Woodward Park

GLENDALE — For a program steeped in cross-country tradition, the goal in every race for the Flintridge Prep boys is winning. Coming off 15 straight Prep League titles and state titles in 2002 and 2004, the Rebels came into Saturday's CIF State Finals at Woodward Park in Fresno with winning on their mind. In the final race of the year, the Rebels came up just short of that goal, finishing in a respectable third-place in Division V with a team time of 1 hour 25 minutes 54 seconds and 116 points.

GLENDALE— It's now or never for three area high school cross-country teams. After a season full of grueling inclines, steep declines and exhausting races, the grand finale is upon us. The Crescenta Valley High girls' and the Flintridge Prep girls' and boys' teams will run one final time, as they participate in the CIF-State Finals today at Woodward Park in Fresno. "I think we are going to be ready to run well," said Falcons Coach Mark Evans, whose team comes into finals as the sixth-ranked team in the state.

Participating in the Clovis Invitational last Saturday at Woodward Park in Fresno, the Crescenta Valley girls' varsity cross country team won the sweepstakes race with 109 points. The Falcons barely got by Davis who finished second with 110 points. CV's Rachel Lange came in third overall with a time of 17:59. Teammates Claire Collison took 10th place (18:36), followed by Michelle Callister in 30th place (19:14), Shelby Pock in 36th place (19:21) and Rachelle Blinoff-Mudd in 46th place (19:42)

It was no ordinary day for Crescenta Valley High School star runner Nathan Sellers at the CIF State Cross Country Championships at Fresno. Coming into the state finals, he had already placed second in the Southern Section CIF Division I, proving him to be a contender in the final race. The field of runners lined up and after two false starts, Nathan was still on his toes, looking relaxed and confident. His easy and relaxed manner helped motivate and inspire his teammates to rally around him all year long.

state column"Nothing can quite duplicate a state meet race." -- Crescenta Valley Coach Mark Evans It was 5 in the morning. Let me reiterate, it was 5 in the freaking morning! I can't remember the last time I was waking up that early, rather than stumbling to bed that late. Nonetheless, that's when I awoke from three hours of slumber to begin my trek north to the 2005 State Cross-Country Championships. It was dark when News-Press photographer Dan Watson and I began our journey and dark when we ended it. In between the dawn and dusk that served as bookmarks to that 13-hour day, I experienced the chaos and pageantry of my first-ever state meet.

state preview for saturdayCross-country: CV's Sellers, plus four area squads will compete in prestigious state meet at Woodward Park today.GLENDALE -- They took on Southern California's best last week. Now they'll see the best the state has to offer. Crescenta Valley High's Nathan Sellers will join the Falcon girls' team, the Flintridge Prep boys' and girls' squads and the La Cañada boys' program at today's CIF State Cross-Country Championships at Woodward Park in Fresno.

ERIK BOAL When you're so heavily involved in taking care of the plethora of responsibilities that come with transitioning from one sports season to another -- in this case, fall to winter -- it is easy to lose sight of how gratifying this profession can be. For yours truly, on my short list of the most rewarding events to cover is the annual CIF-State Cross-Country Championships, which took place Saturday at Woodward...

Erik Boal Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy senior Joanne So calls it "uncharted territory." The members of the Flintridge Prep girls' team refer to it as "Hawaii." Crescenta Valley High senior Ben Kessen looks at it as a history-making opportunity. And for the individuals who comprise the Flintridge Prep boys' squad, it is their shot at redemption. Whatever ways or methods by which this select group of local athletes chooses to identify the 17th annual CIF-State Cross-Country Championships, the bottom line remains for all of them -- the stakes don't get any bigger than they do today.

Erik Boal Kirk Nishiyama saw the writing on the wall, and he didn't like the direction his Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy cross-country team was headed approaching the midway point of the 2003 season. Nishiyama knew his squad had the potential to qualify for the CIF-State Cross-Country Championships for the first time since 1995, but he felt his athletes weren't pushing themselves to their full potential, and, as a result, were setting themselves up for a disappointing outcome at the Division IV final.

Erik Boal Just in case anybody thought the championship-caliber performance turned in by the Flintridge Prep boys' team at the Nov. 23 CIF Southern Section Division V final was a fluke, the Rebels made sure to erase any doubts with their effort at Saturday's 16th annual CIF-State Cross-Country Championships. And just in case its legacy as one of the elite small-school programs in the state wasn't already solidified -- which, according to the division preview in the meet program, it wasn't, after Flintridge Prep was referred to as the Tologs, the nickname of intracity counterpart Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy -- Ingrid Herskind's squad was more than happy to add another chapter.