Cross Country places second in both boys and girls at CIF Prelims

Makena Nakaji

Staff Writer

Adrenaline pumped as the cross country team awaited its California Interscholastic Federation(CIF) preliminaries race.

The Costa boys and girls cross country teams both placed second at their first CIF meet on Saturday at Riverside Golf Course. The girls ran an average of 18:16.20, falling 0.43 seconds behind Canyon Anaheim. The boys finished with an average time of 15:33.45, falling 0.12 seconds behind Claremont.

Seniors Caleb Llorin and Melia Chittenden received the highest places on Saturday. Chittenden placed first in the girls Division 2 heat, and ninth overall, with a 17:17. Llorin ran a 14:59 and placed fourth in his division and ninth overall.

“I worked really hard; I always try to win,” Llorin said. “I did everything in my power to prepare, and it all paid off.”

Photos: The Mira Costa boys cross country team’s heat starts the race, during the CIF Preliminaries.

Coach Renee Smith said the strategy for the girls was for Chittenden to break early, meaning everyone runs in a group until she‘breaks’ from the group, leaving others behind. The runner keeps a faster pace while the rest of the group remains at a steady pace.

“The girls have been working really hard,” Smith said.  “After the last league meet, the girls performed really well, and it gave them confidence to know they can perform well.”

Link: Click to see results from the CIF preliminaries race.

The boys’ strategy was to sit older athletes and let the younger ones compete, allowing more experienced runners to rest, coach Roberto Calderon said. Costa moved on to CIF finals since girls and boys teams placed in the top 12 in the CIF preliminaries.

“We had stellar performances,”  Calderon said. “Our guys ran smart and strategically, and it paid off by winning.”

The boys’ record is 3-3, and the girls’ is 0-6. The CIF finals will take place Saturday at the Riverside Golf course.

“We’re going to be training really hard,” Smith said. “I don’t believe in a big taper, so to train for the next meet, we will be training super hard.”