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Sierra in lead after VOL opener
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TRACY — The Valley Oak League’s defending varsity boys and girls champions from Sierra are the frontrunners after the first of three meets held Wednesday at Eagal Lakes Resort.

Sierra standout Megan Oblin was the overall individual winner in the girls competition, holding off East Union’s Julia Vezaldenos (20:37.2) and Kelley Higginson (20:48.1) while clocking a time of 20 minutes, 3.1 seconds. Kimball was the chief challenger for Sierra, falling 27-29. Manteca edged out Oakdale 28-29 and East Union 25-30 to end up in third. 

Sierra also got a solid effort from Jasmin Correa, who finished fifth in 21:10.3. Manteca’s Brianna Rodriguez (21:41.5) and Mia Watson (21:43.5) placed eighth and ninth, respectively. Maria Soto paced Lathrop runners with an 11th-place finish in 21:45.9.

Sierra’s boys dominated the field, with East Union coming the closest, 23-33. Noe Reyes of East Union was the top finisher in 16:37.5, but Sierra had three top-10 placers in Jesse Hurtado (second, 17:06.3), Isaias Ghezae (17:11.9) and Sabas Montes (17:48.0). 

East Union defeated Weston Ranch 25-31 in the battle for second. Weston Ranch was spearheaded by Brian Arevalo (17:48.6) and Jeremiah Robancho (17:51.3), who finished eighth and ninth. Miguel Andrade-Salcedo was 11th in 18:01.9 for Lathrop.

 

Lower levels

Sierra is also the team to beat at the junior varsity boys and frosh-soph boys divisions.

The JV race ended with Timberwolves occupying the top five spots — Oscar Guitron (19:37.4), Axel Rios, Dominic Burrows, Nathan Azevedo and Moises Vazquez. Lathrop had Cezar Morga, Isaiah Ochoa, Joshua Medel and Arashvir Sidhu finish 5-9.

Christian Avina (12:54.0), Irving Figuero and Jason Aucello represented the top three in frosh-soph boys. Andres Navarro of Manteca placed fourth. 

East Union is atop the frosh-soph girls standings after Sierra Toleber (15:52.4) paced five Lancers in the top six. The others were Destiny Nino (second), Valeria Huirache (third), Amanda Perry (fifth) and Aliyah Lagbao (sixth). Sierra’s Jenelle Rodriguez took fourth.

Oakdale is the JV girls leader, but area runners did leave their mark. Celeste Angulo and Cielo Angulo went 1-2, and Manteca’s Nicole Leon-Loya finished third.