Cross country season kicks off with a bang!

By Keith Lair, Pasadena Star News

The high school cross country season kicks off with a bang in the San Gabriel Valley on Saturday.

More than 2,400 athletes from 67 schools will descend on the Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area to compete in the ninth annual Bosco Tech Invitational. It is the first weekend that CIF-Southern Section teams can compete this season.

"I think what has happened is that the kids love the party atmosphere of the meet," Bosco Tech cross country coach and meet director Sal Perez said. "We try to make it fun for all and make it a friendly meet. All the kids, even not the better ones, seem to have fun."

The meet, which is scheduled to start at 8 a.m., features music, invitational-inspired medals and the first 75 finishers in each of the 13 3-mile races will receive medals. The races are run by grade, except for smaller schools, which will have a senior-junior class race and a sophomore-freshman class race. Team winners will be determined by a team's fastest five times, no matter the class.

Perez expects faster times than last year. That's because the northern and western area of the park has been changed into the Station Fire command post and a fire fighter's rest area. "There isn't as much dirt trails and we've had to make the course go through more bike trails," he said. "I think people will be going faster."

More than a dozen San Gabriel Valley area schools will take part in the meet, including host Bosco Tech, Alverno, the Arcadia girls, Bishop Amat, Cantwell-Sacred Heart, Covina, El Rancho, Los Altos, Nogales, Pasadena Poly, Rowland, San Gabriel Mission, South Hills, St. Paul, Whittier Christian and Wilson.

CIF-SS and state powers St. John Bosco, Upland and Foothill are also entered.

Click for list of teams by division.