The boys cross country team qualified to run at the CIF championships this weekend for the first time since 2002. Runners include: Jay Bonthius, Alex Sakamoto, Eric Mendoza, Max Chern, Jordan Millington, Brenden Prieto, and Hunter Gulino. We spoke with Jay Bonthius (’12), captain of the cross country team, about the upcoming race this Saturday, the 19th at Mt. Sac.
Baron Banner: What are some details of the race?
Jay Bonthius: The race contains 121 runners, 16 teams of 7 runners and a few individuals that made it without their team. When the gun goes off, the race begins with a mile around a flat loop, where inexperienced racers tend to go out too fast and die. After the first mile, the runners immediately turn off and go up a set of 5 incredibly steep switchbacks and then rocket down a long hill. Next comes a hill appropriately named “poopout hill” which is simply a sharp incline for about 100 meters. From there, you are at two miles, and 1 mile to go. The race continues down the back of Reservoir Hill, and then makes a sharp u-turn to continue up Reservoir Hill which is a long steady incline. The top marks half a mile to go, and from there it is all out to the finish.
BB: How did you prepare for the upcoming meet on Saturday?
JB: Each of us have run well over 1000 miles since the start of the summer, training hard every single day.
BB: Competition is tough this weekend, how do you think you will handle the race?
JB: Well, as a team we plan on using the same tactics that we’ve used for the last dozen races, which is to go out conservatively and let the rabbits race the first mile. We’ll use the downhills during the second mile (Mt. Sac is incredibly hilly, one of the hilliest in the state) to pass those who went out too fast and just give it everything we have for the last (third) mile.
BB: There’s a good size group going to CIF this year, do you think anyone will surprise and have a great meet?
JB: We’re trying to increase our CIF southern section ranking this Saturday. CIF Southern Section is the largest and (by far) the fastest in all of California, extending in parts nearly north to Monterey, south to Mexico (excluding San Diego) and all the way east to Nevada/Arizona. Unfortunately, only 6 teams out of the hundreds can make it to state. This Saturday, there are 16 schools racing in the division I race. We’re ranked 13th, and we would really like to make it to 9th or 10th. Alex Sakamoto, Eric Mendoza, Max Chern, Jordan Millington, Brenden Prieto, and Hunter Gulino are our 2-7.
BB: What do you think your chances are to make it to state?
JB: Only 6 individuals out of all the Southern Section make it to state. I’m hoping to make it, but we’ll see! Currently, I’m top 20.
