Alex Heuchert took third in a tight finish on Friday and SBCC placed 11th in the Southern Cal Men’s Cross Country Championships at Woodley Park in Van Nuys. The Vaqueros earned their fourth straight trip to the State Meet on Nov. 22 in Fresno.
Heuchert, a sophomore from San Marcos High, ran a season-best 20:07 on the 4-mile course, just five seconds behind the winner, Lucio Ramirez of Orange Coast. Connor Fisher of Cuesta was second in 20:04.
Ryan Sorenson was 19th in 20:44 on a day when the top five Vaquero runners all turned in season-best times. Bradley Apodaca was 91st in 22:02, Patrick Lownes-Santos was 95th in 22:07 and Adam Grimmitt was 104th in 22:12.
“Our top two ran great up front and we had a nice pack of three following up,” said coach Scott Fickerson, who has guided both the men and women to State berths for three straight years. “Four days ago, we made a decision to put Patrick on the line. That was a huge PR for him and without his effort, we may not have qualified.
“Our goal is to finish in the top 10 at State in both men and women.”
Southern Cal Championships
At Woodley Park, Van Nuys
Team (28 schools) – 1, Canyons 90. 2, Mt. SAC 121. 3, L.A. Valley 135. 4, Cuesta 177. 5, Orange Coast 190. 11, SBCC 300.
Individual (4 miles) – 1, Lucio Ramirez, Orange Coast, 20:02. 2, Connor Fisher, Cuesta, 20:04. 3, Alex Heuchert, SBCC, 20:07.
SBCC results – 3, Alex Heuchert 20:07. 19, Ryan Sorenson 20:44. 91, Bradley Apodaca 22:02. 95, Patrick Lownes-Santos 22:07. 104, Adam Grimmitt 22:12.
