Otay Ranch, CP harriers stay unbeaten

The Otay Ranch Mustangs and Castle Park Trojans high school cross country teams both remained undefeated in their respective league dual meet competitions after sweeping their opponents last Friday.

The Mustangs eclipsed Chula Vista in a key Mesa League match-up at Rohr Park, winning the boys meet 15-47 and the girls meet 18-41.  The Trojans sped past Mar Vista in a South Bay League encounter at the Imperial Beach pier, winning the boys meet 22-37 and the girls meet 24-36.

Otay Ranch and Mar Vista are both 2-0 in league duals.

The Mustangs, led by Gus Tunks’ 16:38 time (3.1 miles), placed the first six runners in the boys race. Otay Ranch placed five of the first seven runners in the girls race, paced by medalist Catie LeDesma (15:29, 2.4 miles) and runner-up Carina Gillespie (15:52).

Steven Martinez (16:50), Carlos Rangel (17:07), Zach Velasquez (17:13) and Josh Roach (17:15) rounded out the Mustangs’ top five scorers in the boys race.

Andie LeDesma (16:36) edged CV’s Mariza Diaz (16:38) for third place in the girls race.

Diaz won her division at the season opening Vaquero Stampede.

Otay Ranch went 1-2-3-5-7; Chula Vista went 4-6-8-11-12.

Miguel Lopez (17:48, 3.1 miles) was the Trojans’ top male runner as CP finished 1-3-5-67 in team scoring. MV’s Ernesto Sanchez was second in 18:02. The Trojans placed seven runners in front of the Mariners’ fifth scorer.

Castle Park’s top seven placers also included Jesus Ortiz, Alex Garcia, Milton Gutierrez, Gerardo Vasquez, Gabriel Magana and Cristian Flores.

“Only two (of their) guys got in between six of my guys and seven of my boys were able to get in front of Mar Vista’s fifth guy,” Trojan coach Juan Lozano said. “Overall, the meet went well for us. We are trying to take it one by one. My boys knew what they had to do to win the meet and they were able to perform. We knew Mar Vista was going to be a big meet for us, since at this point they are one of the top competitors for the South Bay League.”

Varsity Boys Dual
Friday, Oct. 8 at Rohr Park (3.1 miles)
Otay Ranch 15, Chula Vista 47

1. Gus Tunks (Otay Ranch) 16:38
2. Steven Martinez (Otay Ranch) 16:50
3. Carlos Rangel (Otay Ranch) 17:07
4. Zach Velasquez (Otay Ranch) 17:13
5. Josh Roach (Otay Ranch) 17:15
6. Salvador Salinas (Otay Ranch) 17:18
7. Jose Sanchez (Chula Vista) 17:44
8. Jose Serrano (Chula Vista) 17:47
9. Michel Robles (Chula Vista) 17:50
10. Jason Hays (Chula Vista) 18:04
11. Richard Martinez (Otay Ranch) 18:07
12. Duane Wolfblack (Chula Vista) 18:27
13. Raul Diaz (Chula Vista) 18:31
14. Marvin Manske (Chula Vista) 18:56
15. Jonathan Perez (Chula Vista) 19:08
16. Brandon Lopez (Chula Vista) 19:59

Varsity Girls Dual
Friday, Oct. 8 at Rohr Park (2.4 miles)
Otay Ranch 18, Chula Vista 47

1. Catie LeDesma (Otay Ranch) 15:29
2. Carina Gillespie (Otay Ranch) 15:52
3. Andie LeDesma (Otay Ranch) 16:36
4. Mariza Diaz (Chula Vista) 16:38
5. Blanca De La Rocha (Otay Ranch) 16:43
6. Trinity Aguon (Chula Vista) 16:54
7. Brenda Hernandez (Otay Ranch) 17:13
8. Adrienne Bidwell (Chula Vista) 17:18
9. Bailie LeDesma (Otay Ranch) 17:23
10. Marlene Gadea (Otay Ranch) 17:34
11. Erika Perry (Otay Ranch) 17:52
12. Cynthia Ruffin (Chula Vista) 18:00
13. Yoseline Ramirez (Chula Vista) 18:16
14. Jenny Valencia (Chula Vista) 18:31
15. Rebecca Mendoza (Chula Vista) 18:42
16. Vanessa Martinez (Otay Ranch) 18:44
17. Ruth Morreira (Otay Ranch) 18:53
18. C. Bernarte (Otay Ranch) 19:00
19. Kassa Covarubbias (Otay Ranch) 19:02
20. Jasmine Galvan (Chula Vista) 19:06