CALIFORNIA STATE MEET::

STATE CHAMPIONS
St. John Bosco cross-country captures school's first state title

Try and predict what the members of the St. John Bosco cross-country team are thinking and you can't. Try to figure out how well the team will run on any given day and you'll be left confused. Watch these quiet-mellow mannered, card playing runners you may find yourself thinking "how focused are they?" and "are these guys ready to compete?" But just bet against them when the stakes are high and see what happens. The 2003 St. John Bosco team is as close to a bunch of super heroes as any Brave's team past. Pre-race they are a fun loving bunch that are few on words and keep to themselves. As soon as these seven boys toe the line a transformation takes place. The signal for them to "turn it on" clicks and they bring every ounce of heart and determination they can find in themselves. This pattern didn't change one bit during the California State cross-country meet. The Braves set up their tent and went to work on their card games and jokes, poking fun at each other like only high school boys can. During their pre-race warm up their mood seemed out of touch with the task at hand. "Dazed" was better word then "focused" to tag on them at that point in their preparation. Fast forward to race time where all 180 plus runners were corralled in the starting area and we now see a different team. A team of focus, a team with something to prove and a team the knowledge that their destiny was in God's hands. At the start the initial gun sounded to begin the race. 175 yards into the race the teams heard another gun to signal a recall and were lined back up to start again. The Braves looked unfazed. The gun sounded again and the Braves were off on a mission to capture their first state title. Through the first mile the crowd could hear the announcers proclaiming the individual leaders as well as "St. John Bosco with a solid pack up front, but (pre-race favorite) College Park out a little faster." Racing through 1.25 miles one could sense the team had come to work harder then any team in the field. Through 2.25 miles you could see the final results taking shape as a string of Braves passed all, looking in control and ready for their final push. At the 3.0 mile mark of the 3.1 mile course the dream was about to be realized - the Braves were going to win! And that they did. A season of hard work, a season of high expectations had come to a close the only way it could in a story like this. The St. John Bosco cross-country team were the first team of any sport in school history to capture a California state title.

An "under the weather" Randy Skillens broke through brilliantly for his team as he paced them the whole way racing to a 14th place finish. Surely not his at his best for this race, Skillens showed what it takes to be a true "iron man" and fought through whatever illness plagued him to step up for his team. Senior Luis Uribe finally had the one race he had hope for all season as he stuck by Skillens the whole way to finish in 16th place. Known for his great start and fading finish Uribe fought through his "ritualistic" race to finish strong. Perhaps no other runner stepped up more for the team then junior Kevin Urak. His 26 second improvement on this course led him to a time of 16:11. Urak was the work horse of the team and never once backed off in a workout. Always pushing the pace paid off for him brilliantly as this race proved. Senior Ephraim Barrios and junior Luis Perez were a tight finishing 4th and 5th runners. Barrios rebounded nicely from last weeks Southern Section finals to finish in 16:31, while Perez also had a better showing this week out to finish less then a second behind Barrios in 16:32. Rounding out the strong finishing Braves team were seniors Matt Estrella and Jon Sandoval. Both Estrella and Sandoval who have come on huge for their team in recent weeks, finished with a times of 16:47 and 16:49 respectively.

Congratulations to the 2003 St. John Bosco cross-country team who turned back any doubters on their way to their 10th consecutive Serra League title, their first CIF-Southern Section title and most importantly theirs and the school's first State title. Rest for a bit boys and indulge yourselves in the moment and in all that you have accomplished. We are all your biggest fans and salute everything you stand for and all that you have achieved this season. You are truly the best ever!