By Epi Torres

On Friday, several former Fillmore High School athletes competed in their first collegiate meet this season.
Alianna Tapia, a second year runner for the Moorpark Raiders ran in the Moorpark Invitation on Friday. This meet was held at Arroyo Vista Park in Moorpark over a 3.1 mile course. In the women’s race 8 teams and several athletes competed over the relatively flat grassy course, under cool conditions. Alainna led her team to a 4th place finish with an individual placement of 5th place in a time of 20:08.3. This was Alianna’s second race this season. Last week, she competed at the Tour de Cuesta Invitational and also finished in 5th place in a time of 22:10.8.

Three of Alianna’s former high school teammates also competed on Friday at the Big West Preview held on the Blacklake Golf Course in Nipomo. Running in the Women’s’ 5 kilometer race for Cal State Northridge, a Division 1 school, was Vanessa Avila. This was Vanessa’s first race this season as a Matador. Vanessa captured 80th place in a time of 20:24.4, and helped her team finish in 8th place.

In the Men 6 kilometer race Camilo Torres traversed the course in a time of 19:09.7 and finished in 51st place. As a team, the Matadors finished in 7th place. Also competing at this meet for Westmont was Rey Laureano. Rey finished in 87 place in a time of 20:19.9. In the team competition, Westmont finished in 9th place.

It always makes us proud to see our former athletes continue their athletic endeavors at the post secondary level. Alianna will next compete at the So. Cal. Preview meet at El Dorado Park in Long Beach on 9/15. Camilo and Vanessa will travel to Riverside, on 9/16 and run in the UC Riverside Invitational, held at the UCR Ag Ops Course. Rey and the Westmont team will compete on September 8th at the Biola Invitational in Fullerton. We wish them continued success. Go get them Flashes Alumni.