Dynamic Adams leads Esperanza
HUNTINGTON BEACH — With senior Teeny Adams heading into CIF competition healthier than she has been at any point this season, the Esperanza girls cross country team used its final Sunset League meet to show the form it hopes will take it to Fresno.
Adams claimed her first individual league title while leading the Aztecs to their second consecutive team title at the Sunset League Finals on Saturday at Central Park.
"I was relaxed today and held my own, which felt really good," Adams said. "Our ultimate goal is to get in the top three at the state meet, and that's what we're going to be working for."
Adams, locked in a close battle with Fountain Valley junior Carmille Garcia throughout most of the race, extended her lead over the final mile and coasted home in a time of 17:48.
She was the only runner to finish the race in less than 18 minutes, becoming the first Aztecs runner to win the individual title since Allison Costello in 2002.
Fellow Aztecs senior Natalie Fyke (18:19) placed second, with Garcia (18:21) coming in third.
Esperanza (19 points) easily defeated second-place Fountain Valley (55), as five Aztecs finished in the top seven.
Los Alamitos (86) rounded out the top three teams that earned automatic qualification into the CIF preliminaries, which will be held Nov. 14 at Mt. SAC.
"They girls showed up today and ran well," Aztecs coach Rich Medellin said. "They have been waiting for this kind of performance, and mentally, it will help them and me going into CIF."
In the boys race, Edison senior Matt McElroy returned to winning form, claiming his second consecutive individual league title in a Sunset League Finals record time of 15:03.
"Coming into the race, it was just another day of running for me and I wasn't nervous," McElroy said.
In the team competition, Marina (31 points) claimed the school's first team title since 2004 as the Vikings had five runners finish in the top nine, led by Karl Baranov (15:34), who was fourth.
