Photo by Michael Ramirez
Miguel Mendoza is the top varsity runner for the Gonzales High School cross country team.
SOUTH COUNTY — Cross country dual meets have been eliminated this season as the newly formed Pacific Coast Athletic League has opted to run Center Meets with the new divisions competed in various venues.
Last Wednesday King City and Greenfield competed in the Mission Divisions Center Meet at Natividad Creek Park in Salinas. On Thursday Soledad and competed in the Gabilan Divisions Center Meet at Toro Park in Salinas and Gonzales competed at Toro Park in the Santa Lucia Division.
At Natividad Park, King City won the varsity division beating King City, 37 to 51.
The meet was close but the Mustangs were able to get their first five runners to the finish line before the Bruin runners to win the event. The top 10 local placers were: 2. Esteban Deniz (KC) 16:16; 3. Rigo Garcia (GR) 16:26; 4. Mauricio Arias (GR) 16:37; 5. Fausto Medina (KC) 16:40; 6. Daniel Correa (KC) 16:50; 10. Mario Avila (KC) 17:00; 10. Luis Martinez (GR) 17:03.
Team scores were: King City 37, Greenfield 51, Marina 79, Salinas 97, Everett Alvarez 128, North Salinas 141, and Pacific Collegiate 187.
At Toro Park the Gonzales High varsity boys team placed second behind the York School. Gonzales was led by Miguel Mendoza’s third place finish in 17:34. Also placing for Gonzales were: 11. Gonzalo Villagomez 18:54; 12. Armando Aboites 19:00; 14. Scott Funk 19:09; 15. Arturo Castro 19:11; 23. Andrew Funk 19:43; 30. Christian Patino 20:24. Team scores were: York 42, Gonzales 55, Watsonville 58, Monterey 97, Stevenson 105, Seaside 138.
The Soledad boys finished eighth in the varsity division and were led by Carlos Espinoza (17th place, 17:49) and Jean Luc Martel (41st, 19:22). Team scores were: Alisal 42, San Benito 54, Pacific Grove 63, Palma 90, Carmel 153, Gilroy 161, North Monterey County 190, Soledad 204.
At Natividad the Greenfield varsity girls placed fifth and the King City girls placed seventh. Team scores were: Salinas 42, North Salinas 59, Everett Alvarez 75, Marina 76, Greenfield 134, Pacific Collegiate 152, King City 155.
Gladia Garcia of Greenfield was the highest local placer finishing in 15th place at 21:49 and King City was led by Jocelyn Garcia’s place of 26th and time of 22:46.
In the varsity girls division at Toro Park team scores in the Mission Division were: San Benito 61, Gilroy 66, Carmel 82, North Monterey County 101, Notre Dame 106, Alisal 109, Pacific Grove 162, Soledad incomplete.
Soledad was led by Daisy Virgen who placed 25th in a time of 23:12. In the Santa Lucia Divisions varsity girls race, Watsonville took first place. Team scores were: Watsonville 46, Seaside 53, Stevenson 79, Monterey 90, Pajaro Valley 115, Gonzales 124. Gonzales was led by Ashley Ochoa’s third place finish in a time of 23:10.
