CIF-SOUTHERN SECTION PRELIMINARIES

The preliminary phase of the Braves quest for a 2nd CIF-Southern Section Division 2 championship was met with victory as the squad was able to over come a lethargic race to place 1st in their heat.

The Braves were able to place their top 3 in the top 8 and their entire scoring five in the top 20. Their 48 second time gap for the 1st through 5th runners was good enough to beat their next closest team competitor by over 40 points, 44-85.

A team win this week though doesn't guarantee team success next week as the Braves will have stiff competition from Loyola, West Torrance, and Valencia high schools for the team title. It was Loyola high school that came away from the day with the best overall team time in their heat and seems to be the team favorite as the Cubs head into next week carrying the most momentum into the finals.

Leading the way for the cross-country team was senior Randy Skillens. Skillens who ran a conservative race in trainers, finished 2nd overall in the race while barely dipping under the 16 minute barrier. He looks for a runner-up spot next week to earn individual honors but more importantly gain valuable points for his team. Seniors Kevin Urak and Luis Perez ran as 2nd and 3rd men for the Braves as they also decided to wear trainers in qualifying for finals. Although they ran admittedly flat, they were both still able to manage top 10 finishes and look to explode for great races next week. Sophomore Victor Bonilla and senior Russell Gonzalez finished as the Braves #4 and 5 men as both placed 17th and 19th respectively. Senior Matthew Pruter ran through this round with a 26th placing. Pruter, Bonilla and Gonzalez look to next week when they know they will be counted on to help the team in their quest for a 2nd straight CIF title. Rounding out the top 7, making his varsity debut was sophomore Justin Martinez. Although not having the race he had hoped for, Martinez gained valuable experience in CIF competition.

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