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MV's Swier sets course record -- again

By Phillip Brents
Posted Sept. 18, 2002

Mar Vista High junior Troy Swier placed his stamp on yet another early season cross country invitational by setting a course record for the second consecutive week after winning his division at last Friday’s seventh annual Baron Invitational at Rohr Park.

Swier, who set a course record at the previous week's Wolf Pack Invitational, shaved 20 seconds off the Baron Invitational course record to top  the boys varsity Blue Division with his time of 15:04 for 3.1 miles. Swier ran 42 seconds faster than his finishing time as a sophomore in the race. Granite Hills Jason Finch had set the previous course record of 15:24 in 1998.

Swier, the defending San Diego Section Division II champion, finished 48 seconds ahead of runner-up Gus Politio of Valley Center and 54 seconds ahead of third-place finisher Ryan Becijos of Bonita Vista.

In the girls varsity races, Bonita Vista senior Kristen Gonzalez was dominant, winning the 2.2-mile Blue Division field in 13:12. A two-time league champion, Gonzalez finished 10 seconds ahead of runner-up Mandy Beatty of Scripps Ranch and 16 seconds ahead of third-place finisher Olga Goroberts of divisions champion Helix.

Gonzalez, who just missed earning All-CIF honors last season with an 11th place finish in the Division I championship meet, emerged with the fastest varsity time on the day. Mt. Empire’s Ali Baker won the girls varsity Gold Division race in 13:32.

"At first I wanted to stay with the top people in the field, then when I felt I had the strength to push and go. I wanted to have a quick first mile. After the first mile, I felt strong and took off," said Gonzalez, whose goals this season are to snare a top 10 All-CIF individual finish and to help Bonita Vista defend its Mesa League title.

The Barons placed third as a team third place behind division winner Helix (a seventh-place finisher at last year’s state championship meet and ranked 10th in the state in Division II by one Internet publication this season) and runner-up Valley Center.

Bonita Vista recorded five top 25 individual finishers. Following the lead of division champion Gonzalez were teammates Tiffany Caddell (11th, 14:08), Kayleigh Knudson (16th, 14:30), Kristen Milliken (23rd, 14:38) and Julie Buettner (25th, 14:44).

The Barons finished fourth in last year’s Division I championship meet, denied a berth at the state finals by at-large qualifier Torrey Pines. Bonita Vista appears back to challenge in 2K2 with three team qualifying berths now guaranteed.
"I think if we can keep on working as hard together as we are now that we have a good shot," said Gonzalez.

Sweetwater’s Edgar Llanez (16:16) finished fourth in the boys varsity Blue Division race to help key the Red Devils’ second-place finish (102 points) in the 10-team field to champion Indio (47 points), out-pointing third-place Bonita Vista (113 points) in the process. The host Barons entered the season as the favored team to capture this year’s Mesa League championship.

"It gives the kids some confidence that they can compete. But it’s too early to make any predictions," Sweetwater head coach Tim Latham said.

The Red Devils placed three runners among the top 17 finishers. Following Llanez across the finish line were teammates Hector Arreola (13th, 17:08) and Rogelio Gonzalez (17th, 17:16).

Bonita Vista’s top three "A" team scorers, besides Becijos, included Julian Zamora (11th, 16:49) and Daniel Valdez (26th, 17:34).

Jonathan Delgado (12th, 16:45), Hector Mardueno (16th, 16:54) and Alex Cerda (19th, 18:05) all posted top 20 finishes for Montgomery in the boys varsity Gold Division. Hilltop’s Justin Harms (18:21) was 27th.

Bonita Vista's Michael Morales notched the top time of 12:14 in the boys junior varsity Blue Division race to finish with the fastest JV time on the day. Montgomery’s Eric Delgado was second in the boys junior varsity Gold Division race, timing 12:45 for the same 2.2 miles.

Montgomery’s girls were paced by Priscilla Flores (13:52) with a fifth-place finish in the Gold Division race. Aztec teammate Chelsea Nicklen (14:14) finished ninth, placing ahead of Hilltop sophomore Selina Munoz (11th, 14:27). Mercedes Razo (14th, 14:25) led Eastlake’s girls in the Blue Division race.