By Leonard COUTIN

Arcadia hosted the Pacific League cross-country finals at its home course in the County Park of Arcadia on Wednesday, Nov. 1. Assembled were individuals from all eight of the League high schools: Arcadia, Burbank, Burroughs, Crescenta Valley, Glendale, Hoover, Pasadena and Muir. The pressure to take home a win no doubt went to the CV boys and the Arcadia girls with a 2-0 count in post meets. The Falcons boys have been rising on the CIF rating charts and, as of Oct. 30, were third – as were the Apache girls.

The CV varsity boys’ race promised to keep spectators on their feet. From the start of the race, the Falcon boys raced to the front of the pack. As they hit the first mile, Spencer Geck and Zach Johnson, followed by Colin FitzGerald and Manan Vats, were all out in front with Burroughs’ Jagdeep Chahal clinging to FitzGerald’s side followed by Alexander Hirsch. Those familiar with FitzGerald knows he normally stays in back of his lead runners, pushing them along before making his move to lead in the last half-mile. Wednesday’s race appeared to follow this norm – with one exception.

Burroughs’ lead – Chahal – made a move to quickly capture two strides on FitzGerald as they came in sight of the finish. FitzGerald quickly made an adjustment and the two were neck-and-neck as they sprinted the last 180 meters to the finish line.

The crowd responded in a frenzy, shouting to each of the runners; no one thought that after running 2½ miles they could hold a sprint to the finish. This was not one of those “usual races” seen before. Neither Chahal nor FitzGerald let up and, as they crossed the finish line, Chahal leaned forward just enough to take the win with both running a time of 14:39.6.

Hirsch of Burroughs placed third running 14:44.3. The next three places were earned by the Falcons: Zach Johnson, who continued to improve in every race, placed fourth (14:45), Artin Allahverdian had his fastest race of the season to place fifth (14:50.5), and Manan Vats, who has been consistently stabilizing the point spread, placed sixth (14:55.1). It was CV’s Spencer Geck who put the hammer down on the win by taking eighth running 15:07. Also running his best time was Falcon Dylan Wilbur, 11th, running 15:10.5 and Carter Walch, 12th, (15:19.2).

“This was our first boys’ varsity cross-country championship since 2007. This was the fastest team time we have run on the Arcadia course – 74:17. This is also the first time we have had four runners under 15:00 on the Arcadia course,” said CV coach Mark Evans. “We have been working all season on closing our gap. This was the best we have had all season. It was a 28 second gap between one to five runners, 31 from one to six and an excellent 40 seconds from one to seven. That gap will grow a bit in the CIF races as Colin needs to make a larger break from the pack.

“I believe he misjudged when to make his move. Jagdeep has very good leg speed. One really does not want to get in a sprint with Jagdeep with 180 meters to go. He has good speed and is tough to beat. This is all part of the process of racing and learning what works and what does not work.”

It should be noted that the Nov. 4 CIF rating now places the CV Falcons second behind Great Oak High School.

Final team scores: CV 25, Burroughs 54, Arcadia 69, Burbank 99, Glendale 151, Pasadena 171 and Hoover 202

The girls’ varsity race proved to have its own excitement as well. As the race got under way, it was Burroughs’ lead runner Emily Virtue who took the lead along with Jasmine He, Natalie Stepanian and Joyce Wu of Arcadia. Falcon duo Caitlyn Couch and Naila Ortiz did their best to edge in behind the lead runners.

After the first mile, Apache He continued to take the lead with Virtue, Wu, Stepanian and Couch following. With one mile left, He made her final sprint to separate herself further from Virtue. Arcadia lead runner He took the win, crossing the finish with her fastest time on the course of 17:06.9. Virtue took second (17:11.5), Stepanian placed third (17:17.5) and Wu fourth (17:31.7). CV’s Caitlyn Couch placed fifth running 17:39.0 and teammate Ortiz placed eighth (18:08.7). Falcon Samantha Moore also performed well and ran her fastest race scorign 10th (18:35.6). Unfortunately for the Falcons, the gap was too great for the next points. Falcons Sophia Atin placed 23rd (19:21.2) and Gaby Borraez 24th (19:24.)

“The girls had a tough race. We have consistently been second in the previous league meets and got beat by both Burroughs and Burbank,” said Evans. “They ran great races and we needed to compete better. Better to happen in the League meet. We are better prepared for a good race at CIF prelims.”

Final team scores: Arcadia 25, Burroughs 64, Burbank 70, CV 70, Glendale 148, Hoover 173 and Pasadena 210

  Leonard Coutin