Santa Clarita, CA — After a two-year hiatus, the Foothill League Cross Country Finals returned to Central Park in Saugus. Filled with top local talent and several ranked teams in the varsity races, the Valencia Vikings Cross Country Team needed to bring their best looking for both team and individual glory and a chance to extend their season to the CIF Southern Section Prelims in November.

Walnut, CA — Valencia Vikings Cross Country Team tested their fitness at the famous Mt. SAC Invite in Walnut. Met with a late heatwave with hot and dry weather, the conditions upped the stakes on this challenging and hilly course.

Long Beach, CA — The Valencia Vikings cross country team traveled to El Dorado Park in Long Beach looking to eclipse the competition at the Bell Gardens Invitational this past weekend. Finding a mixed terrain course with thick, uneven grass sections interspersed with faster road sections, the team was anticipating tough competition and a chance for personal bests on the deceptively challenging course. With pleasant temperatures and a slight breeze for later races, the conditions were nearly ideal for the Vikings.

Fresno, CA — The Valencia Viking Cross Country team sent their varsity squads up to the Clovis Invitational in Fresno this past weekend. The Vikings had quite the challenge with many of the top teams in the state making the trip to experience the state championship course. Waiting for them was a rolling, winding 5k over mixed terrain. The well-tended course was fast with short grass, watered dirt sections and a bit of asphalt mixed in. Rarely flat with gentle gradients for most of the hills, the team was hoping for fast times and looking to prep for competitive races as the end of the season is around the corner. With late morning start times and a forecast of 90+ for the day, the heat played a role for many of the competitors.

Los Angeles, CA — The Valencia Vikings Cross Country team hit the challenging terrain of Griffith Park in the Bell Jeff Invitational this past weekend. The course started in the Merry-Go-Round area of the park and threw numerous challenges at the competitors as they toured above and through the old Zoo of Griffith Park. Thick grass with gopher holes challenged runners at the start and finish areas while plentiful hills, uneven asphalt, and poor footing challenged runners through the entire course. Cool weather temperatures made for ideal racing temperatures and the forecast rain held off for most of the event before letting loose on the Vikings final race.

Santa Clarita, CA — The Valencia Vikings Cross Country took on the very competitive Foothill League over the challenging hills at the College of the Canyons this past Saturday. The course climbed the back access road of the college and runners were greeted with two loops, each with a serous hill at the turn around. First loop was past the vineyard and up the “Evil Twin.” At the summit was a supportive crowd and a bit of downhill relief before the second loop delivered the runners the infamous “Killer Hill.” A steep hill, with an undulating summit and a run along the ridge, challenged the field before one last little bump up named “What the Hill??” delivered them to a long descent to finish in the stadium. Early start times and unseasonably comfortable September weather helped to relieve the sting of the challenging course as the Vikings sized up the league.