Monroe cross country claims City Section team title
Alonso Tacanga / Special to the Los Angeles Daily News
Published: Sunday, November 22, 2009
Making his way downhill Saturday at the City cross country finals at Pierce College, a lone runner from San Pedro High trotted his way to a landslide win.
Behind him was the entire Monroe High team.
"We always run together, like a pack of wolves. Always," Monroe senior Jorge Mendez said.
And it paid off.
The Vikings finished well behind San Pedro senior Pablo Rosales, who won the individual championship in a City record 14 minutes, 31 seconds, but they eventually crossed the finish line one after another, earning five top-20 finishes to record their second straight City team championship.
"Everyone's like, `Wow, look at Monroe."' said Mendez, who finished a team-best fifth at 15:23.
He was followed by the rest of his team.
"You got my No. 1 guy and then my No. 2, and automatically No. 3, 4 and 5 are going to be right there," Monroe coach Leo Hernandez said. "We're just lucky we can run that way."
Birmingham took second place and Granada Hills finished in third.
Javert Solorzano (15:04) of Granada Hills was second overall at 15:04 while Birmingham's Mizreal Mendez (15:08) and Dylan Alexander (15:18) came in third and fourth.
San Pedro was fourth with 108 points, with Rosales' breaking the previous City individual final record by 11 seconds.
"I'm not going to lie, I was hoping to get the record," said Rosales, who finished in second place in 2008. "I was looking at that clock that last 100 meters."
In the girls' varsity final, San Pedro's Laura Delgado took first in 18:16 to lead the Pirates to the championship.
Birmingham and Taft took second and third, with Monroe and Reseda rounding out the top five.
Taft's Fany Alvarado took second in 18:29 followed by Palisades freshman Jacklyn Bamberger (18:32) and Venice senior Jaclyn Walles (18:43).
Delgado's goal coming in was to finish in the top five.
"I didn't think I was going to get first, that's for sure," said Delgado, while still trying to catch her breath.
Birmingham coach Scott King was pleased with the effort from his boys' team.
"We ran our very best," King said of the boys. "But Monroe just ran an outstanding race."
And fast and steady.
"It's a good lesson for all of the teams," King said. "Cross-country is a sport of seven runners."
Monroe's boys advance to next Saturday's state finals in Fresno, along with the Birmingham boys and girls.
Sumit Misra from Granada Hills and Jennifer Mendoza of Monroe both qualified as individuals.
Northridge Academy placed third in the boys' small-school race, with Angel Pena taking second in 16 minutes, 51 seconds.
Alonso Tacanga / Special to the Los Angeles Daily News
Published: Sunday, November 22, 2009
Making his way downhill Saturday at the City cross country finals at Pierce College, a lone runner from San Pedro High trotted his way to a landslide win.
Behind him was the entire Monroe High team.
"We always run together, like a pack of wolves. Always," Monroe senior Jorge Mendez said.
And it paid off.
The Vikings finished well behind San Pedro senior Pablo Rosales, who won the individual championship in a City record 14 minutes, 31 seconds, but they eventually crossed the finish line one after another, earning five top-20 finishes to record their second straight City team championship.
"Everyone's like, `Wow, look at Monroe."' said Mendez, who finished a team-best fifth at 15:23.
He was followed by the rest of his team.
"You got my No. 1 guy and then my No. 2, and automatically No. 3, 4 and 5 are going to be right there," Monroe coach Leo Hernandez said. "We're just lucky we can run that way."
Birmingham took second place and Granada Hills finished in third.
Javert Solorzano (15:04) of Granada Hills was second overall at 15:04 while Birmingham's Mizreal Mendez (15:08) and Dylan Alexander (15:18) came in third and fourth.
San Pedro was fourth with 108 points, with Rosales' breaking the previous City individual final record by 11 seconds.
"I'm not going to lie, I was hoping to get the record," said Rosales, who finished in second place in 2008. "I was looking at that clock that last 100 meters."
In the girls' varsity final, San Pedro's Laura Delgado took first in 18:16 to lead the Pirates to the championship.
Birmingham and Taft took second and third, with Monroe and Reseda rounding out the top five.
Taft's Fany Alvarado took second in 18:29 followed by Palisades freshman Jacklyn Bamberger (18:32) and Venice senior Jaclyn Walles (18:43).
Delgado's goal coming in was to finish in the top five.
"I didn't think I was going to get first, that's for sure," said Delgado, while still trying to catch her breath.
Birmingham coach Scott King was pleased with the effort from his boys' team.
"We ran our very best," King said of the boys. "But Monroe just ran an outstanding race."
And fast and steady.
"It's a good lesson for all of the teams," King said. "Cross-country is a sport of seven runners."
Monroe's boys advance to next Saturday's state finals in Fresno, along with the Birmingham boys and girls.
Sumit Misra from Granada Hills and Jennifer Mendoza of Monroe both qualified as individuals.
Northridge Academy placed third in the boys' small-school race, with Angel Pena taking second in 16 minutes, 51 seconds.