2-mile workout for "Week 3" at Legg Lake.  (Note: The time listed in the first column reflects the 2-mile time achieved for a T-pace run 10 minutes prior to the "race.")  Remember, this was a workout.  It's the AVERAGE of the two runs that reflect your fitness. In other words, the official race was really the second part of our normal Wednesday workout.  Times listed in the column under the heading 2008 & 2007, reflect the FASTEST time from the 1st Legg Lake Race in July 07 & 08.

Today marks the official start of the 2009 season and we're excited about the opportunities that lie ahead!  If you know of a boy or girl who wants to be part of a winning tradition and isn't afraid of hard work, let them know about our team.  Cross Country isn't necessarily for people who are the most talented, but for those who are willing to sacrifice and work hard to improve themselves.

2009 Pre-Season Preview
What a difference a year makes. In 2008, both the boys and girls teams raced to overall "Team Time" records in establishing themselves as the fastest teams in school history. Plan on 2009 being a unique one for Matadores harriers. Since spring training began, a majority of the team simply has relished leaving the confined spaces of the track and running on the open trails. Realistically, although this type of training reminds athletes of the glory days of fall, there are issues the varsity level athletes will need to deal with during the long summer. The most significant of those issues has to do with the departure of last season's seniors. Never before has the Matadores team been so young. On the one hand, the #3 through #7 boys are are separated by less than a minute over a 3-mile course. On the other hand, all five members of this chase pack are rookies. In fact of the 70 athletes on the current boy's and girl's roster, over 55 are newcomers to the team or were non-varsity rookies last fall.

BOYS: For most distance runners, who tend to measure their success by their performances, all it takes to get excited about an upcoming season is a really strong showing against a relentless opponent: the clock. At their annual pre-season time trial, La Mirada's boys, led by Regan Garcia (PR = 15:38) and Andrew Herrick (17:22 PR) let their teammates know they intend to step up this season as they established a preseason team-time record that, when extrapolated to a 3-mile course, puts them at 84:06 going into the summer. With four rookies and newcomers close behind, the boys have the closest pack they've had since 2002.

In 2009, the Matadores -- despite graduating three senior members from the varsity team -- are prepared to make a difference in league. Two factors give them high hopes for 2009: strong recruits from track, and the knowledge that the chase pack is running stronger than ever. In fact, it's going to be tough for other teams to break them up! With a new found dedication to success up and down the roster, the boys are eager to show the rest of the cross-country world they are serious about climbing to the top. Besides Regan and Andrew, the projected 2009 lineup includes 3rd year runner, Frankie Nogales, last season's "Rookie of the Year," Clint Bales (17:53 PR), 2008 JV Most Valuable, Eric Wong (18:34 PR) and newcomers Jake Casalou and Moises Cauhultes. Casalou and Cauhultes were the #4 and #6 finishers at the recent time trial. In addition, Eduardo Compollo and Raul Reyes are making a strong case for themselves with their recent performances.