The Campbell Reporter

Sports

Habatmu runs to crown, leads Prospect girls to West Valley cross country title

By Kevin Sparrer

Individual champion Rebecca Habatmu finished first individually to lead the Prospect girls cross country team to the Santa Teresa Division championship at the Blossom Valley Athletic League finals held Oct. 29 at Crystal Springs.

Habatmu covered the 2.95-mile course in 17:51 to win the division race going away. She finished second to only Leland's Stephanie Barnett, who won the Mt. Hamilton Division title and the race overall in 17:36. Habatmu ended up almost three minutes ahead of her nearest division rival.

Alexandra Schindler (fourth, 21:52) was next for the Panthers, followed by Alexandra Lotz (sixth, 22:02), Riley Aterio (eighth, 22:58) and Melissa Rosanno (17th, 24:45).

Del Mar ran with only five girls, but still managed to take third in the West Valley Division behind Racheal Geremew (third, 21:23) and Susana Guzman (11th, 23:16). Brooke Kendell (16th, 24:42), Loral Uber (32nd, 27:38) and Sophia Guzman (36th, 28:33) rounded out the scoring for Del Mar.

Running in the Santa Teresa Division finals was Westmont, whose boys struggled a bit and finished seventh. Morgan Chappell (ninth, 17:16) led the running. Gabriel Pagan (21st, 17:53) was second for the Warriors with Trent Ueunten (23rd, 18:05), Nick Pagan (39th, 19:16) and Justin Le (41st, 19:43) completing the scoring.

The Prospect boys took second in the West Valley Division behind Pioneer. Alex Collins (fourth, 17:55) was the lead Panther followed by Nick Cotter (10th, 18:24), Richard Correa-Sorich (13th, 18:27), Joel Palermo (14th, 18:36) and Matt Kreige (15th, 18:43).

Del Mar also took part in the West Valley Division race, finishing seventh as a team. Noah Richardson (20th, 19:03) was the first Don in, followed by Philop Colonna (26th, 19:45), Sean O'Halloran (27th, 19:46), Scott Cooper (34th, 20:40) and Juan Alcala (45th, 22:59).

The Central Coast Section finals will be held at Crystal Springs on Nov. 10.