By Eric Terrazas, SGVN
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The California High School boys cross country team has experienced early season success, which has helped the Condors achieve a No. 7 ranking in the latest CIF-Southern Section Division 1 poll.

The Condors hope their promising start will lead to things much bigger than just a Top 10 rating.

On Sept. 8, California captured first place at the Great Cow Race in Cerritos by posting a school-record team time of 75 minutes, 59 seconds. A week later at the Woodbridge Classic in Costa Mesa, the Condors took sixth place in the sweepstakes race with a mark of 76:01.

“We ran pretty much the same time two weeks in a row,” California coach Tony DiMarco said. “That’s pretty good. The sweepstakes race (at Woodbridge) is a quick race. It’s nice to get into a big meet like that and be able to run well.

“This is the highest ranking we’ve had. I think we can finish in the top five if everything goes right. In Division 1, you never know because there’s a lot of quality teams.”

California’s top runners include juniors Jose Pacheco and Matlazomatli Rojas and seniors Sam Bautista, Leo Corcoran, Steven Vera, Joshua Roldan and Chris Ramirez.

Pacheco has already run a personal-best race of 15 minutes this year.

Other 2012 personal records already set include Corcoran, 15:11; Bautista, 15:14; Rojas, 15:16; Ramirez, 15:17; Vera, 15:19 and Roldan, 15:20.

CONTINUE READING HIGH SCHOOL CROSS COUNTRY: Condors appear poised to make a run