CIF-SS FINALS::

CHAMPIONS

When the time comes for your race, you're expected to have that one big performance that shows you are the best; it's expected that in order to win a championship you have to perform up to the standards that are expected. The St. John Bosco cross-country team expected to have that exact type of race. But sometimes things do not workout the way that you want. Sometimes you're not as fast or as strong as you hope. But then there are some cases where how fast you run the race is just fast enough to win! Sometimes the talent and cohesion of your team will bring you further then you ever dreamed. At the CIF-Southern Section championships the Braves were the most talented team in their race and showed it, not through astonishingly fast times, but through depth and team running. The runners that had an off day were helped along by runners that were able to fight through and run strong. Because of this team unity and racing the St. John Bosco cross-country team are the CIF-Southern Section Division 2 champions. This is the first CIF-SS title for coach Tim McIntosh in this his 17th year of coaching the most successful program in Bosco history.

Junior Randy Skillens was the team's inspiration this day out with an impressive All-CIF placing. Skillens' time of 15:27 placed him in the 6th spot for the race as he also broke his own junior class school record. Senior Luis Uribe hung on to Skillens for as long as he could before falling off, but still finished in 13th place overall and earned an All-CIF 2nd team placing. Filling in the 3rd man spot was junior Kevin Urak who stepped up on this momentous day to set a Mt. SAC personal best of 16:10. Senior Jon Sandoval rebounded superbly from last weeks Prelims where he ran sick to place as the team's #4 man in a Mt. SAC best of 16:15. Senior Ephraim Barrios was quite off of his Mt. SAC personal best of 16:02 after running as the team's #5 man and finishing in 16:25. His time was still solid enough to help his team to victory. Junior Luis Perez and senior Matt Estrella finished in 16:28 and 16:29 respectively as they beat out many other team's 4th and 5th scorers to help secure the win. They ended up being the best 6th and 7th runners in the division. While the team wasn't satisfied with their performance they were so overjoyed with the win. It is now their goal to find that one race that has somewhat eluded them all season - the perfect race. They hope to find it waiting for them at the State Meet in Fresno where they will attempt to finish out their season on top of the State of California for Division 2. With this team's talent and desire nothing should be counted out for them.