WOW!  Rancho Verde's Head Coach Chris Drescher stepped up to the plate several years ago and recruited some of the best and fastest talent in the Southern Section to his early-season meet.  It's safe to say that he has not backed off whatsoever as the results prove it! 

Vista Murrieta's boys proved why they are becoming one of California's top programs while Rancho Verde's girls are looking strong in being on top of our Riverside County Team Standings!  At a quick glance, you would have to list VM's boys at #1 with RV's right there in #2.  JW North looked very impressive today but La Sierra's boys outlasted them again with a 72-63 dual meet victory this past week. 
Meanwhile, Vista Murrieta's girls look like they emerged as our top ranked squad to begin the season.   Rancho Verde's girls looked to open the season at #2, with JW North, Murrieta Valley and a healing Great Oak crew giving chase.  We're looking to have team rankings by the end of next week.   

Here are some of the highlights from the Rancho Verde Relay of Champions:
***THREE girls schools esclipsed 48 in the 400 Relay!  Rancho Verde girls took 3rd with a 47.96 (#15 all-time).  Three schools broke 4:00 in the 4x400 with RV going 4th in 4:00.39.  RV's Brittany Bozeman posted a new pr with a 19'0" leap which moves her up to #10 on the all-time county list.
***Great Oak's girls brought home the victory in the 4 x 1600 in a great mark of 21:58.05, which is 9th fastest mark in county history!  Their 9:55.83 mark in the 4 x 800 is now the #11 all-time mark.  Finally, they also raced to a 12:56.64 in the Distance Medley Relay and the #12 all-time county mark.  They were led by super senior Abbey Gallaher, she went 5:18 and 5:17 in anchoring both long relays.  Monique Belmudes went 2:26 and 5:30 in her splits.  They had sevn girls break 5:40....  
***Murrieta Valley's girls blazed the Shuttle Hurdles with a 66.8 hand-timed performance.  They were one of the top SH Relay squads in the nation in 2007!
***Hidden in the Small Schools competition is Beaumont's Ashlee Cervantes, who continues to put on a show this spring.  She split 5:18 in the 4 x 1600, 5:21 in the DMR, 2:25 in the 4 x 800 while finishing with a 60 split in the 4x400

***Rancho Verde's boys want to join the party to the state meet with their girls!  Relay teams of 42.52 and 3:21.04 now lead the county and produced marks now in our all-time county Top 20 list!  They also surprised with a 8:12.21 4 x 800 mark.  Their Sprint Medley Team easily rode home with a victory in a very impressive 3:34.10 mark!  Meanwhile, Jesse Ooten flew to over 22'6" with his teammate, Skylar LaCour going over 6'6" in the high jump.
***Vista Murrieta's boys blasted the 4x800 team in 8:04.83, now the #9 all-time county mark!  Their victory in the DMR at 10:45.14 puts them up to #17 on the all-time list.  Nick Ross was back in action and proved that his 610" effort from last week was no fluke and did it once again! 

For the team results:
GIRLS: 1) Long Beach Wilson, 2) Vista Murrieta, 3) Great Oak
BOYS: 1) Vista Murrieta, 2) Rancho Verde, 3) Great Oak
SWEEPSTAKES: 1) Vista Murrieta, 2) Great Oak, 3) Rancho Verde

IN OTHER NEWS...
**JW North's squads looked VERY strong at the Los Osos Grizzly Invite.  We're hoping to receive results soon...
**Corona senior Raul Arcos set a new Riverside County record for the 5000 meters in a time of 14:56.88.   His younger teammates, freshman Michael Gauger and sophomore Alan Cuevas both went 9:53 and 9:56 respectively in the 3200.
**PLEASE help us in with names and school years for athletes listed under our Top Marks List.