Woodward Park

TODAY FOOTBALL ?California vs Crescenta Valley in CIF Southern Section Southeast Division first-round game, 7:30 p.m. ?St. Francis at Quartz Hill in CIF Southern Section Western Division first-round game, 7:30 p.m. ? WOMEN?S BASKETBALL ?Irvine Valley College at Glendale Community College, 6 p.m. ? SATURDAY BOYS? WATER POLO ?Crescenta Valley vs. Rio Mesa in CIF Southern Section Division VI championship match at William Woollett Jr. Aquatic Center in Irvine, 10:45 a.m. ?

For the first time in the history of Crescenta Valley High, a cross country team will compete in the CIF Southern Section State Cross Country Championships this Saturday at Woodward Park in Fresno. The team will make the trip courtesy of finishing in sixth place at the CIF-SS Finals last Saturday at Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut. In addition, one member of the boys' team, senior Nathan Sellers, will travel to Fresno to compete as an individual. Members of the girls' team who are advancing to the state meet are seniors Makenzie Mabry, Allison Baker and Anna Ryan, junior Shelby Pock, sophomore Rachel Lange and freshmen Michelle Callister and Rachel Mudd.

stateCross-country: Glendale College fares well at state meet, especially its women's team.GLENDALE -- After capturing the Southern California Championships two weeks ago, it was Glendale Community College's men's cross-country team that was supposed to create the biggest headlines at Saturday's California Community College State Cross-Country Championships at Fresno's Woodward Park. Instead, it was the women's team that stole the spotlight from the men, thanks to an impressive third-place finish on the 3.1-mile course.

Just a season ago, Crescenta Valley High cross-country runner Claire Collison was a late addition to the Falcons' CIF State-Championship squad. This season, it was Collison who led the Falcons to an even greater season, culminating once again with a state berth. "I think it was pretty phenomenal," said Crescenta Valley Coach Mark Evans of Collison's year. "To say, at the beginning of the season, that she'd be in the top 10 in the state in Division I, nobody would've predicted that."

Erik Boal FRESNO -- Anita Siraki made no bones about it, she was nervous. Maybe even scared. But her anxiety had nothing to do with whether or not she would win another girls' Division I title at the 14th annual CIF-State Cross-Country Championships. Instead, it was how she had to win it. The Hoover High senior found herself in the unenviable position of being caught among a large pack of runners in the early moments of Saturday's race at Woodward Park in Fresno, but once she broke free, her only opponent became the clock.

Kyle Bueckert, Senior, Maranatha The Pasadena-area's No. 2 runner placed 21st (16:21) at the CIF State Division IV Meet at Woodward Park. Previously, Bueckert was third (14:40) at the CIF Southern Section Division IV championships at Mt. San Antonio College, while winning the Olympic League championship (15:57.5) at Fullerton's Craig Park and leading his squad to a team title. Bueckert also won the Bellarmine-Jefferson Blue Division race (15:10.55), was fourth (15:26) at the San Gabriel Valley Championships and 10th (15:14)

GLENDALE — After falling three points shy of a second straight state championship in 2008, the reloaded Glendale Community College women’s cross-country team will be back on the same course at Woodward Park in Fresno at 10 a.m. on Saturday to take on reigning state champion Orange Coast College and all other comers at the 2009 California Community College Championships. Regaining the title is the clear goal, as it has been since the season began. The Vaqueros men’s team will run at 11 on Saturday and Vaqueros Coach Eddie Lopez outlined a third-place finish as the team’s objective.