Watsonville High junior Layla Ruiz asserted herself as the best runner in the Pacific Coast Athletic League with a dominating performance in Saturday’s league championships.
Ruiz won the Mission division 3-mile girls’ varsity race in 19 minutes, 30 seconds and finished a little more than a minute ahead of the runners-up. Her time was also the best among the four divisions — Gabilan, Mission, Cypress and Santa Lucia — that competed.
The victory assures her a trip back to the Central Coast Section Cross Country Championships at Crystal Springs.
Alvarez High freshman Roselyn Olivo took second (21:01) and senior Valerie Cervantez was third (21:05). Both also automatically qualified for CCS championships.
The Wildcatz placed eighth as a team with 159 points. Seaside High won the PCAL Mission division with 61 points, followed by Alvarez in second (65) and Greenfield in third (69).
Other notable finishers for Watsonville include senior Marycruz Nico-Silva in 38th (26:08) and senior Jacqueline Rodriguez in 40th (26:13).
Monte Vista Christian freshman Caelan Gilliam placed sixth (21:52), and made the cut for an at-large entry in the CCS Division IV.
Up next, the CCS championships will take place at Crystal Springs cross country course in Belmont on Nov. 16. The first race begins at 10 a.m.
Rubio-Pintor qualifies for CCS: Ceiba College Prep sophomore Nellie Rubio-Pintor punched her ticket to the CCS championships. She placed third in 21:48 in the PCAL Santa Lucia division 3-mile girls’ varsity race.
Christopher High freshman Sarah Arcelo won the race in 21:27, followed by Trinity Christian junior Rachel Suess in second (21:31).
Santa Catalina School placed first as a team with 27 points, followed by the Cougars in second with 29 points.
Pajaro Valley High junior Litzy Mozqueda placed sixth in 24:25, while seniors Evelyn Pulido placed 11th (26:46) and Eveny Pulido placed 12th (27:27).
PCAL-Cypress: St. Francis High senior Camryn Ryan placed sixth in 23:45 in the PCAL Cypress division 3-mile girls’ varsity race.
Ryan barely missed the cut for an at-large entry in the CCS Division V race by 13 seconds.
Pacific Collegiate School senior Elizabeth Armstrong won the race in 21:08, followed by York School sophomore Juliet Oliver in second (22:19) and Stevenson School sophomore Gabby Torres in third (22:35).
The Sharks placed fourth as a team with 71 points. The Pirates won the PCAL Cypress title with 38 points, followed by Monterey High in second (43) and Gonzales High in third (59).
PCAL-Gabilan: North Monterey County High junior Andrea Villegas placed 13th in 22:38, while sophomore Angelina Pezzini placed 18th (22:37) in the PCAL Gabilan division 3-mile girls’ varsity race.
San Benito High junior Lauren Okamoto won the race in 20:18, followed by North Salinas High junior Cherling Padilla in second (20:26) and Alisal High sophomore Anahi Rosas in third (20:57).
The Condors placed seventh as a team with 162 points. The Vikings won the PCAL-Gabilan title with 56 points, followed by the Haybalers in second (62) and Gilroy High in third (75).
