RECAP Storylines Aplenty at San Diego's Bronco Roundup

"I'm having surgery for spinal scoliosis in two weeks," said Thamer, who won the 2-mile race at Kit Carson Park in 13:08.1 to beat San Pasqual's Addison Paladino (13:10.9) by almost three seconds in the Division 2 Varsity race.

"I'll be out for six months, so this week and next are it for cross country. I should be back in time for track but I don't expect to run fast times this year. But I want to be close.

"I really liked this course. Normally I don't like hills, especially if they're really steep where you feel like you stay on your tippy toes not to fall back. This time I drafted on the leaders because this is my first time running this course and I was afraid I wouldn't know where to go.

"Once I got the lead I could hear people yelling but I didn't look back. I thought 'oh no, I have to speed up' but it worked out. And the team did real well."

Thamer led the Bears to victory with just 28 points to Buena Park's 62 and Escondido San Pasqual's 63.

The Division 1 race, run early when the fog kept the temperatures in the low 70s, was won by track standout Tessa Buswell of Poway who won her second straight invitational, clocking an 11:37.6 to top Oceanside El Camino's McCall Dame, who was second in 11:45.2.

Buswell, a junior, is primarily an outstanding half-miler and miler on the track but she's stretching out and with her speed is definitely a threat if she's anywhere near the lead in the final quarter-mile. This time she was in front and uncatchable.

"It (the race) seemed long compared to an 800 where it's short and fast," said Buswell. "Last year I just went out and ran but this year I'm trying to be more strategic.  I was going for the win and tried to negative split the race (run faster the second mile)."

She couldn't do that after running a 5:55 the first mile but she wasn't too disappointed.

"I like cross country," said Buswell. "I'm looking for sub 18-minutes for the 5K and sub 17 for three miles."

All of this comes after Buswell decided last February to focus on track after trying to juggle her time between running and playing soccer.

"It worked and I'm not going back," said Buswell. "What I really like is racing, which is the prize for training hard."

A year ago, with Mackenzie Rogers as a training partner, she didn't have to worry about pushing at practice. But with Rogers now off to college, Buswell said she decided that in addition to running with the girls, she'd practice with the boys.

Not just the junior varsity boys, the top group.

 "They pull me along," she said. "I've been running against the boys since Twin Peaks Middle school."

On the boys' front Saturday, El Camino junior Omar Reyes showed mid-season form to lead four runners under 10-minutes to win the Division 1 race in 9:49.0 while another Southern Section runner, David Juarez-Garcia of Buena Park, captured the Division 2 race in 10:38.7.

In Juarez-Ortiz's defense, his race was contested when the temperatures reached 90 degrees compared to the mid-70s when Reyes ran.

"I didn't get to run here a year ago because I had COVID, so this is my first time on this course," said Reyes of the 2-mile layout. "I took the lead at three-quarters of a mile because I wanted to draft on the others, who I know are good runners.

"When I got to the hill, I felt good, so I made a move. I never look back but I didn't hear anyone. Running a fast time, under 10, is important because colleges are looking for that. Because of that, my time was more important than my place."

The opposition indeed was strong as the La Mesa Grossmont High duo of Ian Rosen (9:53.3) and Russell Blakely (9:54.3) beat San Diego Westview's Adrian Welton (9:58.6) across the finish line.

Although Grossmont had four runners among the top 20, the Foothillers did not have a No. 5 and the team title went to Mt. Carmel, which low-scored Vista 105-113.

In the Division 2 race, Juarez-Garcia was never really threatened.

"One other runner got the jump at start but I took the lead at three-quarters," said the junior. "I saw the hill coming up and thought, 'oh no,' because I sometimes don't like hills, although my favorite course is Mt. SAC. I prefer Woodbridge because it's flat but this wasn't bad.

"I knew it had warmed up and I could feel it going up the hill. Overall, I think it was good race."

Juarez-Garcia said he put in hard summer, running 40-50 miles a week over the Buena Park streets.

"In this race I wanted to just keep pushing, not get too comfortable," he said. "It worked."       

San Diego Cathedral Catholic's girls, despite missing one of their key runners who was taking the SAT test, won the Division 1 girls event with 50 points. 

The race also featured Solana Beach Santa Fe Christian's Revere Schmidt, the defending State Meet Division V champion, whose coach, Sonia Sturgeon, asked if she could be moved up to compete in the large-school division.

Schmidt was all smiles after placing ninth in 12:01.5.

"The goal was a top-10 finish and I accomplished that," said Schmidt, who just missed cracking 12 minutes at 12:01.5.

"I won my race last week (in the Vaquero Stampede) by almost a minute and I wanted the competition. It was good, it was awesome.

"When I race within my division, I'm almost always in front, knock on wood. I think I'll see if I can do the same thing at Mt. SAC.

"I really want to improve and I liked being pushed."