Panthers Win Second Meet of Season
The Panther women barely made the start of their race due to Saturday morning South Bay traffic, the men enjoyed a little more warm-up time but faced a rapidly rising mercury as the mid-day temperatures for Livermore were expected to close to 100 degree. The course at Las Positas College loops multiple times through dry, barren agricultural fields but also provided the Panthers a chance to work on team grouping and compete over a slightly longer course measured at 4.06 miles. Sophomore Jesus Avalos let early leaders from DeAnza College and Diablo Vallley College including the Northern California 5000m champion Cameron Reyes of Diablo Valley College. After the second tour of the hill just before 3 miles, Avalos surged to the lead and took the win by four seconds. His time of 21:28 is slightly better than his performance last week in Fresno. Freshman Isaac Gensel continues to excel in his first season with the Panthers. He was fifth overall placing only behind sophomores. He was timed in 21:46. Luis Mendoza enjoyed a better outing this week placing eighth 22:16 followed by freshman Francisco Maciel in ninth at 22:19. Also competing better this week was Luis Meza in twelfth (22:29) and freshman Rigo Garcia (22:33) in thirteenth both picking up top 14 honors. Freshamn Jiovanni Garcia of North Monterey County High School has been a rock inside the Panther top 7 placing fifteenth overall here in 22:45.
The Panthers will head inland to Modesto for the MJC Pirate Invitational on Friday, September 27th.
