Burbank's Candela Fernandez, Burroughs boys enjoy firsts at Pacific League meet; Arcadia's Phillip Rocha, Apache girls also prevail

By Erik Boal, DyeStatCAL Editor

Arcadia has set the pace in recent years when it comes to Pacific League cross country, but the Apaches had some company in the front of the pack Thursday at Crescenta Valley Park.

For the first time since joining the league in 2006, Burroughs defeated Arcadia's boys, offsetting Phillip Rocha's victory in 15 minutes, 40.22 seconds by having all five scorers place in the top seven in the 3-mile race to produce a 20-35 victory.

Not only did Burbank junior Candela Fernandez become the Bulldogs' first female runner to win a league race, she also contributed to the program's first victory over Crescenta Valley, securing second place behind Arcadia by a 27-28 margin over the host Falcons.

Fernandez (pictured right) clocked 17:57.91, just off her mark from an all-comers meet in August of 17:46.96, which ranks seventh all-time on the course.

"I definitely felt really strong today. Everything that I've been working for has come together and I felt really good. Apart from the time, I'm really happy," said Fernandez, who became only the fourth female runner to break 18 minutes at least twice on the course.

"Last time I had my teammates pushing me, all the guys, and it's a little different when you're up there all by yourself. That's what I'm working for right now. I just need to stay mentally tough when it gets tough."

Crescenta Valley's Megan Melnyk (19:12.47) and Haley Witzeman (19:13.21) finished second and third, with a trio of Arcadia runners -- Cindy Hoang (19:21.41), Holly Lung (19:30.50) and Rachel Huang (19:39.56) -- picking up the slack for the absence of Laura Guidolin to help the Apaches post a 23-34 victory over Burbank.

Gabby Collins was the deciding factor for Burbank by placing 22nd in 21:15, ahead of Crescenta Valley's Grace McAuley in 23rd (21:25.50).

"I'm so proud of them. They're all working extremely hard this season and they really want it and I know we will all succeed this season," Fernandez said. "I think they're all excited and as long as we keep working hard, I have a lot of confidence in all of us as a team."

Burroughs, led by freshman Emily Virtue finishing seventh (19:42), took fourth overall.

The Indians also got strong performances in the boys race from freshman Alexander Hirsch (16:18.12) and junior Justin Villagran (16:16.41), who supported seniors Garrett Boulais (15:47.94), Elias Hoxsie (16:06.75) and Shane Thompson (16:18.43).

"Our focus was on trying to work as a team. This is the first time we've all been in the same race together, so it really helped us in terms of tracking each other," Boulais said. "I know that Phillip likes to turn it on at the end, so I just wanted to stay with him and finish strong. We're going to enjoy this, but our goal isn't just to be good now, we want to perform when it really matters. We're just going to keep working it."

Boulais was able to draw on the experiences of racing against Loyola's Robert Brandt at the Rosemead Invitatonal and Mt. Carmel Invitational to remain within striking distance of Rocha -- the Cool Breeze Invitational winner and Woodbridge runner-up -- throughout the race to be the catalyst for Burroughs' breakthrough victory.

"Phillip is a great runner, but Garrett is not a kid that is going to give in," Burroughs coach John Peebles said. "It was great to see them run so well as a group, but we know that with the Arcadia's and the Burbank's and the C.V.'s, we still have a lot of work in front of us."

Hirsch won the first showdown involving two of the state's top freshmen, taking sixth ahead of Crescenta Valley's Colin Fitzgerald, who was eighth in 16:19.65 for the third-place Falcons.

Burbank's Enrique Vizcaino (16:13.72) was fourth for the fourth-place Bulldogs.