Warrior boys second at Mt. SAC meet, two points from first

Fallbrook High School’s boys cross-country team finished second in the sweepstakes division race at the Mt. SAC Invitational meet October 21 in Walnut and came within two points of first place.

Clovis West won the race with 97 points while Fallbrook had 99 points. Otay Ranch was third with 135 points.

“Just about pulled it out,” said Fallbrook coach Marty Hauck.

A total of 19 teams consisting of a combined 133 runners participated in the Warriors’ race. Bret Hasvold had Fallbrook’s top time on the 2.91-mile course, finishing ninth in the race at 15:38.

Vinny Granata finished 17th at 15:53 and Josh Smith placed 32nd with a time of 16:34. Todd Van Duzer was delayed when his shoe came off and he had to stop to put the shoe back on, but he still finished 37th with a time of 16:43.

“If the shoe hadn’t come off we would have been in first place,” Hauck said.

Tim Eves was 43rd with a time of 16:52, making him the final scored Fallbrook runner. Kevin Strickfaden finished 52nd at 17:04 and Forrest Whitfield crossed the finish line at 17:11 to take 54th place.

“It was a very strong race on their part,” Hauck said.

The top 25 finishers in each race received medals, and in addition to Hasvold and Granata three other Warriors earned medals in the junior varsity race. Junior Sam Liner was sixth in the JV contest at 17:37, sophomore Uriel Aguirre placed 11th with a time of 17:54, and freshman Richard Wojan finished 15th at 18:58.