Hundreds of athletes assembled in Lacy Park on Thursday afternoon for the running of the Rio Hondo League cross country championships, a tradition that dates back almost a half-century when a man named Jack Bradford figured out a way to run a two-mile race within the confines of San Marino’s iconic public park.
Much has changed since that day—Bradford passed away a few years ago and the standard race distance has increased to three miles—but along with Memorial Day and the 4th of July, the event is right up there with Lacy’s finest.
Junior Jonathan Karkafi paced San Marino’s boys, finishing seventh in a time of 17:09. He was followed to the finish line by freshman Thai Villaluna (14th, 17:46), freshman Neil Chen (18th, 17:58), sophomore Gavin O’Malley (21st, 18:01), senior Leighton McBryde (327th, 18:37). Junior Tavis Chen (31st, 18:55) and freshman Benjamin Hughes, who ran a gutsy race, finishing in 33rd place with a time of 19:20.
Karkafi will advance to the CIF semifinals but the Titans’ fourth place finish puts and end to the season for the remainder of the squad. South Pasadena easily won the league title, as four Tiger runners finished in the top five.
Senior Puja Balaji again led the way for the Lady Titans, finishing 6th with a time of 19:28. She was followed to the finish Chute by sophomore Anya Tang (10th, 20:21), Peyton Talt (12th, 20:23), junior Lily Tong (14th, 20:35), junior Karen Lee (20th, 21:17), senior Katie Wong (26th, 22:23) and sophomore Katelyn Hansa (33rd, 25:08).
The Lady Titans’ team score of 62 earned San Marino a third place finish in the Rio Hondo league and an automatic bid to the CIF semifinals. La Cañada (42 points) and South Pasadena (50 points) finished I first and second places, respectively.
