To conclude the Western League season, the boys’ and girls’ teams raced in the final league cluster in preparation for the CIF finals. Six total teams competed in the varsity races with over sixty competitors in each. “Going into the Western League Championships last Tuesday we knew that the girls’ team would be in for a long day,” says Coach Green, as many runners were sick.
Teresa Perez, once again, dominated the course at Morley Field. This time, she not only finished in first place, but she had a Personal Record and set the course record by nearly twenty seconds faster than previously set. Teresa finished the five-kilometer course in 18:15.3 (Mile Pace: 5:55.6), beating the second-place finisher by eleven seconds. The following is a video of Teresa sprinting through the finish line:
Due to her incredible performance in all the cluster meets and the final, Teresa was named Girls’ Western League Athlete of the Year.
Following Teresa was freshman Abigail Hundley who placed fifteenth, with a PR time of 19:47 (Mile Pace: 6:25). Madden Hundley followed Abigail, placing nineteenth. Also finishing in the top thirty were Naya Tamariz and Jessica Ehret. Coronado ended in fourth place among the six schools competing in the Western League.
In the boys’ division, Spencer Busby was the top runner for Coronado, clocking a time of 16:26.1 (Mile Pace: 5:20.1). Spencer took seventh place, followed by Ian Hurlburt who placed fifteenth, with a PR time of 16:47 (Mile Pace: 5:27), and Patrick Harris in sixteenth, with a PR time of 16:50 (Mile Pace: 5:28). Being only his second race of the season, Luke Klingenberg finished one second slower than Harris, only thirty-one seconds off his PR. Coronado boys placed third among the six Western League schools.
The CIF Finals of the San Diego Section on Saturday will determine the qualifiers for the state meet in Fresno. To qualify as a team, the boys must finish among the top three Division-IV teams and the girls among the top two Division-IV teams. “Both the boys’ and girls’ teams have good chances to qualify,” says Coach Green. “Sage Creek is the top D-IV boys’ team with Coronado, Crawford, and Valley Center vying for the remaining two slots. For the girls, the top-seeded teams are Coronado and Sage Creek with Valley Center a threat.” We wish the team luck at the finals this Saturday.
Next Meet:
Saturday, November 18 – CIF Finals at Morley Field @ 11:45 AM
Photos by George Green