KING CITY — King City High School cross country runner Israel Limosnero and Gonzales High School standout Giovanni Ochoa qualified for the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) State Meet by placing eighth and 11th, respectively, at last Saturday’s Central Coast Section Division IV Championship.
Limosnero, a senior for the Mustangs, finished the 2.9-mile Crystal Springs course in a time of 16:21. Ochoa, a sophomore for the Spartans, finished in a time of 16:37.
Limosnero and Ochoa will now compete at the 2022 CIF State Cross Country Championships at Woodward Park in Fresno on Saturday, Nov. 26, in the Division IV finals.
King City Head Coach Miguel Zamudio praised Limosnero for his great effort, the rest of the Mustang boys’ team and the two Lady Mustangs who ran as individuals.
“Israel (Limosnero) improved on his personal best time by a minute and a half on the Crystal Springs course,” Zamudio said. “We, the coaches, are extremely proud of Israel and the team. A State qualification is a great way to seal Israel’s senior cross country season.”
Zamudio added, “Joaquin Arriaga started off the season and became our second best runner. Jason Garcia was right behind Joaquin this year. Yahira Torres ran well for us in the girls race and Alexa Flores ran a personal record.”
Times for the Mustangs were: Arriaga, 17:37; Garcia, 17:39; Andrew Quiahua, 18:14; Adrian Hernandez, 18:29; Rafael Vasquez, 18:33; and Rodrigo Santiago, 18:35. Torres ran a time of 21:20 in the girls Division IV race, and Flores had a time of 22:08.
Ochoa becomes only the second boy from Gonzales to qualify for the State Meet and the first runner to qualify since 1999. He also set a school record on the Crystal Springs course with his time. The previous best time was held by Spartan senior runner Takehiro Anzai.
“Gio (Ochoa) understood that he had to go out hard with the lead runners at the start and maintain a strong pace,” said Gonzales Head Coach Margie Daniels. “It was very exciting to see him execute and be where he had to be to secure a State Meet berth.”
Senior Angie Ybarra ran in the Division IV girls race and finished in a time of 23:10. She ran three seasons for the Spartan girls team.
