SALINAS VALLEY — Cross country teams from South Monterey County competed last Saturday during the Pacific Coast Athletic League championship at Toro Regional Park in Salinas.
The meet took place to determine PCAL divisional champions, individual All-League runners and Central Coast Section (CCS) qualifying teams and individuals.
The CCS finals take place on Nov. 15 at the Crystal Springs course in Belmont.
The Gonzales boys won the Santa Lucia Division and had six runners make All-League by placing in the top nine of the division. Earning All-League for Gonzales were: Victor Fierros (second place, 17:51 time); Cooper Martin (third, 18:01); Alex Hernandez (sixth, 19:38); Brandy Ochoa (seventh, 20:01); Aiden Borongan (eighth, 20:10); and Jael Hernandez (ninth, 20:25).
Gonzales also won the Santa Lucia JV Division. Team members and their place and time were: Silvestre Arrellanes (second, 21:45); Daniel Fuentes (third,21:58); Dominick Ayala (fourth, 22:02); Jonathan Grado (fifth, 23:04); and Bryan Bravo (seventh, 24:56).
“This accomplishment is the result of months of hard work, leadership and unwavering support from our athletes, coaching staff and community,” said Gonzales head coach Margie Daniels. “It’s an exciting moment for our program and a reflection of the positive culture our runners have built together.”
Fierros, Martin and Hernandez qualified for the CCS final on Nov. 15. Adriel Lambert was a girls All-league placer for the Spartans, finishing seventh in a time of 23:13 in the Cypress Division, and will join her teammates at the CCS meet.
The Soledad girls made history by being the first girls or boys team from Soledad to win a championship in cross country. The Aztecs, which won the Cypress Division, were led by Evelyn Lopez, who placed third overall in a time of 22:22 and was an All-League runner.
“It was amazing to find out we had won,” said Soledad head coach Eliazar Rubio. “The girls were very excited to hear the results. We will celebrate when we are able to place a championship banner at our gym.”
Other Soledad placers and their times were: Diana Jimenez Lopez (14th, 24:03); Marely Cendejas (22nd, 25:21); Sandy Cheng (29th, 26:21); Kimberly Acosta Mojica (32nd, 26:57); and Autumn Garcia (49th, 32:21).
In the boys Gabilan Division, the King City boys placed sixth. Fernando Merino was the top placer for the Mustangs, placing 18th overall in a time of 17:01.
In the JV boys division, King City placed third and were led by Rodrigo Santiago’s fourth-place finish in 18:09.
The King City girls competed in the Mission Division and finished in second place.
Rosa Pacheco was the first Mustang to cross the finish, earning seventh place in a time of 20:37, and was an All-League runner. Jayleen Trujillo led the King City JV girls with a third-place finish in a time of 26:41.
The Greenfield boys placed third in the boys Mission Division and were led by Yael Hernandez, who placed 10th in a time of 17:15. Gustavo Melo placed 15th in the JV boys division with a time of 22:02.
Greenfield placed eighth in the varsity girls Mission Division. Izoida Ramirez earned an All-League award for placing sixth overall in a time of 20:37. Greenfield did not field a JV girls team.
Soledad placed sixth in the Cypress and were led by Giovanni Zamudio’s 20th-place finish in a time of 19:49. The Aztecs did not place a JV boys team.
