Ornelas, Weisenthal etch names in record book

Mike Sciacca, Independent

Mesa View Middle School seventh-grader Gabe Ornelas set a new

course record, Marine View eighth-grader Karri Weisenthal tied another

and Marine View won its eighth title in nine years to highlight the 2000

Ocean View School District 7/8 Cross Country Championships.

Marine View won three of the four grade divisions (boys’ seventh and

eighth grade, girls’ seventh and eighth grade) to earn the overall

district title. Two of the divisions (boys’ seventh grade, girls’ eighth

grade) ended with two schools tied for low point total, creating ties in

two divisions for the first time in the event’s history.

Mesa View’s boys, between Ornelas’ winning run and a bookend of a

13th-place finish by Ricardo Vazquez, won the seventh-grade crown.

Final overall point totals for all divisions: 1. Marine View, 118; 2.

Mesa View, 236; 3. Vista View, 248; 4. Spring View, 421.

SEVENTH GRADE BOYS

Ornelas finished well ahead of the pack, his time of 7:47 eclipsing

the previous course mark of 7:50, set in 1998 by Marine View’s Danny

Irvin. Mesa View and Marine View finished tied for the low points total

with 43 points apiece, but Mesa View won the title as its sixth runner --

Vazquez, placed higher than the sixth Marine View finisher. Completing

the top five were Vista View’s Samer Hadad, second at 8:15; Marine View’s

Scott Schauer, third at 8:17; Marine View’s Jeff VanDoornum, fourth at

8:19; and Marine View’s Robert Peck, fifth at 8:22.

“Gabe’s performance was the best I’ve seen in the three years that

I’ve been here,” Mesa View co-coach Kurt Lundberg said.

SEVENTH GRADE GIRLS

Marine View took five of the top eight spots, headed by Kristen

Frank’s winning run of 9:12, to run away with the title. Teammate Loren

Kortizija was second in the event with a 9:25 run, Vista View’s Cynthia

Bailey was third at 9:30, Mesa View’s Danielle Miller placed fourth at

9:34 and Spring View’s Kirstin Byrne was fifth with 9:40.

EIGHTH GRADE GIRLS

Weisenthal won the race with a course-tying record time of 8:09, which

first was set by Marine View’s Sommer Owens in 1997. The race for the

team title ended in a low points tie between Marine View and Vista View,

but Marine View was awarded the title by virtue of a 13th-place finish by

its sixth runner, Hilary Pohlman (10:05).

Rounding out the top five were Marine View’s Kaitlyn Schuesler, second

at 8:51; Vista View’s Kaylynn Gallo, third at 9:02; Vista View’s Rachel

Rojas, fourth at 9:14; and Marine View’s Allison Koenker, fifth at 9:18.

EIGHTH GRADE BOYS

Marine View dominated the division by having five runners finish among

the top seven. However, Mesa View’s Jacob Brodosky won the race with an

8:01 time, edging out Marine View’s Derrick Willits for the title. Marine

View also took the next three spots, with Anushka Wijesekera (8:14)

placing third. David Shapiro (8:21) was fourth and Tony Guadagnini (8:22)

was fifth.

“Jacob’s huge heart is what carried him to the title,” Lundberg said.