Buchanan’s Elle Lomelí gets back on track as Bears claim 25th section cross country title

Buchanan High’s Elle Lomelí not only ran away from the Division I field in the CIF Central Section cross country championships on Thursday, she escaped two seasons’ worth of bad luck that has kept her from competing at 100%.

The junior broke away from the pack at about the 2-mile mark and cruised to her first cross country section title with a 17:44.05 time on the 5-kilometer course that will also serve as host for the Nov. 25 state championships.

“Honestly, it was such a relief and just such a rewarding feeling because I’ve had such a challenging season,” said Lomelí. “I just haven’t felt like I’ve helped the team out as much as I would have liked throughout the season.”

Thursday, Lomelí contributed at the right time as Buchanan prepared to defend its state championship. The Bears swept the first five scoring spots for a perfect 15 points. Four of those top finishers, including Lomelí, are underclassmen.

Senior Stefania Sesock, who won the TRAC individual title last week, finished second in 18:18.35. She was followed by freshman Molly Sundgren (18:25.5), sophomore Taylor Torosian (18:26.6), and junior Avery Hutchison (18:33.79).

Buchanan is the two-time defending state champion, and ranked third in the state.

Seeing her teammates sweep the top five spots, said Lomelí, “was really rewarding.”

“Hard work pays off, and patience is always a super great thing to have in this sport,” she said.

Lomelí did not run in the TRAC finals due to illness. Last month at the Clovis ASICS meet, she dropped out after the first mile due to breathing problems.

“I just knew I had to keep trusting my coaches,” said Lomelí. “I’m obviously not the only athlete they’ve had, and I had a lot of faith that they knew what they were talking about.

“I knew if I just kept following what they were telling me – and knowing the most important races are at the end of the season and not at the time I was experiencing a hardship – that I could just keep fighting through the season and get to those races that really mattered for the girls.”

Thursday, she was smiling on the makeshift stage where the top 10 individual winners and the top two teams (TRAC rival Clovis North was second with 62 points).

“I was just super happy that I was able to make a statement for myself and also for the girls today,” said Lomelí.

This was the seventh consecutive section title – and 25th overall – for Buchanan.

Lomelí was one of four runners who won individual and team titles.

Highland High (Bakersfield) senior Mía Torrecillas pocketed her third individual section championship to help the Scots claim the Division II title; Immanuel sophomore Clara Riddle won her second Division V title and the Eagles won their second straight championship; and, Clovis East senior Carter Spradling took a first as the Timberwolves won their first section title.

Three titles for Highland’s Torrecillas

Torrecillas was nursing a foot injury that limited her training in the week leading up to the Division II championships, so she figured she’d run a bit conservatively. She came in with a best of 17:21 in the 5k.

She coasted to first with an 18:10.42 time that was almost a minute ahead of the runner up, Bullard High sophomore Isabella Ramírez (19:02.37).

“It was basically take the win and just see where I’m at,” said Torrecillas, whose time was the second-fastest of the day.

She took the lead at the start and stretched her advantage throughout.

“I’m very confident in my abilities, and I know what I can do,” said Torrecillas. “I know that I’m faster than last year, so it’s just going out there and running my race.

“No matter if there’s people in front of me or people behind me, I feel like it’s just up to me (to determine) how the race goes.”

Torrecillas still considers her Division III title as a sophomore the most special of her three section titles.

Would she like to run against Division I competition?

“It would be nice to compete against them. They’re a great group of girls,” said Torrecillas. “I would love to go up to Division I, but this is my last year so that won’t happen. I raced against them during track, so I think that’s good for me.”

In other girls’ action

– Senior Magdalena Marcelo placed fifth (19:41.73) to help Monache High capture the Division III title. Templeton junior Frannie Perry successfully defended her individual title (19:00.87).

– Junior Ashley Villafana took sixth (20:06.56) to help Kerman High win its second straight Division IV title. Villafana was first last year. Morro Bay freshman Shelby Taylor won in 19:09.02.

Parlier’s Ivan Torres gets major reception

Parlier High senior Ivan Torres not only captured the Division IV title that evaded him last year (he was second in 2022), but he drew the most support on Thursday as the Panthers’ cheerleading squad and other classmates lined the finish line.

“His leadership teacher asked if people can go to his races and I said, ‘Yes, we can get a bus or something,” said Parlier coach Joe Reyes. “We tried to keep it a secret, but just too many people knew about it.”

Reyes, who returned to coaching this year after finding out that the team had no coach, watched Torres take a quick lead and extend it. He won in 15:53.23.

“It feels amazing,” said Torres about the reception. The support is so wonderful. I really appreciate it.”

Torres said he started preparing for Thursday’s section meet after finishing second last year.

“It feels amazing,” he said about the section title. “I’m thankful for the training and the coaching and the people who supported me.”

Torres hopes to place among the top 10 at the state meet.

Bakersfield’s Del Oro captured the section title with 60 points, ahead of Justin Garza High (88 points) and McFarland (108 points).

Matilda Torres boys claim Division III

Their times weren’t what Matilda Torres High coach José Herrera expected, but it was enough for the Toros to cruise to the Division III title a year after winning the Division IV championship.

Sophomore Benjamín Fernández led the effort with a second-place time of 15:48.99, ahead of Fresno High senior Tyler Speir (16:05.52).

Neither could catch up to Templeton senior Joshua Bell, who won with the fastest time of the day (15:12.7).

“They weren’t the times we were looking for, but the one that matters is next weekend,” said Herrera, pointing to the state meet where his team will run up against Division III heavyweights like Oakdale, Dana Hills and and Santa Margarita.

“At least they got the title. I’m proud of them,” he added.

Matilda Torres got support from seniors Hunter Hannah (5th, 16:14.6) and Ozzy Hernández (10th, 16:39.15) to post 37 points. Porterville was a distant second with 121 points.

In other boys’ action

– El Diamante senior Devin Ibarra, who was second last year, finished first in Division II with a time of 15:49.6 after battling throughout with second-place finisher Mauricio Herrera, a sophomore (15:56.63). Monache won the team title with 51 points, just ahead of Reedley (52 points).

– Yosemite placed four runners among the top five to roll to the Division V title with 22 points, ahead of Central Valley Christian (53 points). Fresno Christian freshman Blake Bay won in 16:11.16.

– Division II: Monache is ranked #1 in this division and is expected to easily win after finishing second in this section last year. El Diamante senior Devin Ibarra was second in the section meet last year. Reedley is #2 and Bullard #3. Tulare Western, #5, is the defending champion.