The562’s cross country and track & field coverage is sponsored by Joe Carlson & Debbie Hughes.
The dramatic conclusion to the Moore League cross country season is set for Wednesday evening at Heartwell Park. Lower level races begin at 2 p.m. with varsity closing the show. The boys’ varsity race is set to begin at 4 p.m. with the girls’ race to follow at 4:30.
While the Millikan boys have cruised through the first two league meets and appear to be heavy favorites, the girls’ competition is anyone’s guess.
Maximiliano Ramirez has swept the league races for the Rams and should be the favorite for the individual title, but he’s gotten fierce competition from teammates like Aiden Ransom or from rival schools like Lakewood’s Gabriel Rojas.
If the Rams are able to continue their dominance, they’re in line to win consecutive team titles for the first time since 1984.
The girls’ title is much less clear-cut, with Wilson eking out a tiebreaker win at El Dorado before Poly got the win at Signal Hill. Both teams have had their eyes on Heartwell, knowing that’s when they need to be at full strength with their full lineups. It’ll be winner-take-all between these two rivals, and they’ll both have contenders to win the individual race as well.
Both Poly and Wilson have a former individual champion in their lineups, which is a rare occurrence. Avery Peck won at Heartwell as a freshman for the Jackrabbits, while Wilson junior Nadia Mejia won the race last year (while competing for Millikan) and set a new course record in the process. Both runners are at the top of their games and Wednesday’s matchup will add a notable chapter to their friendly rivalry.
Seeing Peck and Mejia go head-to-head should be worth the price of admission on its own, but it could also decide the team championship as well. Poly is seeking its fourth consecutive league title while Wilson is trying to win its first since 2018. The Jackrabbits have won 17 of the last 20 girls’ titles dating back to 2004.
