La Mirada High School

Stephanie Felix, who already claims the titles "Suburban League MVP," "All-CIF," "2nd team All-Western States, and outright winner of numerous races, added 3 more honors to her growing list of awards.  Stephanie was named the 2005 "Runner of the Year" by the Long Beach Press Telegram and Whittier Daily News, and awarded 2nd team honors by the Los Angeles Times.  Quite an impressive beginning for a rookie year!

• Suburban League — 4^th Place (Record: 6 - 6)
• Suburban League Runner-up: Andrew Diaz
• CIF-SS Championship Qualifiers
• Suburban League All-League: Andrew Diaz (2-years) & Andrew Bueno
• Individual School & Senior Class Record: Andrew Diaz (15:38)

J.V. Boys:

• Suburban League 5^th Place (Record: 3 - 9)

Varsity Girls: Suburban League Champs in 1986, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 & 2005

Sophomore Girls:

• Warren-Stauffer — 2^nd place team
• Long Beach Invitational — 3^rd Place Team

Rookie of the Year

The "Rookie of the Year" is selected by coaches and athletes. It is awarded to the freshman or new runner whose effort and ability enabled them to excel above and beyond what is routinely expected of a Rookie. This year’s group of new runners is outstanding and includes many athletes who worked hard and are deserving of the award.

The stand outs—and the runners who received votes—are Lillian Mignella, Cedes Vo, Stephanie Felix, Caitlin Winn, Sarah Jeon and Tasha Le Brija on the girls team.

And on the boys team: Mateo Cordova, Dennis Ly, Andrew Garza, Michael Palmer, and Andrew Bueno

Voted on by athletes and coaches, the "Most Improved Runner" award is presented to the 2^nd or 3^rd year runner whose work ethic throughout the season at practices and races resulted in significant improvements in times and multiple PR’s. This year a large number of runners improved their times, received votes and are eligible for the award.

They include for the girls: Andrea Smith, Adele Mata, Erica Campos, Krystal Gomez, and Destinie Martin

And for the boys: Andrew Diaz, Mark Gillaspy, Enrique Nava, and Matthew Campbell

The vote for the boy’s Most improved runner was close . . . the award goes to an athlete who earned a varsity uniform, a spot on the "Top 10 list" and proved to himself that most of his limits are in is mind. This year’s Most Improved Runner award goes to . . .

• Mark Gillaspy

On the girl’s side, the vote was almost unanimous. This year’s winner showed improved effort and an excellent work ethic. Working hard every day, BUT ALWAYS WORKING, this person improved her time by over 10 minutes between the first cluster meet and League Finals. This year’s Most Improved Runner award goes to . . .

• Erica Campos

Selected only by the athletes, the "Most Inspirational Runner" award is given to the athlete who, in addition to a strong commitment to the team, displays and possesses an ability to motivate and inspire their teammates by their attitude and effort. These are the athletes who help to keep the team focused and keep the environment around the team positive and upbeat.

The athletes who received votes are:

Krystal Gomez, Kelly Wilson and Stephanie Felix, Jenna Pasillas, and Destinie Martin on the girls team, and Enrique Nava, Dennis Ly, Mark Gillaspy, Andrew Diaz and Michael Palmer on the boys team.

The winners are . . . .

• Boys: Andrew Diaz
• Girls: Destinie Martin

These special awards are presented by the coaches to the athletes who gave their best effort at all times during the preseason and regular season. These are the athletes who have great attitudes, rarely complain and are known to their coaches for their hard work and perseverance. They are the types of athletes that somehow get overlooked until they surprise everybody by their distinguished performances! Many of these runners were selected as "Runners of the Week" at some point during the season.

Most Valuable Runner

The athlete voted by their teammates to receive the "Most Valuable Runner" Award proved to be the "heart" of the team throughout the long season that stretches from July until November. These athletes were consistently among the top runners and usually recorded the fastest overall times. In voting for this award, the team was asked to consider those runners who attended pre-season practices, those who ran well under pressure, and those who excelled in the "big races."

The athletes whose efforts were acknowledged and who received votes are: Dennis Ly, Enrique Nava, Andrew Diaz and Andrew Bueno. On the girls team Adele Mata, Clarissa Negrete, Karina Gonzalez, Destinie Martin and Stephanie Felix received votes.

This season, the team overwhelmingly voted to give the award to two deserving athletes.

The winners are . . . .

• Boys: Andrew Diaz
• Girls: Stephanie Felix

Everyone on the team is eligible for the coaches award. It is given to the athletes who demonstrate consistency in Attendance, Attitude, Preparation, and Performance. These are the runners who show a willingness to push their limits to the extreme, and a commitment to improving not only themselves, but to improving the entire team.

The athletes who received this years award participated in all fund raisers, attended and completed 99% of all the workouts and practices, and demonstrated a passion and commitment for the sport that far exceeded expectations.

These are the types of athletes that make the La Mirada H.S. cross country team competitive at all levels. We are honored to confer this years awards on . . . .

• Boys: Dennis Ly
• Girls: Andrea Smith

Stephanie Felix capped her successful rookie cross country season with an impressive performance in the Women's Seeded Race at the Foot Locker Western Regional Cross Country Championships. Seeded 65th overall to start the race, Felix progressively improved her position over the 5K Mt. SAC course and was able to finish in 16th place in the elite event and earn a spot on the "All-Western Regional 2nd Team."

When the gun sounded to start the race, Stephanie found herself cut off from the front pack by a massive group of runners representing the 13 Western states of Hawaii, Alaska, Washington, Oregon, California, Arizona, Nevada, Idaho, New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, Wyoming and Montana. As she approached the first half-mile, Stephanie was in 30th place and, at a time of 2:50, was 15 seconds behind the leaders and well off her goal pace. Fortunately, the field began to thin out on the 2nd loop of the first mile and Stephanie was able to find some space to stretch out and gain some ground.

A pack of four runners dominated the race, including three-time Footlocker National Qualifier Marie Lawrence and newcomer Jordan Hasay, a freshman from Mission College Prep. The front pack hit the one-mile mark in 5:20. Stephanie cruised by the one-mile mark in 25th place at a time of 5:33. Hasay, the winner of the race, and Marie Lawrence, a junior at Reno High School and the 2004 Footlocker defending West Regional Champion, broke away from the pack on the switchbacks and flew onto the runway approaching poop-out hill in a time of 9 minutes. The second pack, led by Meagan O'Reilly of Colbert, WA and Kauren Tarver, the 2004 & 2005 CIF Division II State Champion, entered the runway at 9:14. Stephanie was able to maintain her position on the switchbacks and came through the half-way point of the race at 9:41, 13 seconds behind her pace at the CIF-SS Finals race. It wasn't looking good.

But, lots of changes were about to take place. On the back of Reservoir, Hasay completely broke away from Lawrence and crested the hill in an amazing time of 13:30. She claimed the Championship in a time of 17:14. Marie Lawrence, second place finisher at both the 2003 and 2004 Footlocker National Finals, led a pack of four runners up the steep hill and into the final half mile. Lawrence finished the race in second place with a time of 17:38, followed by Megan O'Reilly of Colbert, Wash., with a time of 17:52.

Stephanie, coming around the turn approaching Reservoir Hill, had moved up to 21st place and was only a few steps behind Whitney Blue, who was to finish in 11th place. Unlike CIF-SS Finals, where she covered the last half mile in over 3 minutes, Stephanie found her second wind as she approached the runway leading to the track. In her previous races at Mt. SAC, her times were 18:06 and 18:05. This week, she passed the 2.91 mile mark --- the traditional finish line -- in 17:53 and was able to pass four out-of-state runners as she completed the 3.1 mile course in a time of 18:50. She covered the last 310 meters, on the track, in 57 seconds.

By finishing 16th, Stephanie earned a spot on the Footlocker "All Western Regional Second-Team" along with Whitney Blue, Kevyn Murphy, Shannon Murakami and Anna Sperry --- all of whom were participants in the California State meet. Overall, Stephanie was the 11th finisher from California. Her performance erased from her mind any doubts she had about her season and proved to everybody that she belongs to an elite group of girls from Division II. Her strong finish enables Stephanie to move on with no doubts, positioned to have an even better season in 2006.

Top 24 Finishers at Footlocker