The Willow Glen Resident

Photograph by Skye Dunlap

In the Lead: Willow Glen's Eyasu Kebede led the Rams to the league championship by finishing first in the each of the last two meets. Chris Watkins is running hot on the heels of Willow Glen's star junior.

Rams run to West Valley dual meet championship

By Dick Sparrer

Mike Galindo knew what his Willow Glen runners had to do to stay in the running for the dual meet cross-country title in the West Valley Division of the Blossom Valley Athletic League this year--just run.

And run they did.

The Rams ran past Andrew Hill 17-38 and Lincoln 18-37 to coast to the championship this fall.

The two wins helped Willow Glen complete a 6-0 dual season. The Rams advanced to the BVAL finals set for Nov. 3 at Crystal Springs.

Eyasu Kebede led the Rams to that league championship by finishing first in the each of the last two meets.

Kebede covered the 2.6-mile distance at Santa Teresa Park in 15:24 to lead the Rams to the lopside win over Hill.

Kamal Abdelbaki was second in 15:39, with Chris Watkins third in 15:40 and Noe Torres fifth in 16:09.

Willow Glen nailed its sixth straight league win a week later with the 18-37 win over Lincoln. Kebede led the Rams to the win by finishing first in 15:58 on the 2.8-mile course at Alum Rock Park.

Watkins finished second in 16:27 for the Rams, with Abdelbaki third in 16:39 and Torres fifth in 17:27.

Kebede came back with a solid fourth-place finish in the junior race at the St. Francis-Foothill Invitational. The sensational Willow Glen junior covered the 3.0-mile course in 16:59.

In girls' action, Janette Najera finished second in 22:09 to lead the Willow Glen effort against Lincoln.

The Presentation girls romped to a 23-34 win over Silver Creek in the Mt. Hamilton Division of the BVAL last week. Julia Ruiz covered the 2.89-mile course at Alum Rock Park in 19:58 to finish first for the Panthers, and seven in the overall Mt. Hamilton field for the day.

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