LBCC women’s cross country did not qualify for the State Championship as they finished 21 out of 32 in the rankings in the 5k mile run.
Although this was the same park and route as they had earlier on in the season at the SoCal Regional Preview, LBCC finished 15. The placement was six spots below the place they finished in the preview.
A major blow to LBCC had to cope with was star sophomore runner Katlyn Morataya not being able to compete in the race.
LBCC did have their other star sophomore runner Lorena Galaviz though, as she led the way for the Vikings in this race as she finished with a time of 22:05.1.
Even though that was the best time out of the LBCC runners for the race, she finished near the same time she had in the preview, and Glaviz hinted how physical health could have played a factor.
“I’ve been having a lot of bumps in the road physically. I went into it to give it my best effort. I was constantly reminding myself ‘just stay calm, control what you can control, and take it step by step’,” Galaviz said.
LBCC sophomore runner Lorena Galaviz crosses the finish line. Galaviz placed 87th with a time of 22:05:01. The SoCal Regional Championship took place on Friday at El Dorado East Regional Park. (Izzy Juarez) 
LBCC sophomore runner Mel Moreno overcomes the only hill at the SoCal Regional Championships. The women’s team did not qualify for the State race as they placed 21st with a score of 534 on Friday at El Dorado East Regional Park. (Izzy Juarez) 
LBCC sophomore runner Frida Hernandez crosses the finish line. Hernandez placed 111th with a time of 23:56:0 The SoCal Regional Championship took place on Friday at El Dorado East Regional Park. (Izzy Juarez) 
LBCC freshman Morgan Venable takes a rest after crossing the finish line. Venable placed 136th with a time of 25:32.1. The SoCal Regional Championship took place on Friday at El Dorado East Regional Park. (Izzy Juarez)
Even though LBCC wasn’t able to qualify for the state championship, fellow sophomore runner Melanie Moreno had a personal day to remember.
The hard work she’s put in the whole season paid off as she finished this race with a time of 24.53.3.
Moreno’s time was a full minute faster than the time she had in the SoCal Regional Preview.
“I was hitting the same times that I was hitting at practice, so I wasn’t sure to go faster or keep it the same pace. But I kept it the same pace because I didn’t want to die out in the third mile,” Moreno said about what was going through her mind during the run.
As one season ends for women’s running teams, another one begins, as head coach Karen Vigilant is getting ready to prepare for the track season coming up ahead.
“My goal is to make sure they’re ready for track. These girls won’t have a next (cross-country) season since a lot of them are sophomores. The goal is to stay in shape and get mentally tough so that we can make it far in track. So our goal is to make it to state in track since we didn’t do it in cross country,” said Vigilant.
The track season starts in the spring.