Sandles Wins Independence Invitational

A new invite by a new school brings a small field to Independence high school. Being on the same day as the McFarland, is unfortunate and diluted both local events especially on a weekend when many teams look to travel out of town as well.

Despite all of the above, it looks like both the boys and girls races were good close races for the most part. In the boys race, Sandles (photo) won in a time 17:03 on the 5k course. He was followed by one athlete from each of the other competing schools.

In the end, North won the invite and was lead by Lopez who came in 3rd in a time of 17:52. The host took second by a point over Foothill. The results would have been different if Foothill's number one runner Jose Lopez had run the race.

Independence Invitational

Boys at Independence; 5K course

Team scores--North 30, Independence 46, Foothill 47

Individual results--1. Sandles, GV, 17:03; 2. Bautista, F, 17:42; 3. Lopez, N, 17:52; 4. Facho, I, 18:08; 5. Mosqueda, N, 18:11; 6. Davalos, N, 18:17; 7. Fisher, I, 18:25; 8. Garcia, F, 18:29; 9. Gamino, GV, 18:30; 10. Kostner, I, 18:34.

JV Foothill 42, North 43, Golden Valley 77, Independence 80

FS Foothill 35, North 43, Independence 50

The girls race was won by Natalie Fernandez (21:20) who lead her Trojans to the team win and has been improving with each meet this season. At the EB invite, the North's two girls beat her.

Girls at Independence; 5K course

Team scores--Foothill 37, North 50, Independence 52, Golden Valley 74

Individual results--1. Fernandez, F, 21:20; 2. Veloz, F, 21:29; 3. Moyer, N, 21:43; 4. Perez, N, 21:46; 5. Webb, I, 22:01; 6. Ingram, I, 22:07; 7. Sullivan, I, 22:08; 8. Marsala, F, 22:23; 9. Silva, GV, 22:47; 10. Perez, N, 22:56.

JV Golden Valley 21, Independence 34

FS North 16, Foothill 49, Independence 64