Not only is the Palisades High cross country team lapping the competition, but school records are falling left and right. The term “PR” (which stands for personal record) has become so commonplace this season that Coach Ron Brumel can barely keep track of them all. That trend continued last Thursday against Venice as both varsity teams won convincingly. In the boys’ varsity race, Dolphins’ sophomore Grant Stromberg took first place in a personal best 16:02–the second fastest time by a 10th-grader in school history. The runner-up finisher was teammate Drake Johnston (16:56), who also had a PR and, in doing so, recorded the school’s third fastest time ever for a freshman. Senior Carlos Bustamante (17:07) was third, followed by Danny Escalante (17:08, a season PR) and Daniel Hernandez (18:07), as Palisades swept the top five spots to win 19-36. Setting the pace for the girls’ varsity once again was freshman Jacklyn Bamberger, who finished second in a PR of 18:26–the third-fastest girls’ time in school history. Sophia Stone came in third in a PR of 20:35, Melissa Tallis was fourth in 21:30, Wendy Gomez was fifth in a PR of 21:34 and Jamilett Maldonado was seventh in 22:57 as the Dolphins won 23-34. In the boys’ frosh/soph race, Palisades edged Venice 28-29. All five Palisades runners improved their best times. Ira Blunt and Austin Gelber tied for second (19:23), Nick Wong was fifth (19:37), Santiago Cisneros was sixth (19:54) and Lance Linden was 12th in 25:24. The Dolphins cruised unblemished through their five Western League dual meets. League Finals are today at 2:30 p.m. at Pierce College.
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