Bartlett, Owens guide Vaqueros to 2nd straight State Finals appearance

Sophomore Nicole Bartlett led the SBCC women with a 45th-place effort in 20:27 at Friday's Southern Cal Women's Cross Country Championships on a warm day at Central Park in Saugus.

Mia Owens helped Santa Barbara finish 18th in Southern Cal and earn its second straight trip to the State Finals.

November 8, 2013

Sophomore Nicole Bartlett led the SBCC women with a 45^th-place effort in 20:27 at Friday's Southern Cal Women's Cross Country Championships on a warm day at Central Park in Saugus.

Laura Aceves of East L.A. won the 5K race in 18:35.

Mia Owens finished 79th in 21:05 and the Vaqueros grabbed the 18th and final qualifying spot for the State Finals in Fresno on Nov. 23.

Ian Roberts took second place in a field of 199 runners on Friday, leading SBCC's men to an 11^th-place finish. The Vaquero men qualified for the State Championships for the third straight year. The women are making their second straight trip to the State Finals. 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.

San Bernardino Valley won its eighth straight So Cal title with 53 points, followed by Orange Coast (88) and El Camino (121).

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.

WOMEN
Team (28 teams, 18 advance) -- 1, Orange Coast 58. 18, SBCC 394.
Individual (5K) – 1, Laura Aceves, East L.A., 18:35.
SBCC runners -- 45, Nicole Bartlett 20:27. 79, Mia Owens 21:05. 86, Katie Huntington 21:09. 90, Alexa Sanchez 21:16. 118, Dana Grevenkamp 21:46. 191, Elethea Davies 25:41. 193, Rachel Zook 26:12.