Riverside course proves very challenging
The cross country postseason gets underway Friday with the CIF Southern Section Preliminaries.
If memory serves correctly, the scene will be fast, flat, and dusty.
There were more than a few who voiced their displeasure with CIF’s choice of venue when the meet was moved to the Riverside City Cross Country Course last year.
Athletes worked to reach the final stages of the season, only to have the privilege of running on what appeared to be a deserted wasteland, a dried up golf course that had been neglected for years.
All opinions must be put aside now. Only the fastest will survive, hoping to stay ahead of the pack and the cloud of dust that follows.
Divisions 1 and 4 will run on Friday morning. Divisions 2, 3, and 5 will compete on Saturday.
It’s not only this weekend that will be run in Riverside, but the CIF-SS Finals will be run there the following weekend.
A total of 24 teams will advance to the CIF-SS Finals out of each of the five divisions, but not all divisions are the same size. Those that run three races will see the top eight teams in each heat advance. Additionally, individuals whose teams do not move on can qualify if they earn a spot in the top 10.
In a division with two heats, the top 12 teams from each race will qualify for finals. Individuals seeking to extend their seasons must place within the top 15 in such a race.
Fountain Valley High Coach Jerry Palazzo was among those that had an unfavorable view of the course, but the qualifying format has turned out more to his liking.
The Barons’ girls’ team finished the season ranked No. 11 in the final CIF-SS Division 1 poll after winning the Sunset League title. They are a young team. Four of them got their first look at the course as freshmen last season.
“Nobody liked it, but it is flat,” Palazzo said of the Riverside course. “The heat is pretty generous. They take eight out of 20 teams.”
“The tactic for our team since there is only three teams ranked higher than them is to not overdo it. You got to get out hard to stake your claim.”
Traditionally, the CIF-SS postseason meets had been run at the Mt. San Antonio College Cross Country Course. Those familiar hills were friendly to some, especially to those who accelerated well on the downhill.
Costa Mesa’s Elliot Hachac was among those that saw the hills as an advantage. He took fifth place in the Division 4 Sweepstakes race at the Mt. SAC Invitational in October.
That familiarity could have been key for the senior, who missed out on going to the state championships as an individual by one spot last year. Note that while the 2015 Prelims were run at Riverside, the finals returned to Mt. SAC.
Hachac spoke about the course change after winning the Orange Coast League Finals on Nov. 2.
“Obviously, a flat course is nice, but I feel like hills are more of my style,” he said. “That is where I usually lose a lot of people, and I get my speed.”
“[Riverside] is a flat a course, but I actually prefer hills. I ran there last year, and I almost didn’t make it, but I passed through to Finals.”
No one can question Hachac’s hunger to earn the trip to Woodward Park in Fresno. He made his ambitions known following his top-five showing at the Mt. SAC Invitational.
“That’s everyone’s goal, to go to state,” Hachac said. “That’s every individual cross country runner’s goal is to make it to the highest level. It means a lot to me.”
“I’ve been working hard all summer, and I think I have the capability to go to state.”
CIF-SS Preliminaries
Where/When: Friday and Saturday at the Riverside City Cross Country Course (1011 N. Orange St., Riverside, CA 92501)
Friday: Divisions 1 and 4 are running. The first race is at 9 a.m.
Saturday: Divisions 2, 3, and 5 are running. The first race is at 7:45 a.m.
Fan Info: Parking is $10 on both days, and it is located off of Orange Street. The spectator gates will open one hour before the first race on both days. Tickets are $8 for general admission. Students with a current H.S. photo I.D. and children between the ages of 5-13 are $5.
CIF-SS Prelims Schedule
Friday Races
9:00 a.m. – Division 1 Boys, Heat 1
Ranked Teams: No. 1 Great Oak, No. 6 Arcadia, No. 7 Burroughs/Burbank, No. 12 Beaumont, No. 13 Arroyo Grande
9:12 a.m. – Division 1 Boys, Heat 2
Ranked Teams: No. 2 Roosevelt, No. 5 California, No. 8 Valencia, No. 11 Trabuco Hills
From Area: Edison; Alekos Mitchel (Huntington Beach)
9:24 a.m. – Division 1 Boys, Heat 3
Ranked Teams: No. 3 Dana Hills, No. 4 El Toro, No. 9 Crescenta Valley, No. 10 Yucaipa
10:04 a.m. – Division 1 Girls, Heat 1
Ranked Teams: No. 1 Great Oak, No. 6 Long Beach Poly, No. 7 Dana Hills, No. 12 Walnut, No. 13 Foothill
10:16 a.m. – Division 1 Girls, Heat 2
Ranked Teams: No. 2 Arcadia, No. 5 ML King, No. 8 El Toro, No. 11 Fountain Valley
From Area: Fountain Valley
10:28 a.m. – Division 1 Girls, Heat 3
Ranked Teams: No. 3 Yucaipa, No. 4 Vista Murrieta, No. 9 Trabuco Hills, No. 10 San Clemente
From Area: Edison
10:40 a.m. – Division 4 Boys, Heat 1
Ranked Teams: No. 1 Foothill Technology, No. 4 Harvard-Westlake, No. 5 Oaks Christian, No. 8 Bishop Amat, No. 9 Covina, No. 12 Yucca Valley, No. 13 Nipomo
10:52 a.m. – Division 4 Boys, Heat 2
Ranked Teams: No. 2 JSerra, No. 3 San Luis Obispo, No. 6 Big Bear, No. 7 El Segundo, No. 10 Granite Hills, No. 11 Laguna Beach
From Area: Costa Mesa, Laguna Beach
11:32 a.m. – Division 4 Girls, Heat 1
Ranked Teams: No. 1 Bishop Amat, No. 4 Mayfield, No. 5 La Cañada, No. 8 El Segundo, No. 9 Big Bear, No. 12 Marymount, No. 13 Granite Hills
From Area: Costa Mesa
11:49 a.m. – Division 4 Girls, Heat 2
Ranked Teams: No. 2 JSerra, No. 3 Foothill Technology, No. 6 Laguna Beach, No. 7 Harvard-Westlake, No. 10 San Luis Obispo, No. 11 Covina
From Area: Laguna Beach
Saturday Races
7:45 a.m. – Division 2 Boys, Heat 1
Ranked Teams: No. 1 Loyola, No. 4 West Ranch, No. 5 Mission Viejo, No. 8 Simi Valley, No. 9 Saugus, No. 12 Newport Harbor, No. 13 Woodbridge
From Area: Newport Harbor
7:57 a.m. – Division 2 Boys, Heat 2
Ranked Teams: No. 2 Claremont, No. 2 Mira Costa, No. 6 Ayala, No. 7 Ventura, No. 10 Canyon, No. 11 San Marcos, No. 13 San Juan Hills, No. 13 Tesoro
8:37 a.m. – Division 2 Girls, Heat 1
Ranked Teams: No. 1 Claremont, No. 6 Northwood, No. 7 San Marcos, No. 12 Channel Islands, No. 13 Mission Viejo
8:49 a.m. – Division 2 Girls, Heat 2
Ranked Teams: No. 2 Canyon, No. 5 Mira Costa, No. 8 Serrano, No. 11 Tesoro, No. 13 Simi Valley
9:01 a.m. – Division 2 Girls, Heat 3
Ranked Teams: No. 3 Saugus, No. 4 Capistrano Valley, No. 9 Ventura, No. 10 West Ranch
From Area: Mia Matsunami (Newport Harbor)
9:15 a.m. – Division 3 Boys, Heat 1
Ranked Teams: No. 1 Brea Olinda, No. 4 Cathedral, No. 5 St. John Bosco, No. 8 Rubidoux, No. 9 Ocean View, No. 12 Bloomington, No. 13 Esperanza
From Area: Ocean View
9:27 a.m. – Division 3 Boys, Heat 2
Ranked Teams: No. 2 West Torrance, No. 3 Paso Robles, No. 6 Sultana, No. 7 Palos Verdes, No. 10 Baldwin Park, No. 11 Bonita
From Area: Corona del Mar
10:10 a.m. – Division 3 Girls, Heat 1
Ranked Teams: No. 1 Palos Verdes, No. 4 Laguna Hills, No. 5 Corona del Mar, No. 8 Royal, No. 9 Brea Olinda, No. 12 Yorba Linda, No. 13 Bolsa Grande
From Area: Corona del Mar, Ocean View
10:28 a.m. – Division 3 Girls, Heat 2
Ranked Teams: No. 2 Esperanza, No. 3 Moorpark, No. 6 Norwalk, No. 7 West Torrance, No. 10 Oak Park, No. 11 Bonita
10:42 a.m. – Division 5 Boys, Heat 1
Ranked Teams: No. 1 Desert Christian/Lancaster, No. 6 Pasadena Poly, No. 7 Campbell Hall, No. 12 Viewpoint, No. 13 Pacifica Christian
From Area: Sage Hill
10:56 a.m. – Division 5 Boys, Heat 2
Ranked Teams: No. 2 Flintridge Prep, No. 5 Xavier Prep, No. 8 Brentwood, No. 11 Orcutt Academy
From Area: Gabriel Reiser (Brethren Christian)
11:14 a.m. – Division 5 Boys, Heat 3
Ranked Teams: No. 3 Valley Christian, No. 4 St. Margaret’s, No. 9 Thacher, No. 10 Ontario Christian
11:54 a.m. – Division 5 Girls, Heat 1
Ranked Teams: No. 1 Flintridge Prep, No. 4 Sage Hill, No. 5 Sacred Heart of Jesus, No. 8 Xavier Prep, No. 9 Chadwick, No. 12 Brentwood, No. 13 Pomona Catholic
From Area: Sage Hill
12:12 p.m. – Division 5 Girls, Heat 2
Ranked Teams: No. 2 Pacifica Christian, No. 3 St. Margaret’s, No. 6 Pasadena Poly, No. 7 Bell-Jeff, No. 10 Orcutt Academy, No. 11 Viewpoint
