Local Sports

Close Competition at SVL Cross Country Championships

Runners start the varsity boys race at the SVL Championships on Nov. 4 at Stony Gorge Reservoir.

ELK CREEK, CA (MPG) – Making their way to the Stony Gorge Reservoir on Nov. 4, Sacramento Valley League cross country teams from Colusa, Pierce, Williams, Willows and Winters battled it out for team championships as well as spots on the All-SVL squads.

When it was all said and done, the host Honkers captured both the varsity boys and girls titles with strong performances in each division, although two Williams underclassmen won the individual races.

Williams’ Lucia Vidrio-Mederos won the varsity girls crown at the SVL Championship on Nov. 4.

In his rookie campaign, Yellowjacket freshman Jeremiah Perez bested the boys field finishing the challenging 3.1-mile course in a personal best time of 18:17, while on the girls’ side sophomore Lucia Vidrio-Mederos remained unbeaten in conference, crossing the line in a personal record time of 23:05 to claim the crown.

Also earning All-SVL status for the ‘Jackets was Manny Santillan (18:39-SB) who took third and Phillip Santillan (18:53-PB) who was fourth.

For the RedHawks, Bryan Sarabia (18:26-PB) ended the varsity boys race in second place to secure a spot on the All-Conference team, as did Zachary Vazquez (19:52-PB) in sixth and Filberto Perez (20:56) in tenth.

The top three finishers in the varsity boys race at the SVL Championships included from left: Bryan Sarabia (second place), Jeremiah Perez (league champion) and Manny Santillan (third place).

Colusa also saw Alexia Carmona (24:30-PB) take sixth place and Leina Awai (26:19-PB) finish ninth among the varsity girls to garner All-League recognition.

In the two-mile JV races, Pierce’s Alondra Perez (17:07) claimed the top spot in the girls contest, while Colusa’s Antonio Silva (14:47) was first on the boys’ side.

Next up for SVL harriers were the 2026 Northern Section Championships on Nov. 12 at West Valley High School where berths to the state meet for one team and up to five individuals per division were at stake.

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