Flores, San Pedro Primed for Run

Defending champion Valerie Flores of San Pedro is expected to lead the Pirates to their first City Section girls’ cross-country championship Saturday at Pierce College.

Flores, a senior who finished sixth in the state meet last year, clocked a course-record 17 minutes 32 seconds last week at Pierce in the section prelims, breaking by 17 seconds the record set by Sandra Rodriguez on Wilson in 1986.

San Pedro is ranked eighth in the state by Harrier magazine.

The Belmont boys’ team is favored to win its 14th title in 17 years.

Belmont’s Humberto Vargas and Marshall’s Sergio Campos will challenge for the individual boys’ championship.

The top two teams will advance to the state meet Nov. 27 at Woodward Park in Fresno, as will the top five individuals among the top 12 finishers that are not members of qualifying teams.

*

The City Section girls’ volleyball finals will be played Friday night at Occidental College.

Two-time defending champion Palisades (15-0) plays Sylmar (15-1) for the City championship.

Granada Hills (10-5) plays Marshall (13-3) for the Invitational title.

Jennifer Badran-Grycan and outside hitter Lauren Carter will lead Palisades against a Sylmar team that suffered its only loss against Chatsworth in an early season match.

The Spartans, however, were without middle blocker Kassy Jimenez because of a partially torn knee ligament. She has since returned and combines with outside hitter Stephanie Cisneros to give Sylmar a formidable combination.

The winner of the City Championship match will participate in next week’s Southern California regional of the state tournament.

The state finals are Dec. 4 at Cypress College.