the challenging Mt. Sac at CIF
By Sonia Ottusch / Special to The Malibu Times
Malibu High competed last Saturday at the CIF Cross Country Southern Section Prelims, taking on powerhouse teams like Big Bear and Oaks Christian. Running for the Sharks’ boys team were captain Cameron Burrell, Ryan Needle, Nick Burrell, John Ottusch, Gabe Sloggy, Chris Peck, Forrest Alsobrook, with alternates Sean Needle, Jake Savas, Dylan Gil-Gomez. Competing on the girls squad were captain Becki Ottusch, Gianna Fote, Danielle Bush, Caitlin Sherry, Claudine Book, Jessica Kaplan, Nallely Ruiz, and alternates Katie Rollins, Emily Woodworth.
The varsity boys and two girls, Ottusch and Fote, were returning from last year’s CIF Prelims. For others, this entailed their first visit to historic and arduous Mt. SAC, with the usually hot and arid weather at a cool 65 degrees. The level of competition would be far above the Frontier League.
Like a sinuous umbilical rope lassoing Malibu cross country in binary, the Sharks have the highest incidence of twins: Burrells, Ottuschs, Kaplans. Their individual heats were like seeing double. The teams took their place at the starting line while tension and anxiety, like a serrated knife cutting upward through thin aluminum, mounted among the runners as they waited for the starting gun. When the gun finally sounded, the runners erupted onto the course.
Becki Ottusch and Nick Burrell started in the first part of the pack in separate heats, with the rest of the Sharks strung out to the rear. During the first loop, Fote’s performance, like John Ottusch’s, was hamstrung by a knee injury. Like Needle, Fote was running mid-pack. Bush was running at very good speed mid-pack, as was Nick Burrell. Not far behind was John Ottusch, as was Book in her heat, both looking confident and capable. A focused Sherry, like the determined Sloggy, was maintaining good speed. Peck and Alsobrook were following in the rear, like Kaplan and Ruiz.
“This is exciting,” said Principal Mark Kelly, attending his first CIF cross country prelims.
The abrupt zigzags and long, steep uphills are where runners pass or get passed. The downhills are not recovery stages, but chances to pass another runner. There’s always that jersey in front, and the urge to pass throttles through a runner as surely as the heaving lungs grab for air. Both heats were laced with drama, as girls ran crying, holding hands, others stopped abruptly on steep uphills to vomit. The look of relief on downhill runners turned quickly to anxiety as they were passed. Still others tried desperate sprints to pass, only to see the runner in front pick up the pace. And a few dropped out. The runners approached the finish line, all nearly spent on the tough terrain.
Both Nick Burrell and Becki Ottusch in different heats placed 23rd. Out of 84 runners, the boys finished: Needle (30th), Nick Burrell (33rd), John Ottusch (58th), Peck (78th), Sloggy (80th) and Alsobrook (82nd). In a field of 97 runners, the girls finished: Fote (48th), Bush (60th), Kaplan (62nd), Sherry (66th), Book (72nd) Ruiz (86th). None made it to CIF Finals as a team or individuals, unlike previous years for Becki Ottusch.
Mt. SAC is considered the most demanding cross country course at both high school and collegiate levels. Needle, John Ottusch, Bush and Kaplan ran their best races ever, earning personal records on this tough course. “This is the fastest I’ve ever run!” exclaimed Kaplan.
The boys team nearly qualified for CIF Finals, placing seventh and marking the best team performance in school history. “We were that close?” responded Nick Burrell after the race, expressing surprise that his team came close to qualifying for CIF Finals.
Needle said, “I want to go home, make myself a burrito and go to bed.” Needle’s sentiment resonated within both teams, with all ready to head home. They were drained. This was the last time the varsity boys and girls would compete together. With 15 seniors graduating, next year will be a rebuilding year for both teams.