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Hawk runners gain valuable experience
Mariana Campos
Central Valley’s Mariana Campos (174) and Althea Mumford (176) competed at the Sac-Joaquin Section Division-I Cross Country Championships on Nov. 12 in Folsom.

Underclassmen Alexis Landa, Mariana Campos and Althea Mumford gained valuable experience while representing Central Valley High School’s cross country program at the Sac-Joaquin Section Division-I Championships on Nov. 12 in Folsom.

Landa, Campos and Mumford have yet to realize their potential.

“It was good for them to get familiar with the course they’ll have to race on to get to state for varsity,” Hawks’ head coach Michael Mrgudic said.  “It’s a really tough course. It’s very hilly.”

Campos and Mumford placed 16th and 26th, respectively, in the Frosh-Soph Girls Division.

Campos, a sophomore, posted a time of 15 minutes, 03 seconds on the 2.05-mile course at Willow Hill Reservoir Community Park.

She finished ahead of 33 other runners.

“Mariana ran an amazing race,” Mrgudic said. “She did great.”

Campos had a breakout season during her second year with the Hawks.

“She took more than a minute off her 2-mile time,” Mrgudic said.

Campos claimed a 13th-place medal at the Frosh-Soph Girls Sub-Section Championships. 

She set a school record while taking second at the Central California Conference’s third cluster meet.

“She works so hard,” Mrgudic said. “She’s really determined. If she continues to improve, she has the potential to make it to state.”

Mumford, a freshman, completed the race in 15 minutes, 24 seconds.

“At the rate she’s improving, anything is possible,” Mrgudic said while talking about Mumford’s state-meet aspirations. “She’s got great potential. She’s already an incredible runner. Her mom was a pretty good runner as well. That’s part of the motivation.”

Mumford took fourth at the CCC Championships.

She posted the second-fastest 2-mile time in program history.

She also eclipsed her personal-best time by 77 seconds.

Mumford was 22nd at the sub-section meet.

“She dramatically improved,” Mrgudic said. “She took almost two minutes of her time from the beginning of the season. She worked hard.”

Landa finished 21st with a time of 12 minutes, 18 seconds in the Sophomore Boys Division.

He bested 28 other competitors.

“He ran one of the best races of his life,” Mrgudic said. “He finished a couple spots ahead of where he was ranked.”

A newcomer to cross country, Landa enjoyed a memorable season. He was a standout in track and field freshman year.

Landa took first at the CCC Frosh-Soph Boys Cross Country Championships this fall. 

He ran the third-fastest time in program history.

Alexis was 22nd at the sub-section meet.

“He’s hard working,” Mrgudic said. “He’s determined to run his best every day.”

Landa, Campos and Mumford will strive for improvement next fall.

“Seeing all of their hard work pay off is really cool,” Mrgudic said. 

“The success of these three runners is building positive momentum for the whole program,” he added.

Alexis Landa
Hawk Alexis Landa raced at the Sac-Joaquin Section Division-I Cross Country Championships earlier this month at Willow Hill Reservoir Community Park.