Roberts takes 2nd in Southern Cal; Vaqueros advance to State

Ian Roberts took second place in a field of 199 runners on Friday, leading SBCC's men to an 11^th-place finish in the Southern Cal Cross Country Championships on a warm day at Central Park in Saugus.

The Vaquero men qualified for the State Championships on Nov. 23 at Fresno's Woodward Park. SBCC's women finished 18^th and also earned a state berth. This is the second straight year that both Santa Barbara teams have qualified for State.

Roberts, a sophomore from Ventura High, has finished third, first, first and second in his last four races.

Omar Caro of San Bernardino Valley won the 4-mile race in 20:44. Roberts was second in 20:55, edging Steven Martinez of San Diego Mesa by 0.3 seconds. Alex Heuchert was 36^th for the Vaqueros.

"Ian ran real well up front," said coach Scott Fickerson. "We got a solid race from the men, who did a good job of packing (running in a group)."

San Bernardino Valley won its eighth straight So Cal title with 53 points, followed by Orange Coast (88) and El Camino (121). The Vaqueros were 11^th at 329.

Southern Cal Championships
At Central Park
Saugus
MEN
 Team (28 teams, 14 advance) -- 1, San Bernardino Valley 53. 2, Orange Coast 88. 3, East L.A. 121. 11, SBCC 329.
 Individual (4 miles, 199 finishers) – 1, Omar Caro, SBVC, 20:44. 2, Ian Roberts, SBCC, 20:55.6. 3, Steven Martinez, San Diego Mesa, 20:55.9.
 SBCC runners -- 2, Roberts 20:55. 36, Alex Heuchert 22:03. 87, Martin Montes 22:55. 97, Brian Santiago 23:09. 120, Andy Hernandez 23:37. 146, Zeph Alva 24:18. 163, Octavio Magdaleno 25:10.