By Coach Jay Stepp
For the 11th time in school history and fifth year in a row, the Trojan Harriers will compete in the Southern Section CIF Finals. Led by a huge performance by Elijah Ocegueda, the Trojans cruised to a seventh place finish in heat #1 to advance to the 24-team finals next week. Elijah led for most of the race before in a time of 16:06. Vastly improved Alan Campos who placed 25th in a time of 17:00 followed him.
Desert Valley League champion Cadence Youngman and DVL runner-up, Emma Mills represented the girls’ team. Both girls performed admirably while having to compete in separate heats. Youngman was a woman on a mission. Jumping out of the pack quickly and into the top 10, she stayed consistent throughout the race, placing seventh out of 158 runners to secure her own spot in the finals next week. Her time of 19:26 was 4:26 faster than last year, which is nearly unheard of by a second-year runner.
Mills closed out her cross-country career just missing the finals by six spots. She placed 21st out of 159 runners in a time of 20:14. While Mill’s season is over, her positive contribution over the past three years has undoubtedly had a lasting affect that will carry this team into the future.
Now the Trojans turn their attention to CIF Finals on November 23. Cadence Youngman will compete first at 9:05 a.m. She’ll need to be one of the top five individuals on a non-qualifying team to make the trip to Fresno for the State Championships on November 30.
The boys will compete at 10:10 a.m. They’ll need to place at least seventh to make the trip to Fresno.
