Boys Cross Country: Perez wins again

Runner of the year: Jayson Perez
School: South El Monte
Year: Junior
Notable: Perez earned his second consecutive runner of the year title, advancing to the CIF-SS Division III finals. The junior sealed his spot after completing the grueling Mt. San Antonio College course in 15 minutes, 48 seconds at the CIF-SS divisional preliminaries. He also won the Mission Valley League individual title. But he missed on advancing to the CIF State meet for the second consecutive season after finishing 26th with a time of 16:09.
Coach of the year: Don Summer, Glendora
First Team
Anthony Castro, Glendora, So.
Austin Goodheart, Glendora, Jr.
Sergio Rodriguez, Los Altos, Sr.
Chris Ramsey, Glendora, Sr.
Victor Serrano, Rosemead, Sr.
Jonathan Taylor, Rowland, Sr.
Second Team
Paul Balderas, Diamond Ranch, Jr.
Corey Bullock, Glendora, Sr.
Jesus Corral, Baldwin Park, Sr.
Jonathan Garcia, Damien, So.
Kyle MacClellan, Arroyo, Sr.
Christian Sanchez, Walnut, Sr.
4 Comments
Leave a comment
Photos



*you mean East SGV :)
This year, Jayson deserved to be Athlete of the Year, just as much as last year he did not. Sergio is just as clearly the second best runner in the SGV.
Last year, as Steve notes, the Trib seemed to base the entire choice on who advanced the furthest. Jayson was the only SGV runner to go to State, off a great PR at CIF Div III finals, but he was slower than several other SGV runners throughout the year, including CIF finals.
This year, Jayson and Sergio ran four times in the same meet, once in the same race. Jayson was the best three of the four times and in their one head to head meeting at Brea, Perez won the meet and beat Rodriguez by 46 seconds.
They were both league champs in roughly equal leagues. Jayson was first at Brea, Rosemead, and his race at Mt.Sac, and was unbeaten until CIF. Sergio's best was his 5th place against a strong field at the SGV Invite at Mt.Sac, and he finished well back in several other meets.
Sergio did finish 4 seconds ahead of Jayson at CIF Finals, but both runners were well off their bests that day.
Congrats to both Sergio and Jayson for great seasons, but if you add it all up, Jayson Perez is clearly the SGV's Athlete of the Year.
Now let's see if they can take their great form to the track...
I do give more credence to post-season numbers than the invitational times over the season. But Jayson Perez had the best time in the area this seaso, with his mark at CIF-SS prelims. Yes, Sergio Rodriguez was quicker than him at CIF-SS finals, but in my opinion not enough to overlook the area's top time of the year. Now, if Sergio would have been the area's lone qualifier to the state meet, like Jayson had the year before, that would have been different. But he wasn't, so he wasn't.
Fred,
Jason is a great runner! However, Sergio Rodriguez had a better time than him at CIF finals...Last year you said that it is all about the post season! Sergio ran much better than jason at CIF finals and is also the Miramonte league MVP thus deserving the runner of the year merit!