 29th place finish at CIF-SS Finals to place 17th/18:42, and 7th among SS girls.
Mayfield were 6th/97:47, led by Suarez’ 3rd place finish. Also in the race were individual qualifiers Sydney Morrow (So, South Pasadena) 27th/18:48 in here first time here, and Ellaney Matarese (Jr, La Canada) 30th/18:50 in her second State Meet.
Div V Boys - After their surprise win in the Southern Section Finals, Flintridge Prep could not make it two in a row, falling to sixth and third among SS teams with an 84:06 team time. Junior Hudson Billock was their top finisher at 21st/16:21.
Div IV Boys - Wilson made a huge jump this year, advancing to CIF Finals and State for the first time in maybe ever, but couldn’t keep the momentum going, finishing a few spots below their ranking in 12th/84:03. Senior Johnathan Zavala led the team with a solid 22nd/15:59 finish
Div V Girls – the SGV only advanced individual’s here, juniors Lily Miller (Jr, Vivian Webb) and Alessia Checcone (Jr. Poly). This was Lily’s third trip to Fresno and her 20th place finish and 19:17 time were life-time bests. Alessia was 43rd/19:52 in her first time here.
Div I Boys - La Serna closed out the day, advancing for the first time after a near miss last year. The were 12th overall in 80:20, a really solid effort. Senior Aiden Arredondo led the team at 54th/15:48.
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