By Leonard COUTIN

On Saturday, the Falcons’ home cross-country course was the site for the 50th Annual Staub/Barnes Invitational. Leading the varsity to a team win was Falcon senior Caitlyn Couch who ran her best time of 18:55.44 on the three-mile course. Also showing strong times were Sophia Atin, who took third running a time of (20:29.81), McKenna Heeg, who placed 14th, Gaby Borraez placed 15th (20:39.44) and Samantha Moore taking 17th (20:48.91).

The team of crosstown rival La Cañada High School was led by Kayley Bond, who captured second. Bond ran 18:55.88; her teammates Adena Dipaolo placed fifth (19:47.22) and Sarah Auther placed sixth (19:51.66).

The Burbank Bulldogs’ lead runner Sol Fernandez took fourth place (19:35.07) and teammate Noemi Apreza placed seventh (19:52.91).

“The girls’ varsity ran very well to beat a very good La Cañada team,” said CV coach Mark Evans. “Caitlyn ran a strong race to win in her best time on the course. This was the first time in three years to have a CV girl go under 19:00 on the course. Our girls are coming together and getting stronger with each race.”

Final team scores: CV 45, La Cañada 53, Burbank 75

The girls’ Division1 JV race was won by Falcon Melissa Owens running a time of 20:45.62 followed by teammates Sarah Nakama (22.12 15) and Sojeong Kang (22.16.97). Owens, who normally runs varsity, got a chance to run with her age group for the first time.

“Melissa Owens ran a very strong race to win the girls JV race,” Evans said.

Unfortunately, the Falcons boys’ varsity team did not participate in this year’s invitational so to be better prepared for the Clovis Invitational that will be held on Saturday. Still ranked as fifth in Division 1 CIF rankings, the Falcons will face California’s strongest competitors at Clovis before the CIF finals in November.

The JV squad took to the course for the Division 1 varsity race. Placing fifth as a team, Charles Pingry was the lead runner for CV, running 16:49.40 to place 12th. Scoring points for the Falcon team were Neil Logan, 18th, (17:10.12), Grant Lauterback, 20th, (17:18.25), Ethan Sharp, 23rd, (17:27.84), Jacob Ralston, 35th, (17:58.87), Erik Faeustle, 36th, (18:00.21) and Jack Doloszycki, 40th (18:10.15).

“The team ran very well. We ran our second group in the boys’ varsity race and they competed well against a good group of teams. JV boys were still able to run a strong race to finish second even with our normal JV group in the varsity race. I’m also happy to see that the freshman boys won their race,” Evans said.

  Leonard Coutin