La Reina girls take third at State Cross Country Championships

On a cool, overcast day in Fresno, local runners brought their best against the best.

Several locals had strong showings at the CIF State Cross Country Championships last Saturday at Woodward Park’s 5-kilometer course.

The Royal High boys’ team and Oak Park’s Melissa Skiba came closest to winning titles with second-place showings, but no area team or individual finished on top.

La Reina made it to the podium for the third straight year, clinching third place in the Division 4 race. The Regents won a state title last season, and were third in 2007.

Oaks Park’s girls were fifth in the Division 3 event.

Simi Valley’s Liberty Miller, Kelly Upson of Royal, Camarillo’s Heyden Wooff, Kevin Joerger of Thousand Oaks and Viewpoint’s Nicki Maslan competed as individuals.

La Reina’s girls had a fantastic finish in a deep Division 4 field.

The Regents ended with 137 team points. Harvard Westlake finished first, followed by Serra in second.

Harvard-Westlake’s team time of 95:36 is the best all-time state finish for a Division 4 team.

“I’m impressed that they never give up,” La Reina head coach Robert Lopez said of his runners. “They keep on pushing and supporting each other 100 percent.”

Senior Sarah Pearson led La Reina by placing sixth individually in 18:26.

Sophomore Rachel Brajkovich was 13th overall for La Reina, finishing in 18:49.

Katie Kavetsky (41st), Mary Thompson (67th), Lauren Hearne (83rd), Kelly Reinke (119th) and Gabby Lowry (122nd) also competed for the Regents.

La Reina ran hard until the end, despite missing No. 3 runner Tara Blanchard due to a stress fracture in her leg.

In addition, Hearne was injured for roughly a month before returning strong at the section and state meets.

Joerger of TOHS wanted to place in the top 10 individually. He wasn’t far off his goal: The Lancer finished 17th in Division 2.