CCS cross country: Marina captures schools first ever section team title
BELMONT — The magnitude of the milestone likely won’t set in tonight, or even on the ride home. In fact, it may not hit six cross country runners from Marina until the banner goes up in the high school gymnasium rafters — forever.
As for historic achievements this will be hard to duplicate as the Mariners brought home the school’s first ever Central Coast Section team title in any sport, capturing the boys Division IV cross country championship Saturday at Crystal Springs in Belmont.
Champions of the Gabilan Division, Marina outdistanced runner-up and perennial Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League power Santa Cruz 74-95. It’s the first team title from a county team since King City won the Division IV title in 2019.
“It took me a couple of seconds to realize what we just did,” said senior Miguel Flores, who finished 10th overall for Marina. “To tell you the truth, it hasn’t sunk in. Maybe tomorrow. Everyone was excited, screaming.”
Two years ago, this same group of runners for Marina finished 13th out of 13 teams at the section finals, before climbing to fifth last year.
“We’ve had an individual champion,” Marina coach Jacob Bermel said. “But we have never climbed to the top of the mountain as a team. This is new territory for us. We were last two years ago, and now we’re champions.”
Flores, who has been Marina’s primary No. 2 runner most of the season, surged to the front, overcoming metal barriers to run a career best 16:23.2 over the 3.01-mile course.
“During the first mile, my legs were giving out on the hills,” Flores said. “The second mile I was losing a bit of steam. When I got to the final fifth of the race, I said it’s now or never. So I kicked. It was a big PR for me.”
Following Flores for the CCS champion Mariners and cracking the top 15 was Kevin Azpeitia, who ran 16:35.1 and Tarin Riner, who was a few strides behind in 16:41.0. Juan Carlos Perez, Eduardo Bernal-Samaro and Victor Cano rounded out the squad.
“Marina is very much a community school,” Bermel said. “We’ve had a lot of support on campus and from the other sports. Winning the Gabilan Division two weeks ago was a big deal.”
The goals going to state, which is slated for November 30 at Woodward Park in Fresno, aren’t necessary time or placement, but to achieve another milestone for a group that has been together for three years.
“Every year we know how to peak and perform when it matters,” Bermel said. “This group has great chemistry and seems to rise to the occasion.”
A blistering first mile proved difficult for Mack Aldi to maintain, as the Carmel senior settled for a third place finish and a return to the state meet in Division IV.
“I went out in 4:55 for the first mile,” Aldi said. “Then I hit the top of the hill and lost motivation. It just happens. I think I went through the second mile in 5:25. It was 30 seconds off my personal best which was unfortunate. It was a mediocre race.”
Aldi, a state meet qualifier last spring in track and Carmel’s school record holder in the 800, covered the course in 15:50.1, with Eli Fitchen-Young of Santa Cruz winning the event in a course record 14:23.50.
“I never seem to have a good race at CCS,” said Aldi, who will be joined by teammate Jasper Bolante. “I have been playing out the state meet in my head. The goal is time, not placement. It’s hard to process state being my last meet. It has been my life since high school.”
Gonzales’ Giovanni Ochoa is going back to the state meet for the third straight year, advancing in the Division IV finals by finishing fourth overall, setting a personal best by 28 seconds at Crystal Springs in 15:35.5.
“Consistency is what really matters,” Ochoa said. “I felt like I executed the race. We worked on hills this past week, in sliding down, moving my arms and breathing. I just let it rip the last mile.”
While the experience of competing in the state meet is beneficial, the goal for Ochoa is just to be healthy.
“The last two years I’ve gotten sick a week before the race,” Ochoa said. “Obviously it had an effect on my performance. I just need to stay healthy to have a good race. Woodward Park is a fast course with a lot of rolling hills.”
Gabilan Division champion Gustavo Perez finished fifth overall in the Division I finals for Alisal to extend his season, advancing to the state championship, clocking 15:30.1.
Greenfield’s Fabian Serrano has qualified for the state championships in Division III as the third individual for the second straight year, finishing among the top 10, while Angel Ramirez of Seaside advanced in DIV and Wells Lilly of Palma in DV.
Yaretzi Cornelio was the only female from the county to extend her season into Thanksgiving weekend, as the Alisal distance ace used a massive personal record to place 11th overall in the Division I race.
“During the first mile, I felt pretty strong,” Cornelio said. “I knew I needed to be in the top 12. Going on just how I felt, I was in front of some girls that usually beat me. Today I just felt more prepared. I felt stronger.”
The sophomore was clocked in 18:57.5, setting an Alisal school record for the Crystal Springs course. She was the third individual finisher not associated with a state qualifying team, and the first Alisal girl to qualify for state in 17 years.
“What I remember about Woodward Park is my coach telling me this is your last hill and there were like four more,” Cornelio said. “I know I have to get out quicker at state. I just want a personal record.”
