STATE CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS : Boys in Black Socks Bring Home State Title

FRESNO —  Real men wear black socks!

So goes the victory chant and cheer of the Laguna Beach High School boys’ cross-country team, winners of the Division III (small schools) title at the state cross-country championships Saturday at Woodward Park.

The runners in black socks, who entered the meet as the division’s second-ranked team, placed five runners in the top 30 overall to win with 65 points, more than enough to upset top-ranked McFarland, which was second with 127.

As Orange County’s only state title winners, Laguna Beach had reason to celebrate.

“Oh man! It’s awesome! It’s awesome!” screamed sophomore Adam Ripley above his teammates cheers.

David Crain, seventh on the 5,000-meter course in 16 minutes 14 seconds, led Laguna Beach. He was followed by Phil Bentley, 13th in 16:39; Ripley, 14th in 16:40; David Brobeck, 20th in 16:53, and Mica Brown, 30th in 17:03.

“Three years ago, we won our league and we were fifth (in the Southern Section 2-A),” Laguna Beach Coach Stuart Calderwood said. “At that point, we all made an agreement to stick together, to make a commitment for three years. This team has made coaching the most enjoyable and worthwhile thing I’ve done in my whole life.”

Only slightly less enthusiastic was University’s Tanja Brix who, after a season-long battle with anemia, finished as the county’s top girl, placing fourth in the Division I race, in 18:06. Villa Park’s improving Susannah Thrasher was sixth in 18:25 after passing Edison’s Shelley Taylor (seventh, 18:30) in the final stretch. Katella’s Martha Pinto was 14th in 18:46.

Taylor, a sophomore who entered the meet undefeated, never looked strong. At the mile mark, she was in fourth, about 50 yards behind the leaders. Taylor, who said she has been bothered by the flu the past two weeks, tumbled to the ground with about a quarter-mile to go. But by that time, Brix was ahead of her and running strong.

“I’m so happy; that was tough,” said Brix, who last year finished 10th at this meet, two spots behind Taylor. “After the mile mark, I just said, ‘Stop thinking and just run.’ I was thinking, ‘Why am I out here?’ and ‘Can I keep the pace?’ I just had to block it out and go.”

Cross-Country Notes

La Habra’s Mark Gonzales placed second in the Division II boys’ race in 15:31, the fastest time for Orange County boys. Gonzales, a junior, led the race several times but was outkicked on the final stretch by winner Kevin Berkowitz of Hayward (15:19). . . . In Division I boys, San Clemente finished fifth with 153, county-rival Saddleback, sixth with 214. . . . Corona del Mar girls, led by sophomore Kirsten McFarland’s 11th place, finished third in Division II with 116, behind winner La Jolla (88) and Mills (94). . . . Agoura’s Bryan Dameworth won his third straight state title in 14:45, breaking his former meet record by 18 seconds. Agoura junior Deena Drossin won her second title in 17:27, breaking Kira Jorgensen’s record by 17 seconds.