Hacienda #2: Walnut Repeats – While the South Hills Boys Move Up

The Walnut girls again put five in the first six to win with 17 points, despite their usual #3 being away at her sister’s wedding. As in the first meet West Covina was second with 74 pts and  South Hills third at 82, with Diamond Ranch as the fourth school scoring.

Full Results

• 2018 Hacienda #2 – Varsity Girls
• 2018 Hacienda #2 – Varsity Boys
• 2018 Hacienda #2 – JV Girls
• 2018 Hacienda #2 – JV Boys
• 2018 Hacienda #2 – Frosh/Soph Boys

Amanda Ghibaudo and Emma Arriaga Lead the Chase Group Up the Big Hill

West Covina soph Claudia Vera

Chloe Arriaga (Walnut) was the winner (19:03) while Arrisa Hatcher (South Hills) was again the only runner to break up the Mustangs with a 4th/19:57 finish. Walnut was helped by the debut of Natalie Santiago, a junior transfer running in her first meet after the sit-out period, who was 6th/20:52 , just behind usual #5 Naomi Nakamura – 5th/20:28. Assuming their front runners stay healthy, much of Walnut’s post-season success will be determined by how close their 5th runner can get to the first four. Soph Claudia Vera was best for West Covina, rounding out the top 7 with a 21:04 effort. Alyssa Blanco at 11th/21:34 was best for Diamond Ranch, the final scoring team. Alyssa improved 1:45 from Meet #1, a huge bump on a day where most athletes improved 20-40 seconds.

The Walnut boys were first again, but surprisingly, held off South Hills for the win rather than Los Altos, who had been 2nd in the first meet. The Conquerers ran well, but were missing their #2 from the first meet. The real change was from the Huskies’ #3-5 men, each had a huge step-up performance. Ayden de Avila was 20th in Meet 1 and moved up to 9th/17:23, Robert Escobedo from 25th to 13th/17:34 and Andrew Oseguera from 24th to 19th/18:13.

Devin Hightower with the Win!

The individual race followed form from the first meet, with Devin Hightower (South Hills) winning again in 16:15, followed at 16:20 by Jesse Alvarado (Walnut) and Dillon Hightower (South Hills) at 16:32 with Luke Francis (Lost Altos) 4th/16:39 again. Francisco Murillo jumped from 21st in the first race to 12th/17:32 to lead fourth placed West Covina, just ahead of Diamond Ranch, led by Conner Parker, who moved up to 6th overall at 16:57. Charter Oak was in the final spot and their best was Julien Mireles in 24th/18:53

Thanks to Walnut coach Jerry Knox for the first photo West Covina coach Brittani Bernhard for the others.