Southwest harriers chasing South Bay League championship

Southwest High School's Jacob Fierro will be out to defend his South Bay League individual championship at the league finals on Nov. 10. Photo by Lee Romero

The Southwest High School boys cross country team will attempt to do something that hasn’t happened in 38 years on Friday, Nov. 3.

In 1979, the Raiders hoisted a league banner into their gym and since then the team has experienced one of the longest championship droughts in South County high school sports.

Led by senior standout Jacob Fierro and senior Luis Lopez, the Southwest boys team heads into the final week of the season undefeated in league competition.

Accolades this season include a top 10 finish for Fierro at September’s Mt. Carmel Invitational sweepstakes race and a team championship at October’s Southern California Invitational.

The Raiders face off against perennial powerhouse Sweetwater and Castle Park Friday afternoon at Luckie Waller Park. With the victory, the Raiders will take a big step toward becoming South Bay League champions.

The league finals are scheduled Friday, Nov. 10, at Chula Vista’s Rohr Park.

Fierro finished second among Division II teams’ 1-2-3 runners at the SoCal invite meet, held Oct. 7 at Guajome Park in Oceanside. He timed 15:44.26 on the 5K course to finish 12 seconds behind race winner Anthony Benitez of Serra.

The Raiders placed three runners among the top 10 finishers in the race. Esteban Magana finished fifth in the race in 16:57.68 while Lopez finished seventh in 17:31.09.

Diego Corrales finished second in the boys race featuring teams’ 4-5 runners with a time of 18:20.96. Raider teammate Christian Ramirez placed fourth in the field in 18:25.66.

Southwest’s Santiago Agredo finished second in the race pitting teams’ 6-7 runenrs in 19:00.76. Teamamte AramanodSoto finished fourth in the race in 19:28.35.

Southwest placed the top five runners in the Division 2 boys novice race to win the divisoinwith a low score of 15 points.