Vaqueros take meets at Lindo Lakes

LAKESIDE (10-13-2018) – Buoyed by a season-best clocking by team medalist MATTHEW MACHNOV, the El Capitan Vaqueros maintained their hold as the top-ranked Division III school in the CIF San Diego Section, downing visiting Grossmont High.

The race was held over the 5K course at historic Lindo Lakes Park, once the site of the world land speed record. In 1907, Barney Oldfield circles the lakes in a then world-record 70.2 miles-per-hour in his Green Dragon motor car.

Machnov previously set his best mark at the South Bay Invitational, as did Vaqueros teammate Andrew Sager. The pair’s second-third finish was good enough to propel El Capitan to a 21-47 decision over the Foothillers.

However, the race medalist was Grossmont’s Jonathan Rodriguez-Gomez who transversed the course in 16:02. Machnov was five seconds back, immediately followed by Sager, then two other Vaqueros, Joseph Hart (16:38) and Parker Dixon (16:47).

Both coaches had projected a score of 27-30 for El Capitan, but the Hillers were missing two runners due to illness.

In the girls’ varsity competition, El Capitan also posted a 24-32 victory led by medalist CAROLINH CALVERT easily topped the field by 20 full seconds.

Calvert came home in 19:20 over the 3.1-mile course in 19:20, followed by Madeline Minutelli of Grossmont (19:40). The rest of the field was more than a minute back.

Also at Lindo Lakes, Santana defeated Mount Miguel in both varsity races. Medalists for the Sultans were Jack Mackin (17:53) and Carmen Gonzales (21:51).