Mustangs run well at Elysian Park, and on the verge of capturing the Sante Fe League Title

Barring some disaster, both varsity and junior varsity teams clinched the Sante Fe League team titles by virtue of their wins on the hilly Elysian Park course on Wednesday.  Training through the race, the Mustangs still mustered enough strength to gain on other runners of the Sante Fe League.  The harriers enter the last month of the season running really well. 

The Mustangs were paced once again by senior Freddy Robles with a clocking of 17:51, finishing second in the race to sophomore Mario Lopez of Daniel Murphy, and in the process, setting up a showdown for the individual title in 3 weeks at League Finals on the Bell-Jeff course.  At the Bell-Jeff Invitational on September 23, Freddy ran a 16:56, whereas Lopez PRed with a time of 16:45.  Freddy has a PR of 16:20 on the Bell-Jeff course. 

Making his long awaited debut, senior Edwin Garcia ran second man for the Mustangs, finishing third overall in the race.  Although he ran a 3 mile tempo in 18 minutes on Monday and a 30 minute recovery run on Tuesday,  he closed the gap to Freddy.  All year, the gap to Freddy has been a minute.  It was cut in half on Wednesday by Edwin.  Coaches look forward to Edwin  serving as the catalyst to the other 3 remaining scorers, or pack.  A one minute gap between Freddy to the 5th man would secure a spot at C.I.F. Finals. 

In close pursuit of Edwin on Wednesday was senior Christian "Lisa" Ruiz and junior Carlos Alvarez, finishing fourth and fifth respectively in the race.  Lisa has been a steady fixture in the pack for the Mustangs all season.  Coaches expect nothing less in the coming month.  Like Edwin, Carlos also ran a 3 mile tempo in 18 minutes on Monday, and practiced with his club soccer team on Tuesday evening, but yet was able to run within a minute of Freddy.  Carlos has a PR of 18:16 on the Mount San Antonio College, or Mt. SAC, course, and a PR of 17:11 on the Bell-Jeff course.  No doubt, Carlos will be counted on heavily in the coming month. 

Coaches were positive after the race, knowing that 3 Mustang runners surpassed Daniel Murphy's number 2 runner, Kevin Haigh on Wednesday.  Haigh ran a PR of 17:11 on September 23rd at the Bell-Jeff Invitational.  At that race Lisa was 30 seconds behind Haigh.  Twenty days later, 3 Mustang runners, besides Freddy are fitter that a 17:11 on the Bell-Jeff course.  More, both Edwin and Carlos have yet maximize their fitness level.

Finishing 7th, 8th, and 9th in the race were Ivan Rafael, Daniel Verdin, and Eric Castanon.  Ivan complained of knee problems prior to the race, and compiled with Monday's and Tuesday's workout, assured the sub par race.  Ivan will be in close proximity to the other 4 scorers next race.  Though unhappy with their times, both Daniel Verdin and Eric Castanon ran as would be expected for young runners training through a race.  Needed rest will no doubt come in handy for these 3 runners .

On the junior varsity level, sophomore Abraham Santa Cruz upset pre-race favorites juniors and pals, Paul Cornejo and Adan Garcia, winning the race in a time of 19:40.  Abraham chased the cronies down in the last 800 meters.  At the halfway point, Abraham was 10 seconds behind race leader Adan Garcia.  Prior to the race, Paul and Adan had a heated discussion on who was going to win the race.  Paul was the most verbal, declaring to Coach Medina that "this was my opportunity to make the varsity team."  Coaches had to separate the  pals once again.  Surely, their energy committed to beat each other in the race contributed to the early fast pace, allowing Abraham to see the race unfold, and take the victory away from the two juniors at the end.  Abraham was 7 seconds behind 7th man on varsity, junior, Eric Castanon. 

On top of that, senior Gio Alvarez, who decided on race day to join the team, also made the bold prediction that he was going to win the race.  In fact, he was so confident, he even told other teams that he was going to be victorious.  At the turn-around point, Gio was in 5th place, and upon going by a Verbum Dei runner, was sarcastically asked, "I thought you were going to win the race?"  Gio who was by now in oxygen debt, had no response.  Later, video footage caught Gio walking the course, with his arms raised above his shoulders, talking to himself, saying, "Are you serious?"  Footage is forthcoming.

The Mustangs next race on Friday, October 20 at the Mt. SAC Invitational.  The Mustangs will compete in the division 4 varsity race, as well as the freshmen, sophomore, and junior varsity races.  The schedule of races will be released next week.