Baron soph sensation learns his lesson

Bonita Vista's Eric Avila wins Division I race

By Phillip Brents

SAN DIEGO, Sept. 17, 2004 -- There is much to be said for misery born out of defeat. Bonita Vista High sophomore Eric Avila (pictured at right) said that much with his feet at this year’s Mt. Carmel/Movin’ Shoes Invitational at Balboa Park’s Morley Field.

Avila finished third at the Sept. 10 Mustang Invitational, only to be disqualified for an inadvertent course violation. A week later, armed with a valuable lesson in learning, he placed first among Division I sophomore boys at the Morley Field event.

"This race he definitely knew the course, from start to finish," Bonita Vista coach Candice Osuna said.

Avila timed 16:18.6 for the 2.95-mile distance. He finished nearly 11 seconds ahead of Montgomery’s Christopher Kaeg (second, 16:29.0). Bonita Vista’s Austin Jett was fourth in 16:38.7 to cap a whirlwind showing by South County runners in the race. Mathew Seat was third for the Barons in the race, placing 25th in 17:31.6.

Bonita Vista finished with nine medals, inclusive of all divisions. The top 50 placers in each division received medals. The invitational drew 2,000 runners for the 16 divisions.

In the boys Division I senior race, Abraham Alvarez finished 19th (out of more than 100 runners) as the Metro Conference’s top placer. Sweetwater’s Francisco Villasana finished 35th in 17:31.1, followed by Bonita Vista’s Mike Valdez (42nd, 17:23.3).

In the boys Division I junior race, Bonita Vista was led by Daniel Garcia and Erik Brunswick.

In the girls Division I senior race, Keri Elkins, Katie Leahy and Jessica Green were the top finishers for the Barons. Rachel Butler led Bonita Vista’s top junior girls runners while Topacio Palomino and Brittni King paced the Barons in the girls sophomore race.

Osuna said her team’s second outing of the season was more positive in terms of results after failing to crack the top five varsity team finishes at the preceding Mustang Invitational.

"They ran a lot more aggressively. They got their racing feet under them. They had more confidence," she said.

Sweetwater’s Raul Isais finished eighth in the boys Division I freshman race while SuHi’s Karina Rios was 16th in the girls Division I junior race.

Metro standouts

Castle Park’s Edgar Medina (15:40.3) finished ninth in the boys Division 2 junior race.