Mesa View on top after 10 years

Mike Sciacca, Independent

For the first time in 10 years, Mesa View Middle School has won the

overall Ocean View School District Middle School cross country

championship.

Mesa View earned the crown in dramatic fashion, too.

The Eagles and Marine View were tied at 119-119 heading into the final

race of the meet, the eighth-grade boys’ run. Mesa View managed to win

that race, 52-32, despite the fact that all five Marine View runners had

personal best times.

Below is a rundown of the divisions:

8TH GRADE BOYS

The story of the cross country season was Mesa View’s Gabe Ornelas.

During the season he had posted times of 7:18 and 7:20, both new course

records. But Ornelas beat both marks in the final with a new record time

of 7:15. All Mesa View runners competing in the event finished in the top

10. Spring View’s Mitchell Gillespie finished second and Marine View’s

Robert Peck was third.

8TH GRADE GIRLS

Vista View’s Crystal Reed won the individual championship with Marine

View’s Kristen Fronk in hot pursuit in a second place finish. Mesa View’s

Jennifer Pacheco placed third. Marine View remained undefeated for the

season with runners placing fourth, fifth, eighth and 12th.

7TH GRADE BOYS

Mesa View’s Theodore Hennes and Ryan Shillito finished 1-2 and Vista

View’s Tyler Petry was third, but Marine View’s depth was the difference

in the competition as Mariner runners finished fourth, fifth, seventh and

10th. Justin Pack led the charge for Marine View, which went undefeated

in league meet action.

7TH GRADE GIRLS

Mesa View dominated the race by grabbing eight of the top 11 spots,

led by Kristen Thuve’s first place finish and Chelsea Turner in second.

Mesa View went undefeated in dual meets and finals. Marine View’s Chrissy

VanDoornum placed third.

6TH GRADE BOYS

Vista View’s Johnny Braun established a new district meet record with

a time of 8:27 and was followed closely by second place Patrick Sheffield

of Marine View.

6TH GRADE GIRLS

Spring View stole the show in the girls’ race with Clarissa Holz and

Jaclyn Storey placing first and third, respectively. Second place went to

Katie Welch of Mesa View and Christina Badajos of Marine View finished

fourth.