By Leonard COUTIN

The area’s best cross-country runners from Arcadia, Burbank, Crescenta Valley and La Cañada Flintridge proved themselves to be worthy opponents at the CIF State Cross-Country Championship Finals held at Woodward Park in Fresno on Saturday. It was a perfect day for families and friends to cheer on the runners who sacrificed so much and worked so hard to earn the right to compete in this prominent meet.

For Crescenta Valley High School senior Colin FitzGerald, returning to the state meet meant a great deal. It was his second chance at fulfilling a dream. Last year he posted 44th with a time of 16:40.7. He knew he had not performed up to his ability.

“I really did not want a repeat of last year and it was awesome to finally be up there with a team,” he said. “The team definitely helped raise my spirits. It felt a lot more normal and it was so fun to just be hanging with the guys.”   

Although the field was crowded, the Falcon boys got off to an exceptional start. FitzGerald knew he was on course, staying with the lead runners as he perfectly positioned himself through the first mile as the runners posted a time of 4:54. Pacing himself up the second mile loop, he looked strong and focused.

“The second mile of the course is what makes or breaks your race,” FitzGerald said. “If you can stay focused and keep pushing that second mile, anything is possible in the third mile.”

Not too far back in the second group were his teammates Artin Allahverdian, Zach Johnson and Manan Vats. These three runners have been the catalyst for scoring significant team points that have kept the Falcons on the charts all season. But the key rested on the fifth man – Spencer Geck. Unfortunately, Geck, who had been injured in the sectional finals, was not feeling his best.

As the runners completed the far loop, they returned to the 2.1-mile mark leading back to the finish line. The front nine runners were clustered closely with FitzGerald keeping contact from the back. In the last mile, FitzGerald began to pick off his competition earlier than had been seen in other races until it became the final three: El Camino Real’s Justin Hazell, Falcon Colin FitzGerald and E. Roosevelt’s Tyler Spenser. Hazell responded quickly to FitzGerald’s challenge in the last 800m. Separating himself from the other two, Hazell reached the final 100m, driving hard to the finish line and winning with a time of 15:03.8. As FitzGerald and Spenser reached the green, there was an attempt by Spenser to get ahead, but FitzGerald shut it down with a burst of speed and continued to dive ahead, crossing the finish line to place second running 15:10.1, followed by Spenser (15:11.8). Matt Strangio from Jesuit placed fourth running 15:15.5.  

The Falcons teammates scored well for themselves: Allahverdian placed 17th (15:34.7), Johnson captured 26th (15:44.1), Manan Vats, 48th, (16:05.5). Other notables placements were Cartier Walch, 107th, (16:33.3), Dylan Wilbur 137th, (17:00.8) and Geck, 144th, (17:29.4). The Falcons scored fifth in the team standing.

Look back on his performance, FtizGerald said, “I definitely accomplished the goal I set out. I wanted to qualify for nationals and I am excited about the opportunity. After this week’s training, I feel confident that I have one more week in me and I’m pumped to have the opportunity to finally compete at the national level.”

Burroughs’ individual runner Jagdeep Chahal ran well through the course in lead pack, but fell off in the last mile to place 15th running 15:32.7.

“The boys’ varsity finished the season in fifth place in the state. This was a great effort and two places higher than we finished in the CIF Finals race the week before,” said Coach Mark Evans. “In a merge of all five divisions that raced on Saturday we were the sixth best team in the state. Colin FitzGerald was 2nd in the Division 1 race and joins Nathan Sellers, Zack Torres and Claire Collison as CV athletes who have finished second in their state meet races. Colin was also the second fastest runner in the state on Saturday and earns a trip to Portland for the Nike Cross Nationals. The NXN race is this Saturday.”

Evans added that this was the fastest team CV has had at the state meet and the first trip to the state meet as a team since 2013.

“We don’t want to wait another four years to take a team to the state meet,” he said. “We should expect to be there every year.  We have the team to make it happen.”

Final team scores: Great Oak 75, E. Roosevelt 90, Dana Hills 127, Loyola 137 and CV 154

The Flintridge Prep boys and girls have had many outstanding years at the CIF State Cross-Country Championship Finals. This year the boys’ team placed fourth in Division 5 scoring 137 points. Senior Evan Pattinelli, who ran 15:38.7, poured it on at the finish to win the race. Teammate Carson Hasbrouck placed 12th (16:02.0), Bennett Oaks 37th, (16:52.8) Sebastian Evans 58th, (17:16.9) and Andrew Odom 76th (17:26.6).  

The Flintridge girls took home another CIF state championship title in Division 5 scoring 74 points. Lead runner Sophie Gitlin, who has had a remarkable season, placed fifth individually running a time of 18:32.9. Contributing to their team win was Sasha Codiga who placed 13th (19:02.8), Haley Allen, 16th, (19:20.8), Jenna Mijares, 44th, (20:18.2) and Hope Codiga, 69th, (20:42.8).

The La Cañada girls took home the third place title in Division 4 scoring 147 points. Lead runner Kayley Bond placed seventh (18:35.7). The team consisted of Katharine Scoville who placed 29th (19:19.3), Sarah Auther, 53rd, (19:54.7), Ellaney Matarese, 56th, (20:01.9) and Adena DiPaolo, 67th, (20:13.5).

Individually, Claudia Lane of Malibu set a new state record running 16:30.3 breaking Sarah Baxter’s old mark of 16:40 in Division 4.

The Arcadia girls placed fourth scoring 181 points in Division 1. Great Oak girls won the Division again with 71 points. The Arcadia team consisted of Jasmine He, 16th, (18:13.6), Natalie Stepanian, 19th, (18:18.8), Joyce Wu, 23rd, (18:22.8), Kelly Lang, 82nd, (19:19.6) and Dani Rodriguez, 104th, (19:37.3).

Emily Virtue of Burroughs placed seventh (17:36.1) to stand on the podium once again.

  Leonard Coutin