Pictured is Melanie Flores a first-year runner for Lady Flashes Cross Country team. She has trained and improved throughout the season. Her team will battle for the 1st place title in the Citrus Coast League on Thursday, November 7th. Photo credit Kim Tafoya.

Freshman Erick Taver

Written By Epi Torres

On October 25th, the Flashes Cross Country teams traveled to Walnut, California to compete in the 76th running of the Mt. San Antonio College Invitational. This is the biggest cross country meet in the Nation and is run over a challenging new 3 mile hilly course. This course is also the venue for Southern Section Division Prelims and Finals.
Fillmore’s first athlete to compete was Erick Traver. Erick ran as the lone freshman on the team and placed 29th in 20:38.
The second race for the Flashes also saw one Fillmore competitor. Sophomore Alexander Nunez place 71st in 21:31.
The Junior Varsity girls were led by Marbella Arroyo Tapia. She placed 18th in 26:10. She was followed by Natalie Perez 24th in 27:31, Michelle Setty 28th in 28:23, and Jannet Vega 34th in 28:55.

Vincent Alonzo led 3 Fillmore athletes in the junior varsity boys race. Vincent placed 60th in 22:22. He was followed by Alexander Diaz 91st in 23:46, and Gabriel Lagunas 93rd in 23:58.

In the girls varsity race, Diana Santa Rosa was the top runner for Fillmore. She finished in 48th place in 23:03. She was followed by Jacqueline Olivares 67th in 24:16, Melanie Flores 69th in 24:18, and Janessa Corona 78th in 24:44.
In the varsity boys division, Fillmore ran two athletes. Omar was Fillmore top finisher on the day, placing 8th in 16:59. He was followed by Damian Castaneda 88th in 19:09, Jordan Hernandez 158th in 21:18, Aaron Cordero 171st in 21:55, and Andres Moreno 190th in 24:19. Omar was the only medal winner for the Fillmore teams.

The Flashes Cross Country teams will now prepare for League Finals on Thursday, November 7th at Lake Casitas in Ojai. This meet will start at 2:00 p.m.