San Bernardino sweeps Foothill Invitational
SAN BERNARDINO, CA.—The San Bernardino Valley College women's team made it a clean sweep winning the Foothill Invitational women's 5k run on Oct. 2 at the San Bernardino Soccer Complex. The Wolverines had won the men's race earlier in the day.
No. 4-ranked San Bernardino Valley College took the top five spots in the men's 4-mile course to win its second meet of the season.
San Bernardino won the 2015 Redlands Invitational against four-year university competition on Sept. 5.
Santiago Canyon College took second place with its top five runners all running personal records on the Foothill Invitational's new fast course at the San Bernardino Soccer Complex.
San Bernardino's freshman Michael Teran (Fontana Jurupa Hills High School) won the men's 4-mile course in 20 minutes and 24 seconds.
Teran's teammates that took second through fifth places, respectively, included freshman Luis Ortega (Jurupa Hills HS), sophomore Derek Barnett (Redlands East Valley HS), freshman Antonio Sanchez (Riverside Rubidoux HS) and sophomore Daniel Aguilera (Jurupa Hills).
San Bernardino took eight of the top 10 spots even minus three of its top athletes who were out with injuries and an illness.
"It was the best race the (men's) team put together all season," said San Bernardino Coach Jim Ratigan.
Santiago Canyon's top five finishers that ran personal records included freshman David Adan (Santa Ana Century HS), sophomores Juan Garcia (Century), Forrest Riley (Riverside Ramona HS) and Hayden Ortiz (Tustin Foothill HS) as well as freshman Juan Toledo (Century).
East Los Angeles College placed third also with its top-five finishing with personal records – sophomores Andrew Perez (Montebello HS) and Justin Torres (Alhambra HS), freshmen Robin Joseph (L.A. Bravo Medical Magnet HS) and Michael Tapia (L.A. Alliance Patti and Peter Leadership Academy) and sophomore Daniel Lopez (L.A. Roosevelt HS).
College of the Desert edged Chaffey College by one point for fourth place.
The San Bernardino women edged Chaffey College 47 to 52 points for the team title. After the top three runners from each school crossed the finish line Chaffey was in the lead to win by eight points.
San Bernardino, however, had their No. 4 and No. 5 women finished before Chaffey's to seal the win. "Injuries held us back, however, two had lifetime best (times)," said Eric Abrams, San Bernardino Head Coach.
"The course was grass with slight downhill running and cement in slight uphill running," said Abrams. "All of the (colleges) ran good times on the fast course," said Abrams.
San Bernardino placed 3, 8, 9, 13 and 14, sophomore Fernanda Rodriguez (Rubidoux High School), freshman Alyssa Hebb (Redlands East Valley HS), sophomore Jessica Hernandez (Rialto Carter HS), freshman Kim Cooley (San Bernardino Cajon HS) and sophomore Citaly Garcia (Cajon).
Chaffey freshmen Julia Cantrell (Claremont HS) won the women's race in 18:33 and teammate freshman Kaylie Balvaneda (Etiwanda HS) took second with a personal record of 18:54. Panther freshman Baellae Hoops (Moreno Valley Canyon Springs HS) also ran a personal best.
Named to the Women's Top-10 Foothill Invitational Team from first through 10th places were Cantrell, Balvaneda, Rodriguez, East Los Angeles College sophomore Viridiana Hernandez (South Gate), Hoops, Santiago Canyon College freshman Gabrielle De La Rosa (Anaheim Esperanza HS), Santiago sophomore Beatriz Aguilar (Anaheim Katella HS), Hebb, Jessica Hernandez and East L.A. sophomore Luz Badillo (Alhambra HS).
East Los Angeles and Santiago Canyon colleges' each added personal records for their top-five runners.
East L.A. had more gas and edged Santiago by eight points for third place. The teams have split their meetings this year, both defeating each other twice.
Victor Valley College got by College of the Desert for fifth place.
San Bernardino competes in the Brubaker Invitational at Irvine Park in Orange On Oct. 9 beginning at 10 a.m.
Story submitted by Tadzio Garcia