Cross-country athletes from Burbank High took part in the 75th annual Mt. SAC Invitational last week, participating in a pool of more than 100 racers with hopes to make an impression at the tail end of the season.
At the two-day event at Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut, Burbank senior Ricardo Mujica led the Bulldogs in their race in the Division 1 Varsity Red heat, finishing seventh in 16 minutes, 31 seconds to help the team place 13th overall.
Quartz Hill won the team race, and Nicholas Knisley, a senior from Northgate High, won the 3-mile meet in 16:04.
Following Mujica was Burbank senior Maxime Slek, who placed 30th in 17:33. Bulldogs freshman John Santiago (72nd, 18:22), sophomore Brandom Kim (79th, 18:35), senior William Klein (90th, 19:00), junior Raymond Muradyan (97th, 19:20), and sophomore Artin Matossian (114th, 20:09) rounded out the rest of the Burbank runners.
The Bulldogs girls’ team took part in the Division 1 Varsity Green meet and was led by senior Ashley Sosa who came in 18th in 21:21.
Chino Hills won the meet, and Burbank placed 12th. Quartz Hill junior Giselle Andrade completed the 3-mile course first in 19:26.
Bulldogs senior Alexandra Slek finished 52nd in 23:28, and junior Leah Yaghoobov (61st, 24:06), freshman Tanya Nazari (69th, 24:46), freshman Rebeka Nazari (83rd, 26:31) followed.
Mt. SAC is the site of the CIF Southern Section Cross Country Championship. Prelims begin Nov. 11, and finals start Nov. 18.
First published in the October 28 print issue of the Burbank Leader.
