Varsity Teams Qualify for CIF Finals
Laguna’s cross country teams took care of business on Nov. 14 at Mt SAC in Walnut, qualifying for CIF finals and extending their seasons for at least one more week. The boys won their preliminary heat, while the girls finished third in theirs.
In a surprising but calculated move, Coach Dave Brobeck started only six runners, resting four of his top seven and giving the nod to alternates, senior Alex Young, junior Aaron Swartz and sophomore Jeff White.
Junior Matt Neev, and seniors Andrew Shapero, Richard Mattingley and Jake Johnson--Laguna’s two, four, five and six runners respectively--watched from the sidelines as the backups teamed with seniors Blake Hofmeister, Tommy Newton Neal and Sean Pigden to beat their nearest competitor, Big Bear, by six points and record the second fastest team time of the 32 division IV schools competing.
“I knew that our alternates would more than hold their own,” said Brobeck.
Hofmeister won the heat with a time of 15:50, his best at Mt. SAC by more than a minute and the fastest time of all competitors in both division IV heats. He looks poised to capture a CIF individual crown, which would be a first for the Breakers.
Newton-Neal finished second for Laguna and sixth overall in 16:37, which was :39 better than his previous course record (CR). Pigden was third for the Breakers and fifteenth overall in 16:52. White (23, 17:03) and Swartz (28, 17:10) rounded out the scoring five for Laguna. Both times were new CRs.
With most of the team sporting fresh legs, the top-ranked Breakers are poised to make runs for both CIF and state championships on Nov. 21 at Mt SAC and Nov. 28 at Woodward Park in Fresno. Laguna has won two previous state titles (’89 and “04) but has never won a CIF plaque.
The girls took major strides in their quest to return to state finals by recording the fifth fastest team time of the 16 finalists. The top seven teams from CIF finals advance to Fresno.
Senior McKenna Nokes continues to impress, finishing first for the Breakers and fourth overall out of 82 competitors. Her time of 19:15 was 2:13 faster than her previous CR. Sophomore Natasha Strickland, Orange Coast league individual champion, was second for Laguna and tenth overall with a time of 19:40, 12 seconds better than her previous CR.
Senior Parker Yamasaki seems to be returning to top form, finishing third for Laguna and twelfth overall in 19:54, just one second off the CR she set in her sophomore year at CIF finals.
Senior Gerry Artman (22, 20:50) and junior Beverly Ronses (23, 20:50) finished neck-andneck to complete the scoring five for the Breakers. Senior Kativa Strickland again did not compete, and it is unsure whether she will be available for CIF finals.
If the girls can match or beat their performance at prelims, they are all but assured a trip to Fresno.
