Cross Country: Mendez, Bamberger win City titles

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Senior Mizrael Mendez of Birmingham won the City Section boys’ large school varsity cross country championship and sophomore Jacklyn Bamberger of Palisades won the girls’ championship Saturday morning at muddy Pierce College in Woodland Hills.

Heavy rain left the dirt switchbacks too wet and slippery, so meet organizers devised a slightly shorter course on paved roads, six laps around the parking lot and football stadium.

‘I just went for the win, I wasn’t too worried about the conditions,’ said Mendez, who clocked 15:21.02 and broke the tape 15 seconds ahead of Palisades’ Grant Stromberg. ‘I know the way most of these guys run and my strategy was just to pace myself and turn it on at the end.’

Birmingham won the boys’ team title with 93 points and will be joined at next week’s state finals by second-place San Pedro (102).

Bamberger took the lead on the third lap and was never challenged, cruising through the chute in 18:46.61. Evelyn Gonzalez of San Pedro finished second in 18:51.46.

‘Last year I ran too hard at prelims and ended up third in City, but I learned from that and saved myself this time,’ said Bamberger. ‘I didn’t know if the weather would be an advantage or not.’

Birmingham (52 points) won the girls’ team title and San Pedro (64) also qualified for the state meet.

Senior William Vazquez of Downtown Business won the small school boys’ division in 16:54.40. Sophomore Gabriella Meza of Harbor Teacher won the small school girls’ race in 20:29.90.

-- Steve Galluzzo