header image

[Sign Up Now] to Receive Our FREE Daily SCVTV-SCVNews Digest by E-Mail

Inside
Weather


 
Calendar
Today in
S.C.V. History
May 5
1828 - Soledad Canyon settler John Lang born in Herkimer County, N.Y. [story]
Lang


Thursday afternoon was a day of firsts for the Golden Valley High boys cross country team and Kristian Martinez.

The Grizzlies won their first Foothill League team championship in program history, ending Saugus High’s five-year string of titles.

A team finally out-shined the Lady Centurions for the first time since November 2005, Golden Valley finishing one through four with all seven runners in the top 12.

And Martinez won his first individual gold medal, a year after fading to 12th at the most competitive championships in Foothill League history.

This fall, there was no Saugus boys squad standing atop the Foothill League. They were busy reloading after losing six of their top seven runners from last year’s CIF Southern Section Division 2 championship. The results at this years finals? A solid third behind the newly-crowned champions in Golden Valley and runner-up Hart High of Newhall. And although the Saugus girls, who also suffered heavy losses, graduating six of their top nine from last year’s five-time defending State and Southern Section championship teams, finished one through three with seven of the fastest nine performers of the meet, the Golden Valley boys were still the story of the day.

Heading into this year’s finals, was there really any doubt Martinez, Juan David Garcia and Nolan Del Valle would be denied a one through three finish? They pulled off the incredible feat at Foothill League #2 in mid-October and although Del Valle had an off day at the Mt. San Antonio College Invitational two weeks back, they looked amazing in Walnut, finishing third behind Rancho Cucamonga High and defending Nike Cross National champions Arcadia High. The big surprise was Carlos Lopez running stride-for-stride with Saugus standout AJ Yarnell throughout the three-mile Central Park course, then dropping a jaw-dropping kick to overtake the junior at the finish line for the fourth place spot on the All-Foothill League first team roster. A boys team hasn’t dominated the Foothill League Cross Country Championships like Golden Valley did on Thursday afternoon in at least a decade, when Canyon High reigned supreme in the early 2000s.

Not to be outdone, teammates Brendan Tinoco, Aaron Nguyen and Gabe Levy filed in soon after, crossing the finish line at Central Park in ninth, tenth and twelfth. The Grizzlies performance was one of their best to date and could be the first of three team championships this season as the squad is ranked first in the Southern Section and California Division 2 polls. Performances like Thursday would surely secure both championships in the next three weeks. Meanwhile, Martinez stands at #1 in the individual Southern Section rankings and #2 in California behind Darren Fahy of La Costa Canyon in San Diego.

No one has ever won Southern Section and State team championships in Golden Valley High School history before, the highest finish in state for the Grizzlies was in 2009, when they finished third. Last fall, they took a solid seventh in the California State Championships.

No one has ever won individual Southern Section and State championships in program history before, the closest attempt came from two-time All-State First Team performer and 2010 graduate Seth Totten, who now competes for the UC Riverside.

And no boys team in Santa Clarita Valley history has ever been invited to the Nike Cross Nationals in Portland, Oregon before. Not Canyon High, who was ranked #2 in the nation in 2001. Not the Saugus boys, who finished off last year ranked #21 in the country. Or even Hart High, who, along with last year’s Arcadia High team, are the only California squads to finish off their seasons with a #1-national ranking.

If Golden Valley continues to run strong in the next three weeks, Thursday won’t be their only day of firsts this fall.

Based on their impressive season so far, it’s hard to bet against them.

Comment On This Story
COMMENT POLICY: We welcome comments from individuals and businesses. All comments are moderated. Comments are subject to rejection if they are vulgar, combative, or in poor taste.
REAL NAMES ONLY: All posters must use their real individual or business name. This applies equally to Twitter account holders who use a nickname.

0 Comments

You can be the first one to leave a comment.

Leave a Comment


WATCH NOW
LOCAL SPORTS HEADLINES
Friday, May 3, 2024
College of the Canyons competed at the 3C2A State Singles & Doubles Championships for a second straight year, with the doubles duo of Sydney Tamondong and Estrella Segura establishing program history by advancing to the round of 16 at the Ojai Athletic Club.
Friday, May 3, 2024
College of the Canyons men's basketball head coach Howard Fisher's Cougar Basketball Camp returns in 2024 with three sessions open to boys and girls ages 8 to 14.
Thursday, May 2, 2024
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa -- The Master's University men's volleyball team won their opening match of the 2024 NAIA National Championship with a 3-set win over the No. 9-seed Mount Mercy (IA) Mustangs.
Thursday, May 2, 2024
Nichole Muro was brilliant in the circle through seven shutout innings and Gigi Garcia broke the game open with a two-run double in the sixth inning as No. 15 College of the Canyons got past No. 18 Cuesta College 4-0 in its 3C2A Southern California Regional Playoffs play-in game at Whitten Field on Tuesday.
Thursday, May 2, 2024
College of the Canyons student-athletes Sydney Tamondong (women's tennis) and Nathaniel Wilkinson (men's track and field) have been named the COC Athletic Department's Women's and Men's Student-Athletes of the Week for the period running April 22-27.

Latest Additions to SCVNews.com
Dale Donohoe and Kim Kurowski were named the Santa Clarita Valley's top volunteers of the year at the 2024 SCV Man and Woman of the Year dinner celebration held Friday, May 3 at the Hyatt Regency Valencia. The event also honored all of the 17 men and 17 woman nominated for the award.
Donohoe, Kurowski Named 2024 SCV Man, Woman of the Year
1828 - Soledad Canyon settler John Lang born in Herkimer County, N.Y. [story]
Lang
1903 - President Teddy Roosevelt visits Gov. Henry Gage at Acton Hotel [story]
Acton Hotel
The regular meeting of the Saugus Union School District Governing Board will take place Tuesday, May 7, with closed session beginning at 5:30 p.m., followed immediately by public session at 6:30 p.m.
May 7: Regular Meeting of the Saugus School Board
The city of Santa Clarita Arts Commission is holding its regular meeting in City Hall's Council Chambers Thursday, May 9 at 6 p.m. The meeting will be held at Santa Clarita City Hall, 23920 Valencia Blvd., Valencia, CA 91355.
May 9: Arts Commission to Hear Updates on Civic Art Projects
Experience the Butterfly Encounter at Gilchrist Farm open now on weekends thorugh Sunday, June 18. Walk through a tent of beautiful flowers hosting live butterflies that fly freely throughout the tent.
Experience the Butterfly Encounter at Gilchrist Farm
The Santa Clarita Community College District Board of Trustees will hold a business meeting Wednesday, May 8, beginning at 5 p.m. The board will first meet in closed session at 4:15 p.m.
May 8: COC Board Business Meeting Considers Contracts
The Castaic Union School District Governing Board will hold its regular meeting Thursday, May 8, at 6 p.m. A closed session will be held at 5:30 p.m.
May 8: Castaic Union School Board Regular Meeting
Fire Service Day Open House will be held at all County of Los Angeles Fire Department fire stations on Saturday, May 4 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
May 4: LACoFD Hosts Countywide Open House at All Fire Stations
The Santa Clarita Valley Media Collaborative invites the public as well as local creatives, media industry professionals, students, parents, teachers and others to celebrate the next generation of media makers participating in the inaugural NextGen MediaMakers Festival on Saturday, May 18 from 2-5 p.m. at the Canyon Country Community Center.
May 18: Support Young Creatives at NextGen MediaMakers Festival
Explore Vasquez Rocks during the magical twilight and early evening full moon hours. These fun, collaborative, interpretive hikes are led by trained staff and volunteers and will highlight the park's natural and human history.
Vasquez Rocks Full Moon Twilight Hikes
Astrotourism is top of mind for travelers making special trips for experiences in the sky, and with the recent “take-your-breath-away” total solar eclipse, thousands of cruisers onboard Emerald Princess and Discovery Princess off the coast of Mexico caught a glimpse of the total darkness event.
Princess Cruises Sails to Prime Viewing Spot for 2026 Total Solar Eclipse in Europe
The Santa Clarita City Council will hold a study session on Tuesday, May 7 at 5 p.m. The council will meet at City Hall, Carl Boyer Room, 23920 Valencia Blvd., First Floor, Santa Clarita, CA 91355.
May 7: City Council Conducts Budget Study Session
Garbage inspectors will soon be paying a visit to neighborshoods throughout the Santa Clarita Valley to inspect recycling bins to insure residents are following the recycling rules in the SCV.
Garbage Inspectors to Look for Improper Recycling
College of the Canyons competed at the 3C2A State Singles & Doubles Championships for a second straight year, with the doubles duo of Sydney Tamondong and Estrella Segura establishing program history by advancing to the round of 16 at the Ojai Athletic Club.
Canyons Advances to Day 3 of 3C2A State Championships
College of the Canyons men's basketball head coach Howard Fisher's Cougar Basketball Camp returns in 2024 with three sessions open to boys and girls ages 8 to 14.
Registration Open for 2024 Howard Fisher Cougar Basketball Camp
The Friends of Santa Clarita Public Library is hosting a “Spring Bag Sale” event at the Valencia, Canyon Country and Newhall branches of the Santa Clarita Public Library, during normal operating hours from Saturday, May 4 to Sunday, May 12.
May 4-12: Spring Bag Sale at Santa Clarita Public Library
A former public school teacher who launched a racist and anti-immigrant tirade against a Santa Clarita street vendor is being sued by a Latino civil rights group for civil assault and violating California civil rights laws.
MALDEF Sues Man After Rant at Fruit Vendor in SCV
The Village of Pine Mountain Club has hosted wine festivals since 2003. You can taste exciting wines from the world’s top wine-growing regions, with dozens of premier wineries to choose from on Saturday, July 6, 1-4 p.m. at Wine in the Pines.
July 6: Wine in the Pines, Pine Mountain Club
1842 - California's first mining district established in SCV; Ygnacio del Valle, chairman [story]
Ygnacio del Valle
The American Cancer Society Relay For Life of Santa Clarita Valley will be held Saturday, May 4, 9 a.m.-9 p.m. at Central Park, with the theme “May The Cure Be With You,” a Disney/Star Wars celebration.
May 4: SCV Relay for Life ‘May the Cure Be With You’
Ten risk-taking, mid-career artists were announced Thursday as the recipients of the 2024 Herb Alpert Award in the Arts (HAAIA).
CalArts Announces 2024 Herb Alpert Award Winners
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa -- The Master's University men's volleyball team won their opening match of the 2024 NAIA National Championship with a 3-set win over the No. 9-seed Mount Mercy (IA) Mustangs.
Mustangs Post-Season Play Continues After First Round Win
Andrew Skerratt did not anticipate graduating with an electrical engineering degree from The Master’s University.
TMU Student Set to be School’s First Electrical Engineering Graduate
SCVNews.com