Inland Empire Challenge - 10/11/03 - Southern Section affair heats up the greater Inland Inland Empire area!!

Inland Empire Heats Up!
by Rich Morales, Race Director

It’s not a fall heat wave that is causing such a stir among cross country aficionados, but the 3rd annual running of the Inland Empire Challenge. This tournament, called an invitational in cross country lingo, pits of the finest teams in the state from San Bernardino and Riverside Counties against each other in head to head competition at Cucamonga Guasti Regional Park in Ontario.

The meet, a joint effort by Canyon Springs, Rancho Cucamonga, and Los Osos High Schools, began in 2001 with 823 runners from the Inland Empire. This year’s event, Co-Sponsored by the City of Ontario, is expected to draw over twice as many runners from more than 50 teams with an expected 3,000+ spectators. Spectators will not have to be Cross Country runners themselves to watch a majority of the race. The eighteen races scheduled will be run on a course that is unusual among most: it features the ability to watch nearly 95% of the entire race with a minimum of movement on the part of the spectators.

This year’s Boys’ Sweepstakes race features the powerhouse Don Lugo boy’s team looking to settle once and for all who is the top ranked team in the State as they run against Murrieta Valley, Rancho Cucamonga, and Upland, four of the top 10 ranked teams in CIF SS Division I. Sultana and Diamond Bar, La Sierra, Canyon Springs, Hemet, and Rancho Verde, all highly considered schools in the Inland Empire, will join them in their quest to claim bragging rights over which county is the best.

The Girls’ Sweepstakes race features a dual between two of the strongest teams in the state, one each from the two counties. Sultana narrowly defeated Murrieta Valley High by just 39 seconds last year. Both teams look to be just a strong again this year with Kelsey Delagardelle, Stacy Tabuena, and Danielle Varella leading Sultana. Liza Pascuito is joined by freshman phenomenon, Liana Boucher in leading Murrieta Valley to the top Division I Ranking in CIF SS. Rancho Cucamonga looks to unveil Natalie Pichetti, a Footlocker finalist from 2002, to compliment Brenda Martinez, CIF 1600 finalist. Both Los Osos High Schools and Canyon Springs join special guest Iolani HS from Honolulu, Hawaii in establishing the Inland Empire’s pecking order.

Racing will begin at 7:30 am, Saturday, October 11th as teams compete in various divisions (Large Schools, Medium sized, and Small Schools).

Alta Loma HS
Apple Valley Christian School
Arlington HS
Arrowhead Christian Academy HS
Arroyo Valley HS
Bloomington HS
Boys Republic HS
Cajon HS
Calvary Chapel Moreno Valley
Canyon Springs HS
Canyon Springs HS
Cathedral City HS
Cathedral City HS
Chaffey HS
Chaparral HS
Chino Hills HS
Colony HS
Colton HS
Desert Christian HS
Desert Hot Springs HS
Diamond Ranch HS
Don Lugo HS
Elsinore HS
Etiwanda HS
Excelsior Education Center
Fontana HS
Hemet HS
Hesperia HS
Iolani
Iolani HS
La Quinta HS
La Sierra HS
Los Osos HS
Murrieta Valley HS
Norco HS
Norte Vista HS
Ontario Christian HS
Palm Springs HS
Palm Valley School
Paloma Valley HS
Ramona HS
Rancho Cucamonga HS
Rancho Verde HS
Redlands HS
Redlands HS
Rialto HS
Riverside Poly HS
Rubidoux HS
Rubidoux HS
Rubidoux HS
San Jacinto HS
Sultana HS
Temecula Valley HS
Temescal Canyon HS
Upland HS
Upland HS
Vista Murrieta HS
Yucca Valley HS

event name
Boys 3-4-5 Junior Varsity (M)
Boys I & II Junior Varsity (M)
Boys LS Frosh/Soph (M)
Girls 3-4-5 Junior Varsity (F)
Girls I & II Junior Varsity (F)
Girls LS Frosh/Soph (F)
Invitational Boys Sweepstakes (M)
Invitational Girls Sweepstakes (F)
Large Schools Boys Varsity (M)
Large Schools Girls Varsity (F)
MS Frosh/Soph Boys (M)
MS Frosh/Soph Girls (F)
Medium Schools Boys Varsity (M)
Medium Schools Girls Varsity (F)
SS Frosh/Soph Boys (M)
SS Frosh/Soph Girls (F)
Small Schools Boys Varsity (M)
Small Schools Girls Varsity (F)

INLAND EMPIRE CHALLENGE INVITATIONAL
Riverside County Vs. San Bernardino County. Co-hosted by the City of Ontario

REGISTRATION HAS BEEN EXTENDED!
You may register up until Friday, Oct.10th. 8:00 pm will be the cut off time for all new registration and changes to existing registrants.

Canyon Springs, Rancho Cucamonga, and Los Osos High Schools invite you to Southern California’s most exclusive Cross Country Invitational. Click here for Race Registration
NEW! Check out Course map below

As growth in both counties continues, many feel that this Inland Empire Challenge Invitational is the premier invitational that insures that our Inland Empire athletes receive the recognition they deserve. DyestatCal.com, the state's leader in providing California and the nation with the most up to date and comprehensive information about High School Track and Cross Country, says, "Among the other teams pictured here that should excel this fall are Rancho Cucamonga, La Sierra, Rubidoux and Murrieta Valley. DyeStatCal hopes to be on site for this year's Inland Empire Challenge, which lends insight into some of SoCal's best teams"

With an increased number of schools, the meet promises to be both more exciting and more competitive, bringing out the best in our athletes.
The meet features a sweepstakes race that determines the Riverside County Champion, the San Bernardino County Champion, and an overall Inland Empire Champion. The meet will take advantage of what coaches last year called “the best computer software” they’ve ever seen. The results will be posted on the Internet the same day.

The course is 99% spectator friendly, designed by runners for runners and their fans. Last years highlights included DIV. II Boys’ and Girls’ State Champions, Rubidoux and Sultana, the powerhouse Div. I Murrieta Girls team led by Liza Pascuito, Division I Runners up, Don Lugo, Murietta Valley Boys (5th in State) La Sierra Boys, Diamond Ranch and a number of CIF Finalist teams (Los Osos, Rancho Cucamonga, Canyon Springs). IEC Results 2002

Date: October 11th, 2003 - Time: 7:30 AM to 1:00 PM

Place: Guasti Regional Park. Gates open @ 6:00 AM

Cost: $40.00 per team per race (5 or more athletes)/ $8.00 per individual.

Results: Immediately following every race. Will also be posted on the Internet that day.

Registration: Will be done through website. See Information below. In the absence of extreme circumstances, teams must enter a varsity team if they are entering a JV team.

Divisions: Three (3) Divisions based on 2003 CIF Classification: Small Schools,
(DIV IV, V), Large Schools, (DIV 1,) and a combined Medium Schools (Div II, Div. III),
and plus a Sweepstakes Race. This will be the challenge race between the best nine schools from each Riverside County and San Bernardino County. Meet management will determine sweepstakes placement. (CIF ranking, strength of program, and prior Invitational success.) Check Race Catagories.

Level Awards:
Sweepstakes race: medals top 35 runners.

Varsity, Junior Varsity, and Frosh/Soph. medals for the top 30 runners in each race.

Trophies to top 3 teams in each race.

Trophies for the number one boys and girls team of the day in each county. All-County
patches (Riverside, San Bernardino) for each winning boys’ and girls’ team.

Inland Empire Championship Plaque to the #1 Sweepstakes team.

All County Awards: Given to the 7 fastest boys and 7 fastest girls of the meet by
grade level and by county.

Course Gate Fee: Meet management will prepay Teams entering on a bus. All others driving
in may pay a gate fee of 5 dollars per car.

Bus Parking: Buses will enter park from Turner Ave. (From the 10 Fwy, North on Archibald, Right (East) on Inland Empire Blvd., Left (North) on Turner.
Restrooms: Restrooms are located throughout the park.

First Aid: Athletic Trainer and assistants will be on site.

Other: Coaches consider bringing plenty of water and possibly a canopy.

T-Shirts Multicolor championship T-shirts will be on sale for only $12.00 each ($13.00 for XL)

Concessions: Concessions will be available, provided by Canyon Springs,
Rancho Cucamonga, and Los Osos High parent groups.

After Race - Refreshments: Snacks and drinks will be provided for the athletes after each race.

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