Cross Country Update

A HUGE thanks to Sonia Ottusch for the following Malibu High Cross Country Update:

Competing with athletes from seven other schools, Malibu High sophomore Becki Ottusch won the Cross Country race at Saturday's Brentwood Invitational Meet at tony Brentwood High School. With a time of 19:30 for the 3-mile race, Ottusch bested a past Division V CIF State Champion. "I started in front, to follow Kitty's tradition (former teammate & graduate Kitty Smith), but then I tried my usual strategy of pacing another runner. After a short ways, I felt good, so I ran ahead & picked up the pace." Ottusch finished ahead of her competition by at least half a minute. After her victory, Ottusch opined, "I felt relaxed. I probably could have gone faster in the beginning." Fellow MHS XC girls' team mates, senior Sabrina Foster, sophomores Alexa Galarze & Caitlin Sherry, & freshman Kate Mahon ran well, finishing at respectable times.

Becki Ottusch with her First Place Medal

Becki with No One in Sight

MHS boys' varsity XC narrowly missed repeating its 3rd place team win last year. Medaling in 5th place was junior Stopher Eldridge, followed closely by sophomore Cameron Burrell, winning the 9th place medal. Senior Jason Law (considered by some the smartest kid at Malibu High) medaled for 15th place, while sophomore Nick Burrell came in at 20th. Senior Daniel Nemirovsky won the 24th place medal. Also running for MHS boys were junior Matt Murray, sophomores John Ottusch, Gabriel Sloggy, Martin Tolentino, & Peter Jolls. Murray ran the race of his life. The running field had quieted down as the runners trickled in, when suddenly the spectators erupted with cheers. A runner following Murray for most of the race was trying to sprint past. Murray would have none of that. Murray sprinted ahead, easily maintaining his strong lead. On the home stretch, Murray put on another burst of speed, sprinting the last 200 yards as the crowd roared its approval. One seasoned athlete who asked to remain anonymous whispered, "If Matt can sprint twice, he's strong." Newcomer Jolls ran his first race at Brentwood, a difficult course with hills. While some runners, defeated by the course, quit during the race, Jolls kept running. Every team and spectator applauded the last runner to come in, as Jolls slowly neared the finish line. The outpouring of warmth & cheers resonated throughout the field, bringing tears to the eyes of a few. That's what makes cross country so special as a high school sport. After the competition is said & done, everyone gathers together to cheer every athlete.