La Mirada High School

GIRLS VARSITY SCORES A SURPRISING VICTORY AS BOYS FALL ONE POINT SHORT

The Matadores traveled to Cerritos Park for the first Suburban League Cluster Meet of 2005. Unlike past years, the league championship will be decided by three league meets that include every team from the Suburban League. The first meet counted for 25% of the final standings and was scored as an invitational. After the scores were tallied, the Lady Mats discovered that they were the first place team!

Running in 95 degree heat, the four league races began at 1:30 p.m. with the JV girls and then the JV boys at 2:00 p.m. Those races were followed by the varsity girls and varsity boys race.

In terms of personnel, the JV girls had their best turnout of the season. Unfortunately, with a few of their primary weapons still sidelined due to injury or illness, the Lady Mats settled for a 2nd place finish. Krystal Gomez showed the girls how to lay down a challenge as she took the early lead in the race. She held on for a 7th place finish and guided teammates Andrea Smith and Lillian Mignella along with her.

The JV boys raced short and did not score as a team in the race. Both Jason Kim and Daniel Diaz ran in their first races of the season.

When the gun sounded for the start of the varsity girls race, a pack of five runners, including Destinie Martin and Stephanie Felix, took the early lead.

After the front pack reached the first half mile, Stephanie made a strong move and ran the remainder of the course alone. She completed the 3.05 mile course in first place with a time of 19:29. Destinie stayed with the front pack and finished in 4th place. Karina Gonzalez was the 3rd scorer for the Lady Mats, and 7th place overall, and Sarah Jeon---with a blazing finish over the last 600 meters---moved from 13th place to 9th place. Adele Mata (11th), Clarissa Negrete (17th) and Jenna Pasillas (16th) provided the team with a nice pack. The final score was: La Mirada: 32; Norwalk: 61; Mayfair: 74; Cerritos: 79.

The boys race began with a pack of five runners from Norwalk leading the front pack. Andrew Diaz kept contact with the pack and was slowly able to work his way up to the 3rd spot. With 800 meters left in the race, Andrew made a strong move and closed the gap on the leader. With 200 meters to go, Andrew caught and passed the Norwalk runners and completed the course in first place. Andrew Bueno, the Matadores 2nd runner, was 4th place overall. When the scores were tallied, the boys fell one point short of third place.

The second cluster meet, at La Mirada Regional Park on October 13th, will count as 25% of the final standings and be scored head-to-head; and the third cluster meet, on November 3rd and also at La Mirada Regional Park, will count as 50% of the final standings and will provide the basis for any tie-breaker. Congratulations to all Matadore athletes for their fine performances!