Page 216 - vhs2007yearbook

"Eight miles is nothing."
-Andrae Mariano

Ana§ta§ia D iG iaRRonardo
Junior Anastasia DiGiallonardo, a very
devoted cross country member since
her freshman year, loves cross coun-
try because it is both a team and an
individual sport. She and her team
have become like a family; one of her
main inspirations is her team, especially
the Varsity Girls. They inspired her because she was the
second girl on Varsity and halfway through the season was
injured, causing her to be out the rest of the year. Despite
her injury, the girls showed their strength by making it to
CIF for the first time in school history. Though she missed
the last few races, her best race was Woodbridge Invita-
tional where she ran the three-mile race in 19 minutes
and 36 seconds. DiGiallonardo is also on the track team
and enjoys photography, fashion and music. She plans to
attend an art school and is considering Brooks Institute
of Photography, FIDM and Academy of the Arts University
where she would love to run competitively but will run on
her own if there is no team to join.

Alejandro Ricardo

Senior Alejandro Ricardo joined cross
country in his senior year because he loves
challenging himself and the fact that run-
ning is not just about being physically in
shape but also mentally in shape. He also
enjoys playing soccer and hanging out with
his friends. One person who has inspired
him is Monique Palmera: "I love her, enough said." One event
he did really well in was their final race, although his favorite
race was the Stanford race. To him, the most rewarding part of
cross country was learning to push his limits. At times he finds
it difficult to balance cross country and school, though for the
most part he manages well. After high school, he plans to go to
college and continue running; he says he will run forever.

1. Ready, set, go. The Valencia Cross Country Team waits at the starting line
with teams from other schools, anxiously awaiting the start of the event. 2. He
leaps, he soars. Senior Alejandro Ricardo flies through the air while running his
event. 3. Gaggle of gals. A group of girls run their race with two Valencia girls,
Kaitlyn Byrne and Laura Bloom, in the lead. 4. Driven. Mari Carlo Manzana
paces himself in pursuit of the end of the race. 5. So close. Andrew Mayeda
pulls through the last portion of his event. 6. Check out my "Blue Suede Shoes'~
Rella Kautianen focuses on the path ahead, keeping her mind in the race. 7. A
head up. Lindsey Roark rounds a curve, ahead of a Hart runner. 8. One track
determination. Single-minded Cody Massie disregards bystanders and heads
towards the finish line.