The 2007 James Logan Cross Country team hosted a banquet Thursday night to congratulate the team on another successful season, even though that expression was somewhat exaggerated.
The Boys Varsity team lost for the first time in years in the MVALS last month. Washington(27 points) had an astonishing display as they took the title with 5 of the 9 top finishers supporting one of their jerseys. American High School(67 points) reeled in second place and Logan with 82 points rounded out the top 3 teams. Martin Mwangi of Newark Memorial High School was the top finisher with an jaw-dropping 18:20 time at Coyote Hills. The Colt’s lone top 10 finisher was senior Hector Hernandez. Logan’s seven participants for the event showcased Hernandez, Miguel Rivas, Belal Mogaddedi, Ravi Patel, Andy An, Shaun Shutes and Nick Shutes.
The Girls Varsity team finished 4th in the MVALs. Irvington won with 40 points, one point less than Washington to edge them out for the title. Logan’s Gabriella Stange finished 6th among 40 runners and the rest of the Logan’s finishes was scattered on the final score sheet. Logan’s partakers included Stange, Donnise Powell, Alex Stange, Anna Acosta and Jami Hardy.
Despite no first place finishes for neither Varsity teams, the Junior Varsity Boy’s Cross Country team managed to sneak by American to win the title. American had 52 points and Logan finished with 51. Logan’s Gabe Nyugen, Ricardo Cerda and Daryl Bundang were amongst the top 10 finishers among 80 attendees.
The Junior Varsity Boy’s team were fortunate to pick up the victory, but it was just the opposite for the Junior Varsity Girl’s team, who lost a heart-breaker to Irvington, 48-51. Logan’s Ly Ho was the top finisher of the race and Vanessa Lam finished third amongst 83 runners.
The Freshman Boy’s team also dealt with disappointment. Washington knocked off Logan 36-40 despite Logan’s four top 10 finishers.
Senior and 4th year veteran Daryl Bundang noticed the difference between this year and the previous years.
“It’s unlike the other three years I’ve been here,” Bundang said. “We have always been at the top.”
Despite not finishing at the top, first year Cross Country Coach Sam Cavallaro had only good things to say about the runners. He also expressed special gratitude towards the seniors.
“Thanks for all the help through the season,” Cavallaro said in his dedication page of the 2007 Cross Country book. “Seniors, good luck in the future in what ever it [may] be, you will be missed. You have exemplified what the sport is about.”
There have been only 12 runners that have attended Cross Country all four years: Daryl Bundang, Hector Hernandez, Emmanuel Velasquez, Shaun Shutes, Nick Shutes, Andy An, Michael Cheng, Ravi Patel, Sonny Singh, Alex Stange, Jami Hardy and Ricardo Cerda.
Coach Cavallaro left one final word of inspiration for the 2007 Cross Country team.
“Remember, you don’t get what you wish for, you get what you work for.”
Posted by Courier at 19:28:10. Filed under: Sports [Printer friendly version]
Comments