La Mirada High School

Week #1: Don Bosco Tech Invitational
David Gonzales & Adele Mata

• David Gonzales, as a rookie, has already broken into the varsity rotation and earned a spot on the “Top 10” freshman list. Although David's training has been uneven over the summer and he still hasn't learned to push himself through tough workouts, his effort at the Bosco invite earned him a varsity uniform last week. We look forward to a great future for this hard working athlete. Well done, David!

• Adele Mata sat out most of last season with a broken foot. Yet, ever since she joined the cross country team, her enthusiasm and never-quit attitude has earned her the respect of their teammates and coaches. Despite coming back in pain, Adele continues to push for her ultimate goal: a spot on the CIF bound Varsity team. Her times have improved to the point where she re-claimed her spot on the varsity team this week.

Week #2: Cal High-La Habra Dual Meet, Sunny Hills Invitational
Sonia Linares & Jared Bird: Sonia and Jared led the team by example and effort as they were our first finishers at the Sunny Hills Invite

• Unable to participate in every varsity workout due to a decreased workload over the summer, Andrew Diaz has come back with a vengeance. His effort and his times reflect an athlete who refuses accept limits.

• Andrea Smith doesn’t know the meaning of quit. Working slow and steady, but always working, she has decreased her PR by over 2 minutes this season. Last week, she nailed every workout and then had a top-notch performance at Roadrunner.

• Karina Gonzalez continues to workout with incredible intensity. Challenging all who get in her way, she raced with the varsity team for the first time last week, was the team’s 4^th scorer and earned a medal! Each one of these runners refuses to accept anything less than their best.

Week #4: Cluster Meet #1, Brea Invitational
Krystal Gomez & Kevin Osborn: (Special recognition goes to Jared Bird and Sonia Linares for their 1^st place finishes at the League Cluster Meet.)

Week #5: Ana Poblet & Freddy Ramirez: The word “humble” describes an athlete who is so empty of her or himself that he or she is capable of doing whatever is asked of them to help the team. Team first. Personal honors aren’t even considered. This week’s “Runner of the Week” is awarded toAna Poblet and Freddy Ramirez. Both Freddy and Ana are 4-year runners who have experienced success in the past and have been frustrated by injuries or “tiredness” this season. And yet, both of them keep a positive attitude and focus their attention on lifting up and encouraging their teammates.

• Ana Poblet realized last week that, as a captain, it is her role to act as a mediator between ALL of her teammates. That’s quite a difficult task for a person who hates conflict, but Ana is rising to the occasion and intends to lead everybody to “FOUR IN A ROW!”

• Freddy Ramirez has been an inspiration to all of us. Through injury and rehab, he never quits. Sidelined all season due to injury, he did anything but sit! At each meet Freddy can be seen encouraging, cajoling and cheering for his teammates. Both Ana and Freddy are examples of a teammate who places the needs of the team above their own personal needs. With teammates like Ana and Freddy, the entire team will reap rewards.

Week #6: Cluster Meet #2
Kevin Andrews & the Girls Varsity Team

• A rookie runner in his junior year, Kevin Andrews worked hard over the summer to close the gap. Even as he struggled through an injury, his dedication to his training and his consistent effort have resulted in PRs almost every race. It won’t be long before Kevin challenges for a varsity spot!

• The Girls team—Sonia, Ana, Erica, Karina, Destinie, Adele and Megan—had a point to make to their coaches and the rest of the league this season. I publicly apologize to each one of them for ever doubting their determination or questioning their heart. They proved that inside each of them beats the heart of a champion. With last week's performance, this team becomes only the 2^nd team in school history to place 6 girls in the top 10 at a league race. Since they haven't yet come close to their full potential, great performances are expected out of them at League Finals and CIF.

Week #7: Mt. SAC Invitational
Freddy Ramirez & Clarissa Negrete

• Never content to sit back and watch others work out, Freddy Ramirez struggled to rehabilitate his knee during the off-season. His effort in his first race of the season as a varsity runner proves that he will help his team as they prepare for league finals.

• Clarissa Negrete is an example of a rookie who refuses to accept her limits. Anybody who pays attention to the work outs and races is inspired by her determination and effort. After struggling with injuries early this season, she came back strong at the first two cluster meets. Clarissa will be an important part of her team’s future success.

Week #9: League Finals
Andrew Diaz, Jim Palmer, Jared Bird, Nathaniel Moore, Kevin Andrews, Joe Buck, Ana Poblet, Megan Burbidge, Jenna Pasillas, Andrea Smith, Krystal Gomez, Karina Gonzalez & Adele Mata
This group of athletes represent the heart of LM Cross Country. Like most of runners, they train in pain; like some runners, they race in pain. And yet, they ignore their physical limits and continue to push themselves as hard as they can EVERY DAY! Ever since they joined the cross country team, their never-quit attitude has earned them the respect of their teammates, coaches and the rest of the league. Their outstanding performances at League Finals contributed to the success of the entire team.

Week #10: CIF-SS Prelims

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THE 4th ANNUAL DON BOSCO TECH CROSS COUNTRY INVITATIONAL
Whittier Narrows
9/11/04
Course: Flat
Conditions: Humid

THE 4th ANNUAL DON BOSCO TECH CROSS COUNTRY INVITATIONAL
On the opening weekend of the 2004 season, the Matadores traveled to Whittier Narrows to participate in the 4th Annual Don Bosco Invitational. Although results were mixed, there were a number of signs indicating that the 2004 team is alive and well and ready to challenge for the top spot in Suburban League. Led by Jared Bird's 10th place finish in the senior race (16:05), the boys team earned a team time faster than last year's first race of the season on a similar course. This despite racing without last year's #3, #4, #5 and #6 runners. Freshman, David Gonzales (18:16) and Senior Jarod Winn (18:15) earned their varsity uniforms at the race. The girls were led by senior Sonia Linares (21:11), who appears to have fully recovered from the injuries that limited her performances the past 2 seasons. Sonia, in her best performance since her freshman year, led the Lady Mats from start to finish as she pulled Ana Poblet (21:16) with her in the senior girls race. Adele Mata (21:54) earned a varsity spot with her fine comeback from a broken foot.

On the freshman level, Karina Gonzales (23:59), Joe Buck (20:59) and Keven Ellsworth (21:06) performed solidly in their first races for the Matadores.