Girls CIF Runner Ups, Boys Third

Walnut, CA – Both the boys and girls cross country teams toed the line at CIF Southern Section Finals at Mt San Antonio College. The girls were making their 7th consecutive appearance and the boys their 5th consecutive. Both teams were racing for the opportunity to win a CIF championship and qualifying spot for the State Finals.

The GIRLS raced first with a bittersweet result placing second as a team! Although CIF Runner Ups is the best finish in OC history and the first time the girls have qualified a complete squad to the State Finals the girls were left wondering what could have been. Individual favorite and senior Roseanne Fleming faded from contention after the mile and struggled to the finish placing well back making the difference between CIF Champions Maranatha and the CIF Runner Up Lions. Cristy Garcia set the OC frosh record bettering Roseanne’s frosh time by one second (19:06-19:07) and placed 8th overall earning second team All CIF honors. Samantha Roesler and Tina Boskovich used team tactics to become the fourth and fifth girls in OC history to break 20 minutes on the Mt SAC course. Sam edged Tina both running 19:56. Emily Fuld, recovering from illness and missing school earlier in the week, still posted a personal best 20:27 behind Rosie’s 20:26. Brittani Gardella also took the second have of the week off for illness, but still posted a personal best 21:22. Morgan Temanson rounded out the crew running 21:45.

The girls will get a re-match next week with a bigger crown to win at the State Finals. Maranatha, the #1 ranked team in the state and Berkeley St. Mary’s will be heavily challenged by the now confident Lions squad. The Lions defeated St. Mary’s earlier this year for the Stanford Invitational title.

The BOYS raced next posting personal bests by all seven guys, but came just five points from the podium placing third overall. Third place is also the best finish in OC history, but the performance may provide the inspiration needed for the State Final next week. The defending state champions Big Bear placed second just five points ahead of the Lions with Nordhoff winning by 27 points. The Lions have beaten the Rangers on three occasions this season and will look for a fourth at the state meet. Charlie Petrie (15:50) improved his OC record with the first ever sub-16 mark at Mt SAC for a Lion. Charlie’s 3rd place finish is the best ever by an male Lion and equals Rosie’s best finish. Hunter Hays ran the #2 time in OC history with a brilliant 16:09 and a 5th place finish. Both Charlie and Hunter earned first team All CIF. Ethan Long’s 12th place finish and 16:19 earned him second team All CIF honors and the third fastest mark in OC history. Rafael Garcia ran beautiful personal best 16:41. Justin Sullivan (17:24), Mike Colarossi (17:30) and Nick Colarossi (17:47) ran fantastically all improving. Mike ran with 14 stitches in his right knee from an injury the day before. The boys took nearly two minutes off the OC team time record.

Next Up…
STATE FINALS
Woodward Park – Fresno, CA
Sat, Nov 24th

OC Top Marks set at CIF SS Finals:

Charlie Petrie 15:50 OC Record & #1junior
Hunter Hays 16:09 #2 OC all time & #2 junior
Ethan Long 16:19 #3 OC all time & #1 senior
Rafael Garcia 16:41 #6 OC all time & #4 junior
Justin Sullivan 17:24 #5 senior
Mike Colarossi 17:30 #6 senior
Nick Colarossi 17:47 #4 sophomore

Cristy Garcia 19:06 #2 OC all time & #1 frosh
Samantha Roesler 19:56 #4 OC all time & #2 senior
Tina Boskovich 19:56 #5 OC all time & #2 junior
Emily Fuld 20:27 #7 OC all time & #4 junior
Brittani Gardella 21:22 #4 frosh

142:58 – Girls Team Time – all 7 combined
82:21 – Boys Team Time – Top 5
117:38 – Boys Team Time – all 7 combined