Angelina Lopez Charges to #1 Ranking in LAUSD and a New CPHS Course Record
Amidst gale-like winds, Senior Angelina Lopez used the NASCAR strategy of drafting two top runners from Palisades (The heavy favorites to win the Division 1 cross country championships). In an unusual twist of fate, Canoga Park's girls cross country team ran with Palisades in a combined race; The Valley Mission League and the Western League, which allowed Lopez to compete head to head with the top runners in the city section, Freshman Maya Hively and Sophomore Zoey Morris (2023 D1 City Champion).
Hively and Morris ran side by side which allowed Lopez to draft for two and a half miles. With about 800 meters to go and Puke's Peak looming ahead, Morris lost contact. "Lopez runs hills better than anyone," Coach Gonzalo Vasquez said. Lopez surged ahead at Puke's Peak to break away from Hively and win in a time of 18:19.5 setting a new CPHS course record at L.A. Pierce College (Old record: 18:24, 2023, Angelina Valladares).
Samantha Pacheco of Granada Hills and Meztli Velazquez of Cleveland also ran at Pierce College (11/7) and are top contenders for the D1 individual city title.
Girls Varsity Cross Country Moves Up in Rankings Going into 2024 City Championships
The girls varsity cross country team started the season ranked #4 in Division 2. This is reasonable due to the graduation of four key seniors on the 2023 D2 City Championship team; Heidy Torres (UCSB), Karina Perez (SFState), Sarah Godinez (SFState) and the D2 City Champion Angelina Valladarez (UCD). Hard work and constant improvement have moved the Hunters to #1 in the power rankings noted by LACXC.Com, a website devoted to "City" cross country and Track distance running.
The Hunters have run faster than perennial rivals Eagle Rock (#5), Bravo (#2), Contreras (#7), and Marshall (#8). The Hunters will have to beat a competent Santee (#4). CPHS has already beaten San Fernando (#2) twice. "We leave nothing to chance. Anyone can win on any given day. We're peaking at the right time," said assistant coach Antony Villalobos. The 2024 D2 City Championships on November 23 at L.A. Pierce College is the venue to prove that the Hunters are the team to go to the CIF State Championships in Fresno om November 30.
Go Hunters!...And I mean GO!
TRIVIA: Did you know...The girls cross country team won the first girls team city title at CPHS (2015)
Story submission: Antony Villalobos, MCAA, Asst. Cross Country Coach