The 8th annual Don Bosco Tech Cross Country Invitational will be held at the Santa Fe Dam Recreational Park in Irwindale.  This invitational has grown over the last few years.  Sixty five schools and over 2,500 athletes will participate in grade level races, in which first, second, and third place team awards for both boys and girls will be given in 3 divisions:  Large, Medium, and Small Schools.  All runners will traverse a 3-mile long course on a variety of terrain, including bike paths, dirt trails, and grass.  The first boys’ race (Seniors) begins at 8:30 am and go off every hour after that; while the senior girls race at 9:00 am and all other female races start at each hour.  The following is a team synopsis per gender and Divisional Breakdown:

BOYS:

El Rancho (Pico Rivera), ranked #4 in CIF-Southern Section Division 1, returns five from a group that finished 8th in Division 1 Finals last year.  Led by Seniors Pedro DeAlba and Jovani Rodriguez, Junior Daniel Herrera, and Sophomore Juan Rodriguez, the Dons are the favorites in the Large Schools Division.  Looking to push El Rancho for top honors is Upland, ranked #7 in Division 1.  The Highlanders top three scorers Seniors John Guzman, Tyler Brady, and Nick Johnson give Upland a formidable nucleus.  Look out for Sophomore Albert Cisneros, who could be a key if Upland is to defeat El Rancho.  However, don’t count out the 9th ranked Arcadia Apaches. Senior Renaud Poizat is among the top seniors in the Southland for the upcoming season and leads a super-deep squad that finished 8th in State Division I last year.  Super-Soph Amar Moussa from Arcadia could challenge for top honors in his grade level race.

In the Medium Schools Division, St. John Bosco (Bellflower) returns their so-called “Junior” varsity team without a single senior at the top level.  The Braves, ranked #2 in CIF-SS Division 3, are a good bet to challenge the Large School Division powers for the best team time today.  They have one of the better 1-2 punches in the state with Carlos Martinez and Mario Flores.  The other Juniors Arturo Trejo and Anthony Fierros should push Bosco’s depth over the top.  Foothill (Santa Ana) finished sixth in State Division II and is at the top of the CIF polls with a ranking of 3rd in Division 3.  Fortunately, four athletes return from last year's state squad.  Soph Nathaniel Cushing-Murray leads the Knights, who will challenge St. John Bosco in the Junior and Sophomore grade level races.  The host, Don Bosco Tech (Rosemead) ranked #8 in D 3, looks to compete against these squads for a team plaque.  The Tigers are led by Senior Joel Tibbet.  North Torrance and Torrance, two South Bay powerhouses from CIF-SS Division 2, are set to pace themselves for team hardware at the conclusion of today’s meet.

The first, second, and third place team awards are up for grabs in the Small Schools Division.  Pasadena Poly (ranked #3 in CIF Division 5) comes in as the favorite, holding the edge over Lancaster Desert Christian.

GIRLS:

Serrano (Phelan), paced by Sophomores Jessica Feuerstein and Danielle Henry, finished 9th in CIF-Southern Section D 1 Finals last year.  The High Desert squad is currently ranked 7th in CIF and the favorite in the Large Schools Division.  Redlands leads a group of schools all within striking distance of each other.  Arcadia and Upland look to challenge for team awards.

Sophomore Ariane Gushue and Juniors Carley Gross and Allie Rigby are the top runners from Foothill (Santa Ana), which returns five from a team that finished 2nd in State Division II.  The Knights are the best team in CIF-SS Division 3 and will battle South Hills (West Covina), ranked #2, for the team title in the Medium Schools Division.  The Lady Huskies’ squad boasts the top runner from the San Gabriel Valley in Junior Jessica Nunez.  Her teammate Senior Amanda Camarillo is the other pacesetter on a squad that barely missed the state meet.  Another San Gabriel Valley team, St. Lucy’s Priory (Glendora), has the talent to follow those teams to the awards ceremony.  The all girls school is currently ranked 8th in Division 3.

In the Small Schools Division, Ontario Christian (ranked #10 in the Pre-Season CIF Divison 5 Polls) should earn the top honors among schools from CIF Divisions 4 and 5.  Twins Regina and Sabrina Lopez from Sacred Heart of Jesus in Los Angeles should be able to compete against the top girls for individual honors.

Large Schools
Arcadia (Boys/Girls)
Diamond Bar (Boys/Girls)
Don Lugo (Boys/Girls)
El Rancho (Boys/Girls)
Etiwanda (Boys/Girls)
Glendale (Boys/Girls)
Glendora (Boys)
Huntington Beach (Boys/Girls)
La Mirada (Boys/Girls)
Loara (Boys/Girls)
Mark Keppel (Boys/Girls)
Paramount (Boys/Girls)
Pasadena (Boys/Girls)
Poly/Riverside (Boys/Girls)
Redlands (Boys/Girls)
Roosevelt/Los Angeles (Boys/Girls)
Rowland (Boys/Girls)
Schurr (Boys/Girls)
Serrano (Boys/Girls)
Sunny Hills (Boys/Girls)
Upland (Boys/Girls)
Walnut (Boys/Girls)

Medium Schools
Bassett (Boys/Girls)
Bishop Amat (Boys/Girls)
Bolsa Grande (Boys/Girls)
Burroughs/Ridgecrest (Boys/Girls)
Cathedral (Boys)
Covina (Girls)
Culver City (Boys/Girls)
Diamond Ranch (Boys/Girls)
Don Bosco Tech (Boys)
Firebaugh (Boys/Girls)
Foothill/Santa Ana (Boys/Girls)
Gahr (Boys/Girls)
Hoover (Boys/Girls)
La Puente (Boys/Girls)
Los Altos (Boys/Girls)
Miguel Contreras (Boys/Girls)
North Torrance (Boys/Girls)
Savanna (Boys/Girls)
South Hills (Boys/Girls)
St. John Bosco (Boys)
St. Lucy’s (Girls)
Torrance (Boys/Girls)

Small Schools
Academia Avance (Boys/Girls)
Bishop Montgomery (Boys/Girls)
Cantwell-Sacred Heart (Boys/Girls)
Desert Christian/Lancaster (Boys/Girls)
Immaculate Heart (Girls)
Junipero Serra/Gardena (Boys/Girls)
Marshall Fundamental (Boys/Girls)
Mary Star of the Sea (Boys/Girls)
Ontario Christian (Boys/Girls)
Pacifica Christian (Boys/Girls)
Poly/Pasadena (Boys/Girls)
Ramona Convent (Girls)
Rosamond (Boys/Girls)
Sacred Heart of Jesus (Girls)
San Gabriel Mission (Girls)
San Marino (Boys/Girls)
St. Mary’s Academy (Girls)
St. Monica Catholic (Boys/Girls)
St. Paul (Boys/Girls)
Twentynine Palms (Boys/Girls)
Verbum Dei (Boys)
Whittier Christian (Boys/Girls)