La Mirada High School

Summer Training Camp in Big Bear a Success!
(Camp Pictures Posted Here!)

(Camp Agenda Posted Here)

In what many participants called "the best summer camp ever," the cross country teams spent seven nights and eight days training in the mountains around Big Bear Lake. Congratulations to both the veterans and the first year runners who survived the intense workouts. Everybody returned home a bit more tired and a lot more excited about the upcoming season.

Over the course of the week the varsity girls ran an average of 65+ miles while the boys ran 70+ miles. Leading the way for the girls were Destinie Martin, Jenna Pasillas, and Stephanie Felix who each compiled over 65 miles. On the boy's team Andrew Diaz and Andrew Bueno ran close to 75 miles each.

Running the many scenic trails around the valley turned out to be the core of the training for the week. Holcomb Valley, "Stairway to Heaven", 2N10, the Woodland Trail, and the "Shack Loop" are now part of La Mirada Cross Country running lore.

Even though Stephanie was the winner of the 5th Annual Boys vs Girls dual meet (20:04 on the 5k course), thanks to an inspiring finish by Dennis, the boys came out ahead with a 26 - 29 victory and now trail the series 3 - 2. The highlight of training was the 10 to 13-miler along route 2N10 that Andrew and Andrew finished in under 1 hour 35 minutes. Destinie and Jenna completed the 13-mile run for the girls, while Stephanie, Karina, Andrea and Erica were held to 10 miles. Adele Mata ran the course so fast that she passed her stopping point before the lead bike got there to tell her to stop---she ended up completing 9 miles instead of 5.

Activities for the week included the 2nd Annual Lip-Sync contest, a movie day, "True Colors," bowling, water slides, the SCAT test, go-carts, ping-pong, basketball, volleyball, a pizza eating contest and numerous trips to the arcade. The many unforgettable moments included: Andrew Diaz and his love for duct tape, Ollie Lynch on the volleyball court, Andres getting taken down playing b-ball, Chelsea and Lillian on "Dance-Dance-Revolution," and secret late night "runs" to Jacks.