Cross Country Excels!!!!!

The boys varisty cross country team claimed an unprecedented victory in the annals of school history, earning 5th place at the CIF Preliminaries on Saturday at Mt. SAC in Walnut. This is the first time that the boys team has ever ranked in CIF's The Road to State. Led by boys varsity team captain, junior Stopher Eldridge (16:58) clocking in at 10th place in a field of Division IV 92 runners, the team achieved a berth at the CIF Finals on November 19. Running for Malibu High boys, ranked according to speed were sophomore Cameron Burrell, who PR'ed (17:18) (XC parlance for Personal Record; Track vernacular is Personal Best), sophomore Nick Burrell (PR'ed 17:54), seniors Jason Law (PR'ed 18:04) and Daniel Nemirovsky (18:31), sophomore Chris Peck (PR'ed 19:14), and junior Darius Visher (23:39). Coach Johnson said, "The lead runner from Big Bear set a furious pace, and the boys stepped up their run. Several PR'ed on this demanding course in this heat. It was awesome." Runner Nick Burrell declared, "When (the coaches) told us our splits (the time after the first mile), I realized I was running my fastest ever. And I was still near the back of the fastest pack." This year the boys team have their collective feet firmly planted on The Road to State (officially known as the CIF Championships).

Girls varsity cross country team captain, sophomore Becki Ottusch attempted a repeat of last year's CIF historic run on The Road to State as the fastest female runner the school has ever had. Ottusch qualified as an individual runner for the school, with the girls team a casualty at last week's league finals. At the CIF Prelims, Ottusch was approaching the grueling switchbacks, normally where she passes several runners, when Coaches Johnson, Nika Greb, and Jennifer Gonzalez pulled her out. Coach Greb opined, "Becki's soccer injuries forced her exit from the race. It was obvious that she was in pain, and wasn't going to run any faster." Coach Gonzalez said, "Becki is normally in the top ten (out of 92 runners) during the first mile. With her hip and shin injuries slowing her down, she was in 14th or 15th place. She was looking at maybe finishing 30th instead of the top ten. It wasn't worth the pain and emotional toll for her to possibly injure herself more for that kind of performance. She still has her junior and senior years (to win). " Last year, as a freshman Ottusch came in 9th in the CIF Preliminaries, earned 5th at the CIF Finals, and made it all the way to the State Championships where she placed 38th out of a field of 288 runners. Ottusch vowed, "I'll focus more on my running. I want to make it to State (Championships) again."

Triumphant boys varsity CC team at CIF Prelims (standing left to right) Darius Visher, Daniel Nemirovsky, Jason, Law, Cameron Burrell, Stopher Eldridge, (kneeling) Nick Burrell, Chris Peck.

Photo Courtesy of Sonia Ottusch

Eldridge wins 10th place in the CIF Prelims, Div 4, leading the boys team to 5th place overall on The Road to State.