The emergence of strong distance running programs in the South Bay should provide for an exciting cross country season as the race for the Bay League cross country title starts Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. when Redondo hosts the first league meet.
Once again, the competition will be stiff for the girls title. Redondo is ranked No. 3 in CIF Division 2 and will make a charge in an attempt to overtake defending Bay League champion Mira Costa who is ranked No. 6. Both squads return top performers but will be challenged by Palos Verdes and West, ranked No. 1 and No. 5, respectively, in Division 3.
Other local girls teams ranked in the top ten are El Segundo (No. 6) and Bishop Montgomery (No. 7) in Division 4 and Chadwick, who is ranked No. 1 in Division 5.
In a final tune-up before league action begins, Mira Costa competed in the 31st Annual Woodbridge Cross Country Classic in Costa Mesa last weekend.
Kelli Sugimoto placed 12th in the Sweepstakes race with a time of 17:03. Jenna Tong (30th, 17:27), Abby Hong (54th, 18:01), Vivien Cherrette (62nd, 18:06), Yvette Sandoval (88th, 18:29), Lauren Inouye (121st, 18:39) and Christine Inouye (136th 19:36) helped Mira Costa to an 8th place team finish.
Mira Costa began its campaign at the Laguna Hills Invitational where the senior team placed first in Division 2. Sugimoto ran the fastest time at 17:22.09, Tong placed fourth (18:07.31) and Cherrette finished tenth (19:06.82).
Redondo kicked off its season with a strong showing at the Great Cow Run in Cerritos. The Sea Hawks took first place as a team with four top ten finishers. Lyndsey Mull (17:19), Cara Ulizio (17:29) and Rachel Bush (17:32) finished second through fourth, just ahead of Kayla Ferron who placed sixth at 18:11.
Boys chase Palos Verdes
Palos Verdes is looking for its third straight Bay League title and is ranked No. 1 in Division 3, four spots ahead of West. In Division 2, Peninsula is ranked No. 3, Mira Costa is No. 9 and Redondo is No. 10. In Division 10, Chadwick is the tenth-ranked boys team.
At the Woodbridge meet, Mira Costa earned a 17th-place team finish led by strong performances by Adam Perez (9th, 14:54) and Zachary Adler (15th, 15:06). Helping the Mustang’s cause were Travis Taylor (37th, 15:29), Sammy Nunan (55th, 15:44), Niko Pappas (69th, 15:52) and Pablo Diaz (70th, 15:52).
Mira Costa kicked off its season with a second-place team finish at Laguna Hills. Perez led the charge finishing 5th with a time of 15:25.28. Adler (12th, 15:49.67), Taylor (17th, 16:05.81), Diaz (24th, 16:29.08) and Nunan (27th, 16:31.36) contributed for the Mustangs.
In its first meet of the season, Redondo finished fourth as a team. The Sea Hawks were led by sophomore William Tait (15:18) and junior Evan Malone-White (15:19) who placed 14th and 15th, respectively.
Tyler Caracoza (24th, 15:32), Dustin Herold (28th, 15:37) and Patrick Borgerding (37th, 15:42) helped Redondo’s cause.
The annual South Bay Cup meet featuring the area’s top distance runners in boys and girls divisions will be held at Columbia Park in Torrance on Wednesday, Sept. 28 at 2:45 p.m.
