SD Prep Sports

SD Prep Sports: Cross Country

Metro Conference report

Titans find thrills, disappointment in Mesa League openers

By Phillip Brents

Updated Oct. 22, 2002

The Eastlake High School girls cross country team did not have to wait long to find out just how well it stacked up in this year’s Mesa League championship race. The Titans — defending South Bay League champions —tied perennial powerbroker Chula Vista 28-28 but came up short to the Spartans on the sixth runner tiebreaker in the teams’ league opener Oct. 4 at Discovery Park.

Eastlake placed three of the top five runners in the double dual meet that also included Hilltop. Mercedes Razo turned in the top time of 15:23 on the 2.25-mile course, followed by Chula Vista’s Johanna Suasa (second, 15:32) and Kenia Rosette (third, 15:45). Hilltop sophomore Selina Munoz was fourth among individuals in 16:18 but did not figure in the scoring between the two Mesa League teams.

The Titans placed the next two runners in the head-to-head scoring meet against Chula Vista — Janelle Daniel (16:32) and Jackie Paras (16:34). The Spartans had four of the top eight scorers in the meet, with Cindy Garay (16:43) and Natashja Miles (17:06) placing around Eastlake’s Jasmine Leija (17:05). Chula Vista’s fifth runner, Carlene Belen, finished 11th in 17:24.

The Spartans won the tiebreaker when their sixth runner, Virginia Medera (17:42) finished ahead of Eastlake’s sixth runner, Adriana Sandoval (17:46).

The Titans also did not have to wait long to record their first-ever Mesa League dual meet win by defeating Sweetwater, 25-33, Oct. 11 at Discovery Park. Razo led all runners with a 15:16 time for 2.25 miles. Eastlake recorded six of the top nine individual times and five of the top eight.

Sweetwater had three of the top five times — Lizette Villasana (second, 15:34), Savannah Size (fourth, 15:40) and Brenda Diaz (fifth, 16:20) — but the Titans placed the next four runners ahead of the Red Devils’ fourth runner (Priscilla Garcillanosa, 10th in 17:31).

Rounding out the Titans’ top nine dual place-finshers were Brittany Leija (third, 15:39), Janelle Daniel (sixth, 16:36), Jasmine Leija (seventh, 16:50), Jackie Paras (eighth, 17:00) and Leticia Flores (ninth, 17:19).

Eastlake’s move up to the larger enrollment Mesa League, however, continues to be challenging — especially for the boys team.

In girls action Oct. 16 at Discovery Park, Bonita Vista defeated Eastlake, 18-42, to move into sole possession of first place in the league standings with a 2-0 league mark ahead of idle Chula Vista (1-0). Kristen Gonzalez turned in the top time at 14:30, followed by teammate Tiffany Caddell (14:47). The defending champion Barons had five of the top six times.

Razo again led the Titans with a third-place time of 14:67. Behind her, however, were three Bonita Vista runners: Kristen Milliken (fourth, 15:28), Jessi Tinsley (fifth, 15:37) and Jessica Munoz (sixth, 15:40). Daniel was Eastlake’s second finisher, placing seventh in 15:53, followed by the Barons’ Julie Buettner (eighth, 16:01), the Titans’ Jasmine Leija (ninth, 16:12) and Bonita Vista’s Celeste Andrade (10th, 16:16).

The Bonita Vista boys joined Sweetwater at 2-0 in Mesa League duals after defeating Eastlake 15-49. The Barons produced the top six times of the meet, led by Ryan Becijos (17:03), Abraham Alvarez (17:26), Julian Zamora (17:29), Ryan Groth (17:44), Phillip Chipounov (17:45) and Chris Wymer (17:45).

Senior Clifford Felarca led Eastlake against Bonita Vista with a seventh-place finish in 17:52. The Barons finished with seven of the top eight times as Michael Morales followed Felarca across the finish line in 18:04. junior John Stubbs (ninth, 18:11) and senior Arturo Macias (10th, 18:12) rounded out the Titans’ top scorers.
The loss against Bonita Vista dropped the Titans to a 0-3 Mesa League start — all losses coming against the league’s perennial powerhouses in a very unkind gift from the master schedule maker.
Eastlake opened Mesa League action with a 20-37 loss to Chula Vista and followed with a 17-42 loss to Sweetwater, which most recently defeated the Spartans 21-36 to take the dual lead back from Bonita Vista at 3-0.

Stubbs, in particular, has turned in an otherwise standout season, posting the top time for the Titans in duals against Chula Vista (fourth) and Sweetwater (fourth) while leading the team in the Baron and Mt. Carmel invitationals. Other consistent placers have included seniors Phil Jenkins and Zach Avallone, juniors Rodrigo Flores and Arturo Avina and sophomore Daniel Andrade.

If there is one consolation, hope appears on the way after Eastlake’s boys junior varsity team — keyed by sophomore Anthony Feaster and junior Kyle Maynes — tamed Mesa League powers Chula Vista (23-34), Sweetwater (28-29) and Bonita Vista (24-33) on the course for a 3-0 dual start. The Titans’ defeat of the Barons was of particular note, as Bonita Vista swept through last season undefeated.

Maynes was fourth in the Baron Invitational JV race, joining freshman Ernesto Valdez (ninth) as Eastlake’s two top 10 place-finishers. Valdez finished 10th out of 117 runners in the frosh/soph at the 22-team South Bay Invitational on Sept. 27.

Young Spartans excel
Chula Vista High’s freshman boys cross country team placed third in the team standings at the Central Park Invitational Oct. 5 in Huntington Beach. The young Spartans were led by Michael Conver’s 11th place finish in 18:36 for 3.0 miles, followed by teammates Gilbert Rivas (13th, 18:42), Martin Jimenez (25th, 19:18), Pedro Rodriguez (35th, 19:467) and Francisco Solano (52nd, 20:48).

Chula Vista’s girls junior varsity team placed fourth in its division. Four runners placed among the top 35 individuals: Natashja Miles (7th, 22:45), Brenda Sandoval (9th, 22:57), Virginia Medera (23rd, 23:31) and Jasmin Vargas (33rd, 25:09).
Johanna Suasa led the Spartans girls varsity team with a 14th individual finish.

Chula Vista High’s freshman boys cross country team placed third in the team standings at the Central Park Invitational Oct. 5 in Huntington Beach. The young Spartans were led by Michael Conver’s 11^th place finish in 18:36 for 3.0 miles, followed by teammates Gilbert Rivas (13^th, 18:42), Martin Jimenez (25^th, 19:18), Pedro Rodriguez (35^th, 19:467) and Francisco Solano (52^nd, 20:48).

Chula Vista’s girls junior varsity team placed fourth in its division. Four runners placed among the top 35 individuals: Natashja Miles (7^th, 22:45), Brenda Sandoval (9^th, 22:57), Virginia Medera (23^rd, 23:31) and Jasmin Vargas (33^rd, 25:09).

Johanna Suasa led the Spartans girls varsity team with a 14^th individual finish.