Runners Shine at City Prelims

By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor

Palisades High’s boys and girls cross country teams are in prime position to defend their City Section titles after strong races in last Wednesday’s prelims at Pierce College in Woodland Hills.

The girls took first place in their heat with a total of 26 points, easily outpacing runner-up Granada Hills (52) and third-place Taft (75). Setting the pace in only her second race for the Dolphins was freshman Lila Copeland, a transfer from Wildwood, who finished second in the hilly 2.9-mile course in 19:47.99 behind Granada Hills junior Tanya Larbaoui.

Junior Kimia Samandi was fourth in 20:33.75, sophomore Brittany Darrow was fifth in 20:42.80 and freshman Sarah Bentley was sixth in 20:43.16.

Rounding out the Dolphins’ lineup were ninth-grader Elisa Kim, who was ninth in 20:50.66, Shannon Lee (14th in 21:05.88) and fellow senior Ariel Pollack (27th in 22:50.04).

The boys took second in their heat with 46 points, trailing only Granada Hills (30). Pacing the Dolphins was senior Jakob Pollack, who clocked 16:02.99 to take second place behind Granada Hills’ Benjamin Tiber (15:58.31).

Sophomore Brent Smith was fifth in 16:38.40 and four Palisades teammates swept the 13-16 spots: junior Finn Cawley was 13th in 17:11.44, senior Jack Hockley was 14th in 17:13.52, senior Ben Hansen was 15th in 17:16.88 and junior Ben Hamer was 16th in 17:19.09. Junior Jake Greanias was 20th in 17:40.91.

The City finals are Saturday morning at Pierce.

The Division I girls race starts at 8:50, followed by the Division I boys  race at 9:20. The frosh/soph girls race starts at 11:10, followed by the frosh/soph boys race at 11:25. The junior varsity girls race is at 11:40 and the junior varsity boys race is at 11:55.