News and Announcements
NEW SCHOOL RECORD FOR STEPHANIE "18:14"
9/10/05
(Watch Stephanie's finish here)
During the "Goal Setting" session at summer training camp in Big Bear, Stephanie Felix shared with her teammates her hopes and dreams for the upcoming season. Responding to the question, "what do you want from the season?", Stephanie answered, "I want to become unbreakable, unbeatable and seek perfection."
"Be more specific," her coaches and teammates replied. In cross country, goals are traditionally set based on times over a 3-mile course or PR's earned after months of hard training. Forced to think in terms of measurable goals, Stephanie quietly stated that she wanted to break the school record and run a race at a pace faster than six minutes per mile. For those who don't know, those are lofty goals for any runner. But what a thing to ask for a first-year runner who had never even participated in a cross country race!
A family vacation prevented Stephanie from participating in the annual team time trial where varsity spots are earned and varsity uniforms are handed out. Stephanie would have to run her first race for La Mirada High School in a JV uniform.
Undeterred, Stephanie didn't blink an eye or lodge a complaint. But, she would not change her goals. At the girl's team meeting held the night before the race, she repeated her goals to her teammates. She planned to run faster than 18:00 minutes this season but might not be prepared to do it just yet.
At her coach's instruction, Stephanie was to stay with the front pack and not pull away during the first mile. But when her coach advised to her to "take it easy" after an opening mile of 5:50, Stephanie decided to push forward. Soon, she was running alone, ahead of the entire girls field with only the two cyclists guiding her through the course. At the 2-mile point Stephanie looked bewildered. Barely a month before, she had run a 2-mile race in 12:04 and was upset that her time was only 12:07 today. With no one else to push her, she decided to "race the guys on the bikes." Finally, only 800 meters from the finish, her time was 15:40---just 3 minutes behind the 18:41 course record for sophomores. Picking up the pace, Stephanie completed the final half mile in 2:34 and completed the 3-mile course in 18:14---the fastest time of the day. It was fast enough to establish a new sophomore course record for the invitational, and a new sophomore and school record for La Mirada High School. In the process, she led the sophomore Lady Mats to a 3rd place finish and helped her team earn a new school record for team time. After the race, when she was asked how she felt, she responded, "I'm more tired after a 400 meter race." Wow. All these accomplishments in only her first cross country race! By the way, she earned her varsity uniform and will wear it proudly when the Lady Mats face La Habra and Cal High on Thursday, September 15 at La Mirada Regional Park. Interview with Stephanie Felix after she posted the overall fastest girls time at the Long Beach Invitational
SCHOOL RECORDS FALL AT THE LONG BEACH INVITATIONAL!
Long Beach Invitational - Saturday, September 10th @ Heartwell Park (Long Beach) - 3 miles
"Stephanie Felix throws down 18:14 in her first race ever, taking down Anita Siraki's soph grade record of 18:41 --- and Anita was #2 in Nationals as Senior! Nice start Stephanie!" (Dyestatcal Link)
The Matadores scored big this Saturday at the Long Beach Invitational at Heartwell Park in Long Beach. Of the twenty-one athletes who participated, eighteen earned a PR and many earned medals at the first invitational of the 2005 season. But the big story was the number of school cross country records that were set at the meet.
Every boy who raced today earned a new PR. Andrew Diaz (Sr) set the tone with a PR of 16:07 that places him 4th on the all time elite list of La Mirada runners and Andrew Bueno (17:03) raced to 9th place on the all-time Junior list. The trio of Dennis Ly, Mark Gillaspy, and Michael Palmer ran fast enough to earn themselves a varsity uniform. Matthew Cordova dropped 5 minutes from his time at last week's time trail and Matt Campbell broke 20 for the first time in his young career!
Sophomore girls celebrate their 3rd place finish!
The girls had big goals for the day . . . and one by one each girl met them. Destinie Martin raced to her fastest time since her sophomore year and entered the senior elite list in the #10 spot. The sophomore team of Stephanie Felix, Karina Gonzalez, Sarah Jeon, Clarissa Negrete, Lillian Mignella, Krystal Gomez and Erica Campos, finished in 3rd place in the Sophomore race. The Lady Mats were led by Karina and Stephanie, who both broke the old sophomore record set by Amanda Stephens in 2001. Stephanie Felix was the overall fastest girl of the day and set a new La Mirada school record while breaking Anita Siraki's course record for sophomores at the Invitational with a time of 18:14. In the process of meeting their many goals, the top 7 girls (Felix, Gonzalez, Martin, Mata, Pasillas, Jeon & Negrete) set a new school record for fastest team time!
2005 Millikan Invitational
1-mile |
2-mile |
Finish |
|
Frosh Girls: 0830 |
|||
Gomez, Marisol |
DNR |
||
Winn, Catelynn |
8:13 |
17:46 |
26:43 PR |
Senior Girls: 0930 |
|||
Martin, Destinie |
6:21 |
13:25 |
20:25 |
Wilson, Kelly |
9:02 |
19:24 |
29:07 |
Soph Girls: 1030 |
3rd Place Team | ||
Felix, Stephanie |
5:51 |
12:07 |
18:14 PR |
Gonzales, Karina |
6:25 |
13:20 |
19:58 PR |
Jeon, Sarah |
6:39 |
14:07 |
21:27 PR |
Negrete, Clarissa |
6:39 |
14:07 |
21:28 PR |
Mignella, Lillian |
7:17 |
15:37 |
23:32 PR |
Gomez, Krystal |
7:21 |
15:51 |
24:04 PR |
Campos, Erica |
8:06 |
17:10 |
25:57 PR |
Bird, Lindsay |
DNR |
||
Junior Girls: 1130 |
|||
Mata, Adele |
6:39 |
13:57 |
21:12 |
Pasillas, Jenna |
6:43 |
14:09 |
21:16 PR |
Smith, Andrea |
7:28 |
15:54 |
23:52 PR |
Vo, Cedes |
7:59 |
17:16 |
26:29 PR |
Kimball, Kristen |
DNR |
||
Top 7 Girls |
|||
Felix, Stephanie |
18:14 |
||
Gonzales, Karina |
19:58 | ||
Martin, Destinie |
20:25 | ||
Mata, Adele |
21:12 | ||
Pasillas, Jenna |
21:16 | ||
Jeon, Sarah |
21:27 | ||
Negrete, Clarissa |
21:28 | ||
Team Time: |
101:06 |
Name: |
|||
Frosh Boys: 0800 |
|||
Palmer, Michael |
6:01 |
12:52 |
19:26 PR |
Cordova, Matthew |
7:08 |
14:46 |
22:25 PR |
Senior Boys: 0900 |
|||
Diaz, Andrew |
5:12 |
10:42 |
16:06 PR |
Andrews, Kevin |
DNR |
||
Diaz, Daniel |
DNR |
||
Sophomore Boys: 1000 |
|||
Ly, Dennis |
5:41 |
12:09 |
18:15 PR |
Gillaspy, Mark |
5:47 |
12:10 |
18:24 PR |
Campbell, Matthew |
6:11 |
13:06 |
19:47 PR |
Nava, Enrique |
DNR |
||
Junior Boys: 1100 |
|||
Andrew Bueno |
5:24 |
11:16 |
17:03 PR |
West, Aubrey |
DNR |
||
Team Time |
89:15 |
2005 Time Trial
The Annual time trail took place at La Mirada Regional Park on Saturday, September 3rd. The boys and girls raced over the 5K Biola University course as they vied for varsity spots. Four Lady Mats successfully achieved their goal time and have been named to the varsity team. They are, Destinie Martin (Sr), Jenna Pasillas (Jr), Karina Gonzalez, (So) and Clarissa Negrete (So). Sarah Jeon (So) fell 14 seconds short of the goal time, but is certain to earn herself a varsity spot soon. On the boys team, Andrew Diaz (Sr) and Andrew Bueno (Jr) earned a varsity uniform. The time trial was followed by a team breakfast and summer awards ceremony.
2005 La Mirada High School Season Preview Returning boys are Sophomores Matthew Campbell and Mark Gillaspy. Newcomers are Sophomore Dennis Ly, and Freshmen Matthew Cordova and Michael Palmer.
The Matadores are training dutifully to overcome injury, illness, and loss of the strong class of 2005. The boys have lost almost the entire varsity team and have been rebuilding since the track season. Andrew Diaz (Sr) looks to last season's rookies, Kevin Andrews (Sr) and Andrew Bueno (Jr), to give the team a boost this season.
The 2004 Lady Mats won their fourth consecutive Suburban League title and their 8th League title over the last 10 years. Returning varsity athletes, led by Destinie Martin (Sr), Karina Gonzalez (So), Jenna Pasillas (Jr), Adele Mata (Jr) and Clarissa Negrete (So) were inspired by the leadership of their summer mentors, University of San Diego graduate Cassandra Chavez and former La Mirada MVP Amanda Stephens, and are running better than ever. Their attitude is positive and they claim they are more than ready for the challenges that lie ahead of them. Newcomer Stephanie Felix (So), has already made a strong claim on the top spot on the varsity team this season. Her goal is to better the school record set by Amanda Stephens in 2003 (18:52), and establish herself in the competitive Southern Section.
Returning Matadores are led by Senior Kelly Wilson, Juniors Kristen Kimball and Andrea Smith, Sophomores Lindsay Bird, Erica Campos and Krystal Gomez. Newcomers this season are Junior Cedes Vo, Sophomores Sarah Jeon, Chelsea Hengler & Lillian Mignella, and Freshmen Catelynn Winn and Marisol Gomez.
Realizing they were about to enter the season as underdogs in the Suburban League, the girls stepped up their training to new levels over the summer. Their times in races and workouts prove that their training has been nothing short of inspired. In fact, this could be the fastest La Mirada team ever! Each girl has committed herself to be simply the best this season. The girls expect nothing less than to “KEEP THE STREAK ALIVE” as they seek their fifth consecutive Suburban League title and secure a long sought after CIF-SS Finals berth. Look for the Matador team to be challenged by the many strong teams in the Suburban League this season.
Summer Training 2005
Cross Country: Summer 2005
Leading the way into the new season are the following athletes who will contribute greatly to the success of the season:
400 Mile Club: Jenna Pasillas (413), Destinie Martin (405)
300 Mile Club: Stephanie Felix (363), Karina Gonzalez (316)
250 Mile Club: Chelsea Hengler (273), Andrea Smith (272)
Attendance: Jenna Pasillas (49), Krystal Gomez (41/42), Destinie Martin (46)
Most Improved: Clarissa Negrete
Outstanding
Rookie of the Summer: Stephanie FelixConsistent Effort: Destinie & Jenna
Girls Varsity:
- Destinie Martin
- Karina Gonzalez
- Clarissa Negrete
- Jenna Pasillas
Boys Mileage leaders:
500 Mile Club: Andrew Diaz (518)
400 Mile Club: Kevin Andrews, Dennis Ly
Attendance: Michael Palmer
Outstanding Rookie of the Summer: Michael Palmer
Improved: Andrew Bueno
Effort: Dennia Ly & Michael Palmer
Boys Varsity:
- Andrew Diaz
- Andrew Bueno
Camp Awards:
- Best Effort/Attitude: Matthew Cordova, Lillian Mignella, & Erica Campos
- Most Mileage: Andrew Diaz & Destinie Martin
- Best Entertainers: Boys: Kevin & Matt Campbell — Girls: Destinie
- Biggest Results: (Wow, where did that come from?): Destinie, Clarissa, & Dennis
- Most Likely to Have Not Slept All Night:
As in any successful organization, those who contribute the most are usually behind the scenes. The following people gave of themselves, their time, and their vehicles this summer. Please be sure to thank them when you see them!
Coaches and Helpers
- Andres Casas
- Amanda Stephens
- Cassandra Chavez
- Freddy Ramirez
- Jared Bird
Coach’s Running Partners
- Bill Bird
- Cathi Wilson (camp cook)
Transportation:
- Laura Casas
- Cathi Wilson
- Steve & Daphne Smith Smith
- Ollie Lynch
- Rod Campbell
Time Trial Breakfast Cooks:
- Cathi Wilson
- Jeanne Negrete
- Daphne Smith
- Gabi Gomez
- Eileen Mignella
Seasons
Sponsors