La Mirada High School

(Dyestatcal.com Link)
Manzo, Byrd, & McIntyre Lead Lady Mats to #8; Garza, Palmer, & Garcia help boys move up to 2nd

Suburban League teams raced on the hills of La Mirada Regional Park for the season's final meet. And, while the new course was more difficult than intended, it didn't stop the Matadores teams from producing one of their finest performances of the season. Racing first were the JV girls, led this week by junior, Serena Kirton and sophomore, Charlene Ganton. Kaitlin Sutter, Bianca Ceballos, and Liana Chavarria were the other top 5 scorers for the JV Lady Mats, who finished the season in 2nd place. Next up were the JV boys, led by Frankie Nogales. This group started the race at breakneck speed before succumbing to the many hills that made up the 3-mile course. This week, it was Jai Labasan running a controlled pace throughout, who finished the race as the Matadores #2 runner, just ahead of Eric Wong, Matt Cordova, and Justin Mellot. The boys finish the season in 5th place.

After a short break in the action, the Lady Mats varsity team took the field to defend their league title. Content to sit back over the rolling hills that made up the first part of the course, the girls found themselves in 2nd place at the half mile point, following Cerritos' lead pack. Slowing gaining ground, but still running with a pack of 8 girls, Celinda Manzo and Melissa Byrd moved into the top 2 spots and tied the score at 28 - 28 as the front pack passed the first mile. A strong surge over the rolling hills that made up most of mile 2, moved La Mirada's top 5 into the front pack and lowered their score to 24 points just before the halfway point of the race. Traditionally, the long grass and hills up Alicante Rd. separate the front pack from the challengers; today would be no different. By the time the race entered the 3rd mile, La Mirada's score had decreased to 21 points and the lead pack now consisted of Manzo, Byrd, and the 2007 League Champion, Lauren McIntyre. Somewhere during the 3rd mile, Celinda Manzo made a huge move as she surged up and down the hills, opening a huge gap that allowed her to cruise to a first place finish, 36 seconds ahead of Melissa Byrd. The chase pack now consisted of Byrd in 2nd place, McIntyre in 3rd place, Paulina Tapia in 5th place, and Ashley Casanover in 6th place... all separated by a mere 13 seconds. Aja Labasan, with a frenetic move, did her best to move into the 8th spot, but was edged out at the finish line and finished in 10th. Amber Hickman, racing in her first varsity league meet, moved into 14th spot and earned 2nd team All League honors. With the win, the girls increased their streak to 8 in a row and set a record for lowest team score with an insurmountable total of 17 points. They are now undefeated for 96 consecutive league meets.

Immediately following the girl's race, the boys took off. Remembering their instructions and starting out at a controlled pace, the Matadores looked a little too comfortable over the first mile and a half. With Regan Garcia in the lead pack, Andrew Garza and Michael Palmer held back and waited but still maintained contact with the leaders. Unfortunately, the rest of the team was nowhere near the chase pack and had fallen back as far as 30th place entering the 2nd mile. At mile 2, Garza and Palmer were running in 2nd and 5th place with Regan still in the top 10. Still the "back" pack was nowhere close. With time running out on the season, the next two runners -- Joseph Jeon and Andrew Herrick -- were informed of the score and challenged to make a difference. They both gave a ferocious effort over the last mile that carried them into the top 20. Hopefully it would be enough. In the end, top 10 efforts by Garza, Palmer, and Garcia coupled with the courageous long surge by Jeon and Herrick was just what the team needed to propel them into 2nd place in league with a 9 - 3 record. This marks the first time since 1996 that the boys have been able to finish ahead of Norwalk HS.

Congratulations to all athletes who ran at league finals. Your effort marks the completion of an exciting season for the Matadores. Don't forget, the CIF-SS championship race is just ahead. Come out and support your teams!