Ian Roberts took second place in a field of 199 runners on Friday, leading SBCC’s men to an 11th-place finish in the Southern Cal Cross Country Championships on a warm day at Central Park in Saugus.
The Vaquero men qualified for the State Championships on Nov. 23 at Fresno’s Woodward Park. SBCC’s women finished 18th and also earned a state berth. This is the second straight year that both Santa Barbara teams have qualified for State.
Roberts, a sophomore from Ventura, has finished third, first, first and second in his last four races.
Omar Caro of San Bernardino Valley won the 4-mile race in 20:44. Roberts was second in 20:55, edging Steven Martinez of San Diego Mesa by 0.3 seconds. Alex Heuchert was 36th for the Vaqueros.
“Ian ran real well up front,” said coach Scott Fickerson. “We got a solid race from the men, who did a good job of packing (running in a group).”
San Bernardino Valley won its eighth straight So Cal title with 53 points, followed by Orange Coast (88) and El Camino (121). The Vaqueros were 11th at 329.
Nicole Barlett led the Vaquero women with a 45th-place effort in 20:27. Laura Aceves of East L.A. won the 5K race in 18:35.
Southern Cal Championships
At Central Park
Saugus
MEN
Team (28 teams, 14 advance) — 1, San Bernardino Valley 53. 2, Orange Coast 88. 3, East L.A. 121. 11, SBCC 329.
Individual (4 miles, 199 finishers) – 1, Omar Caro, SBVC, 20:44. 2, Ian Roberts, SBCC, 20:55.6. 3, Steven Martinez, San Diego Mesa, 20:55.9.
SBCC runners — 2, Roberts 20:55. 36, Alex Heuchert 22:03. 87, Martin Montes 22:55. 97, Brian Santiago 23:09. 120, Andy Hernandez 23:37. 146, Zeph Alva 24:18. 163, Octavio Magdaleno 25:10.
WOMEN
Team (28 teams, 18 advance) — 1, Orange Coast 58. 18, SBCC 394.
Individual (5K) – 1, Laura Aceves, East L.A., 18:35.
SBCC runners — 45, Nicole Bartlett 20:27. 79, Mia Owens 21:05. 86, Katie Huntington 21:09. 90, Alexa Sanchez 21:16. 118, Dana Grevenkamp 21:46. 191, Elethea Davies 25:41. 193, Rachel Zook 26:12.
