La Mirada High School

THE FALL CLASSIC (Full Results Here)
Not particularly happy with their training or racing the past two weeks, the Matadore runners decided it would be a good time to get serious about their goals for the season. At a team meeting Friday night, senior captains Destinie Martin and Andrew Diaz issued a challenge to their young teammates: "It's time for everybody to step it up!" A shorthanded Matadore team responded well to the challenge.

In the first race of the day, the F/S girls team was led by Lillian Mignella who equaled her previous PR. But the big story was the fact that, just as they promised during the team meeting, the trio of Lillian, Krystal Gomez, and Caitlin Winn stayed together through the entire 3-mile course. It was the 3rd PR of the young season for Caitlin, who bettered her previous mark by 2 minutes! Erica Campos, who earned another PR, and Marisol Gomez rounded out the scoring for the Lady Mats.

The Frosh-Soph girls reflect on their race

Only nine Matadore boys showed up healthy to race this week. It would be up to the F/S team to carry the scoring for the entire team. Pushing himself in the race just as he pushed himself the past week, sophomore Mark Gillaspy emerged as the front runner for the F/S team. His effort placed him in the #6 spot on the list of elite Matadore sophomore runners. Dennis Ly and Matthew Campbell raced well, but were unable to meet their goals. Michael Palmer, Matthew Cordova, Enrique Nava, and Miguel Franco rounded out the scoring for the Matadores.

ANDREW DIAZ SETS NEW SCHOOL RECORD FOR BOYS--15:38

Since the spring track and field season, Andrew Diaz has had one goal in mind: Be the best distance runner ever to emerge from La Mirada High School. The first step for Andrew was to break the record set by Jared Bird in 2005 for a 3-mile course. He achieved that goal at the Fall Classic Invitational and now intends to lower the school record even more. Andrew got off to a fine start as he opened with a 5:00 first mile. Never falling further back than #15 overall, Andrew came through mile 2 in 10:15 and hung on by staying with a pack of runners from Valencia High School, the overall meet champs. His closing kick earned him a time of 15:38, placed him in the 13th spot for the race, and earned him the title "fastest Matadore." Andrew Bueno was the only other Matadore in the varsity race.

Andrew battles a Katella runner

The varsity girls were uncertain as to whether they would be able to field a team at the meet. Clarissa Negrete had been out ill for three days and Adele Mata and Sarah Jeon were sidelined for the day. But, after the warm-up, Clarissa decided to race and Andrea Smith stepped up from the JV team to join her varsity teammates--it was a decision she would not regret. Emboldened by the challenge Destinie threw down, the Lady Mats got off to a fast start and didn't look back. Stephanie Felix opened the first mile in 5:27 with Destinie and Karina right behind, carried by the front pack. Soon, Stephanie and the 2004 cross country Division II state runner-up, Whitney Blue, were far out in front of the second pack and would not be seriously challenged. Stephanie finished the race in second place overall, with a PR and another school record. Destinie and Karina would ultimately cross the finish line side by side and establish new PRs. Together they enter the 4th spot on the list of elite Lady Mat runners. The varsity team of Stephanie, Destinie, Karina, Jenna Pasillas, Clarissa and Andrea established a new school record for team time (98:35). They become the first girls team from La Mirada High School to race faster than 100 minutes over a 3-mile cross country course.

Because Andrea Smith was called up to race in the varsity race, Cedes Vo was the sole representative of the Matadores in the JV girls race. She performed admirably and earned another PR.

ANOTHER SCHOOL RECORD FOR STEPHANIE!
17:17

Stephanie Felix faced Whitney Blue,
the #2 runner in the state in 2004

Prior to the girls varsity race at Central Park, Stephanie Felix asked her coach, "who is that fast looking girl over there?" "She's nobody, don't worry about her," her coach responded, "just stay with her." Satisfied, Stephanie smiled, turned away, and said, "Okay."

What Stephanie didn't know was that "the fast looking girl" was none other than Whitney Blue, CIF State Division II Cross Country runner-up in 2004. Sticking to the race plan, Stephanie took off with Blue, as together they raced to an opening mile of 5:27. What the stunned crowd didn't know, is that Stephanie had every intention of keeping up with the more experienced runner. Soon, however, Blue made a powerful move and Stephanie, in only her 2nd cross country competition, was too slow to respond. Still, she pushed forward, never further than 12 seconds behind the leader. She reached the 2-mile mark in 11:30, and finished the 3-mile course in 17:17---just 11 seconds behind the 2004 State runner-up. With her effort this race, Stephanie solidified her grasp on the school and sophomore records she already owned and led her team to a new school record for fastest team time by a La Mirada girls team on a 3-mile cross country course.

We encourage all newcomers to La Mirada High School to try out Cross Country—we promise you it's an awesome experience! Freshman or Senior, fast or slow, each runner participates in every race. The members of the team are always seeking new athletes to join the fun! Check out this website. Then, ask members of the team to describe the rewards that come with running cross country.

La Mirada's Cross Country Teams have a long-standing tradition of success. Last years girl's team was Suburban League Champs AGAIN and advanced to CIF competition for the 19th consecutive year. The boys team finished in 2nd place and also advanced to CIF.

There are no team cuts in cross country. If you show the effort, you make the team. That means that EVERYBODY competes on race day! Hurry and act soon, we train all the way until the end of October. Join now and be a part of a La Mirada team with a winning tradition.

GIRLS DO WHAT THEY HAVE TO DO, BOYS COME UP SHORT
The Matadores saw mixed results at the annual tri-meet with La Mirada, Cal High, and La Habra last Thursday at La Mirada Regional Park. The tri-meet began successfully as the Lady Mats "packed it up" for the first half of the hilly 5K course. It was at that point that Stephanie Felix and Karina Gonzalez picked up their pace in response to Jackie Steele's mid-race surge. Together Stephanie and Karina crested agony hill in just under 14 minutes and entered the last mile of the grueling course. Stephanie cruised the last mile in 6:18 as she earned her second victory of the young season. Destinie Martin worked with Sarah Jeon and Jenna Pasillas as together the trio finished #4, #5, and #6. Lillian Mignella was the Matadores 6th scorer in the race. The big PR of the day came from freshman Caitlin Winn who improved her time by over 2 minutes.

The boys were once again led by senior Andrew Diaz, who ran a competitive race on a tough course. In the end, Andrew was unable to match the furious finish by La Habra's Ryan Frost and finish second overall. Andrew Bueno was the second finisher for the Matadores.

The Matadores did not enter a weekend Invitational and instead did intense sand and hill training at Manhattan Beach's Sand Dune Hill. Keep an eye out for upcoming pictures!