For the second consecutive year, the Long Beach Wilson girls cross country team has advanced the CIF Southern Section Finals at Mt. San Antonio College.
When the finals begin Saturday morning, the Bruins will be looking to improve on last season’s ninth-place result and earn a top-seven finish, which would send the Bruins — or any other local team — to the CIF State Meet on Nov. 29 at Woodward Park in Fresno.
At the CIF-SS prelims last week, Wilson was led by Moore League champion Nadia Mejia. The senior finished seventh in their heat with a time of 17 minutes and 22 seconds over 3 miles. She was closely followed by junior Audrey Buckley (17:31). The Bruins finished second in their heat to Trabuco Hills.
“Great teams have the ability to make adjustments and step up in moments of adversity,” Wilson coach C.J. Brewer said. “The girls did both these things at the prelims. The rain was a factor that required a mental adjustment, and they were gritty enough to not let it be a factor.”
Warren’s girls team was led in the prelims by sophomore Priscilla Guillen with a time of 17:17.
Warren will battle Wilson in the Division 1 final that begins at 11 a.m.
Both teams are contenders to advance to the state meet.
Millikan’s Amberly McDowell finished fifth in her heat at prelims in 17:42 seconds and will compete as an individual in the final.
Warren’s boys team is led by junior Joaquim Sandoval, who had a time of 14:30 in prelims. He will race in the Division 1 final at 9:45 a.m. Sandoval, an individual title contender, ran the fifth-fastest time at CIF-SS prelims. The Bears are also in the mix to qualify for the state meet as a team.
Downey’s Adrien Guerrero ran the 14th-fastest overall time in 14:49 and will compete as an individual Division 1 final.
Norwalk’s Leonardo Diaz (14:58) and Juan Mares (15:08) will run as individuals in the Division 2 boys final that starts at 7:45 a.m.
St. John Bosco’s team is led by junior Aaron Garcia, who had a time of 15:01 at prelims. The Braves will race in the Division 3 final at 8:05 a.m.
The Braves are among the favorites for a top-three podium finish, which would move them on to next week’s state meet.
La Mirada’s girls team is led by junior Lauren Gutierrez, who had a time of 18:20 at prelims. La Mirada will race in the Division 3 final at 8:45 a.m.
Whitney’s boys team was led at prelims by senior Caiden Cortes, who had a time of 16:22. Whitney will race in the Division 4 final 9:05 a.m.
Valley Christian’s boys team, led by junior Micah Wojciechowski (15:59 at prelims), will race in the Division 5 final at 10:35 a.m.