The newly constituted Valle Vista league moved on Wednesday to Schabarum Park in Hacienda Heights, a tough hilly course that coaches say is about 30 seconds slower for the boys than Mt.SAC.
Miriam Jimenez
The Varsity girls was very competitive again, with representatives from four different schools taking the first four spots. Miriam Jimenez (Baldwin Park) still too strong for the field, winning in 20:24, followed by Alyssa Martinez of 4th placed San Dimas at 20:38 and Anna Trejo (Nogales) at 20:40. Then came team winner Covina’s #1, Rachel Falomir (21:02) and she was followed by the surprise of the day, Covina freshman Alondra Elizalde (21:22) running in her first ever varsity race and placing 5th. Covina then placed 7th, 14th and 15th to seal the race and to likely clinch at least a share of their third straight Valle Vista title. Baldwin Park, in second, had only had one other top 10, Lidia Alvarez (8th/21:57) while 3rd placed Northview put three up front – Elizabeth Esparza (6th/21:24), Johnnie Zambrano (9th/21:58), & Brittany Arrevalo (10th/21:58).
Alan Callison of Northview once again controlled the race after an interesting first mile that saw a big pack of Baldwin Park, Northview and Covina runners looking as if they were out for a training run. Callison won fairly comfortably (16:49), joined by Cris Cruz (6th/17:18) in leading his team to a third place finish. Covina’s Kevin Medina was a close second (16:56) in a switch of Covina’s Kevins, swapping spots with teammate Kevin Mejia who was 5th this time in 17:14. The Colts next three placed 7th 9th and 11th, almost an exact replication of meet #1, leaving them in position for their second straight league title following a drought of 16 years.
Baldwin Park moved from 4th in the first meet to 2nd behind a nice efforts from Christian Martinez (4th/17:14) & Richard Gutierrez (10th/17:41). Wilson, without anyone in the top 10, edged an apparently short-handed Nogales, 114-115 for 4th, despite the Nobles getting Top 10’s from Jorge Hernandez (3rd/17:11) & Edwin Partida (8th/17:30).
Complete results will follow. Varsity Top 10’s and leading teams after the jump
Special thanks to Covina Coach Erik Starkey for his help with this report.
Varsity Girls: Covina 45 Baldwin Park 63 Northview 69 San Dimas 71
Miriam Jimenez BP 20:24
Alyssa Martinez SD 20:38
Anna Trejo N 20:40
Rachel Falomir C 21:02
Alondra Elizalde C 21:22
Elizabeth Esparza NV 21:24
Ruby Medina C 21:52
Lidia Alvarez BP 21:57
Johnnie Zambrano NV 21:58
Brittany Arrevalo NV 21:58
Varsity Boys: Covina 34 Baldwin Park 67 Northview 74 Wilson 114 Nogales 115
Alan Callison NV 16:49
Kevin Medina C 16:56
Jorge Hernandez N 17:11
Christian Martinez BP 17:14
Kevin Mejia C 17:14
Cris Cruz NV 17:18
Paul Gonzalez C 17:22
Edwin Pacheco N 17:30
Richard Stephenson C 17:38
Richard Gutierrez BP 17:41
Great job to Miriam Jimenez and Lidia Alvarez they have shown what talent BP has. Michelle Alfaro was up in front of our second girl Lidia but unfortunately had a bad day and things didn’t turn out well for her but she is sure to make a come back for our last league meet at Bonelli park. Also Great job to Christian Martinez and Richard Gutierrez and the rest of the Varsity BP boys for hanging in there. JV did well too taking second. Frosh did an amazing 2-0 league wins and they are sure to take this. Baldwin Park keeps on showing what it truly has and hasn’t given up. Good luck to all the schools in the next meet and Great job Covina on achieving two consecutive wins you guys are great but not alone on the field! 🙂
Strong push from wilson, but nogales will have Anand Panchal next race (with him being the fastest on the team)…
A small correction to the spelling of 8th place for varsity, it is Edwin Partida.
Not bad Valle Vista League. But NV’s Alan Callison winning with a 16:49 isn’t impossible to beat. Kevin Medina is a face I see from time to time. Go get him!
Alan Callison seems to have no one on his side. At the starting line I heard Coach Garza tell Alan to not lead the race till the half way point. In League 1 he was gone from the start. So his time could of been much faster. He has improved so much from last season. Now that he has been up front no one gives him the respect he deserves. Miriam is has been doing outstanding, every week she has been dropping seconds. See if she can break 19 at league finals. It will be very interesting for the top 5 spots on the girls varsity side. It will be interesting on the team battles for second on both the boys and girls.