The Fillmore Condors Youth Cross Country team concluded their 2014 season by competing in USA Track and Field (USATF) National Junior Olympic Cross Country Championships on Saturday, December 13th. Fillmore Youth Condors Cross Country is a non-profit club comprised of runners from Fillmore, Piru, and Santa Paula and are coached by Rafael Laureano. 16 local athletes ranging in ages 7-13 years old traveled across the country to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina after qualifying in Conference and Regional Meets to compete at the Whispering Pines Golf Course. The cross country runners began their course races on the spacious driving range before winding along the tree lined fairways and up and down elevated tee boxes and rolling hills coming down the 18th fairway towards the clubhouse finish line.

Individual awards and the title of “USATF Jr. Olympic All American Athlete” were given to the top 25 athletes in each event. Team awards were given to the top 3 teams in each age division. The awards ceremony was held at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center. Five Condors ran away with awards.

223 runners competed in the 8 & Under Girls 2000 Meter Division. The 2014 Southern California Youth Track and Field Conference (SCYTFC) Gremlin Girls Cross Country Champion Niza Laureano (age 7) earned a 5th place medal and title of “USATF Jr. Olympic All American” by crossing the finish line at 8:16.73 averaging a 6:39 mile time, Yaraby Jacobo (age 8) earned a 25th place medal and “USATF Jr. Olympic All American” title at 8:44.49 with a 7:02 average mile, Emma Torres (age 7) placed 37th at 8:53.13 with a 7:09 average mile.

214 runners competed in the 8 & Under Division Boys 2000 Meter Division. Adrian Tirado (age 8) placed 74th at 8:48.70 with an average mile time of 7:05, Diego Rodriguez (age 8) placed 103rd at 9:06.38 with a 7:19 average mile, and Joshua Estrada (age 8) placed 118th at 9:14.93 with a 7:26 average mile.

315 runners competed in the 9-10 Girls 3000 Meter Division. Andrea Laureano (age 9) placed 75th with a time of 12:12.37 averaging a 6:32 mille time.

305 runners competed in the 9-10 Boys 3000 Meter Division. The 2014 SCYTFC Bantam Boys Cross Country Champion Michael-Camilo Torres (age 10) earned a 20th place medal and “USATF Jr. Olympic All American” title at 11:01.95 with an average mile time of 5:55.

With 422 runners in the race, the 11-12 Girls 3000 Meter Division had the largest number of entrants. Jordyn Walla (age 11) placed 30th and earned a 1st place team medal with a time of 10:59.99 while averaging a 5:54 mile time. Alix Tirado (age 11) placed 152nd at 11:49.51 with a 6:20 mile average, Syenna Ponce (age 12) placed 155th at 11:50.82 with a 6:21 mile average, Vanessa Cabral (age 11) placed 347th at 13:21.37 with a 7:09 mile average.

362 runners competed in the 11-12 Boys 3000 Meter Division. Juan Carlos Laureano (age 12) placed 71st with a time of 10:44.78 with a 5:45 mile average-the fastest average mile time of all the Condors who competed, Rey Andres Laureano (age 11) placed 181st at 11:23.10 with a 6:06 mile average.

384 runners competed in the 13-14 Girls 4000 Meter Division. The 2014 SCYTFC Girls Cross Country Champion Carissa Rodriguez (age 13) earned a 14th place medal and “USATF Jr. Olympic All American” title with a time of 14:35.84 averaging a 5:54 mile time, Neveah Walla (age 13) place 68th at 15:18.57 with a 6:09.6 mile average.

“I am proud of all of our Condors runners, they ran with the best youth in the United States and it was an experience they will not forget. I would like to thank the parents and community for supporting the children and teens during this successful postseason and thank El Pescador Restaurant, Fillmore Fire Department, Fillmore Lions Club, Fillmore Rotary Club, and Heritage Valley Track and Field for sponsoring the Condors and helping with raising funds to cover many of the travel expenses.” concluded Coach Laureano.