By Coach Jay Stepp
The Yucca Valley High School Cross-Country teams took part in the 38th Annual Central Park Invitational at Huntington Beach. The varsity boys started the day by placing 20th out of 34 schools, running the fastest team time for Yucca Valley on that course, (83:46). The Lady Trojans were next to compete and finished 16th out of 23 full teams and 204 runners.
The Harriers raced in the upper division against Division 1 and 2 schools instead of their normal Division 4 schools.
Coach Jay Stepp said Elijah Ocegueda paced the boys with an eighth place finish out of 263 runners. His time of 15:34 was good enough to eclipse the course record by 10 seconds for Yucca Valley. Jeff Larson set the record in 2013.
Next for the Trojans was Andy Tamayo in 43rd (16:11), Alan Campos was 86th (16:35), Blake Stewart placed 191st (17:35), and Stephen Goddard rounded out the scoring, placing 207th in 17:49.
The Lady Trojans were next to compete and finished 16th out of 23 full teams and 204 runners. Emma Mills led the way, placing 18th and clocking the 3-mile course in 19:10. She was followed by Cadence Youngman in 21st (19:19), Cynthia Angeles in 94th (20:51), Taylie Wright in 188th (24:02) and Hailei Cameron in 191st (24:16).
Up next for the team will be the DVL Preview meet on October 9 at Cathedral City High School. Start time will be 4 p.m.
