2009 James H. Jenkins Male Athlete Of The Year:

Fittingly perhaps, it seems as if four years have gone by fast for Crescenta Valley High’s Zack Torres.

In the fall of 2005, he was recognized as the fastest freshman in California cross-country.

And in the spring of 2009, he graduated from Crescenta Valley with a laundry list of Pacific League titles, all-this and all-that accolades and a spot running for UCLA awaiting him.

During his senior year, he finished second in the CIF Southern Section Division I cross-country finals and second at state, all of this coming after a repeat as league champion and before he dove across a San Diego finish line to tie for 15th and an All-American honor at the Footlocker Nationals. He was All-CIF and All-State and All-American and, for a third straight year, the All-Area Boys’ Cross-Country Runner of the Year.

As the year turned to spring, Torres played his last and best season of baseball, as he was nearly flawless in the field at second base and led the Falcons with a .378 batting average. And in track, he had his best year yet, winning both the 1,600 meters and 3,200 at the league finals and qualifying for CIF in both, before concentrating on the 3,200 and accomplishing his goal of reaching the CIF-State Track and Field Championships in Fresno. A long year of balancing three sports took its toll on Torres, who struggled to a lackluster state finish. He soon rebounded at the USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Oregon, reaffirming himself with a 12th-place finish in a 5,000 meters race.

For his efforts, Torres was, for the second consecutive year, unanimously voted the 2009 James H. Jenkins Male Athlete of the Year.

News-Press Sports Editor Grant Gordon recently sat down with Torres to talk about his four years, the fact that he never seems satisfied at the end of race, playing for his dad, Phil, in baseball, balancing three sports and moving on to UCLA.

Here are excepts from the interview:

Grant Gordon: Looking back, is it safe to say this was your best year, athletically?

Zack Torres: Yeah, I was a lot more determined this year. I think that this year I put a lot of hard work into everything. Everything I did revolved around making myself and my team better. I’d say that I really focused on my athletics and I really focused on ... representing CV in the best way.

GG: Was this year the most fun for you, though?