Top Boys
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* Ramses Cortes of Great Oak runs in a cross country meet
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One of the runners who will lead Great Oak (CA) this season is Ramses Cortes.
As a junior, he opened up his season with a 15:09 for three miles at this meet last year. He continued to excel on the course by finishing 13th at the CIF State Cross Country Championships and 88th at Garmin RunningLane Cross Country Championships.
As Cortes returns for his final season with Great Oak, he could pave the way for last run at a title. Nick Gaffney and Mark Cortes will join their teammate on the course this weekend, and we could see something special from the Wolfpack.
* Bille Issa competed in the 3,200m at the CIF Outdoor Track and Field Championships
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The top returner from this meet is West Ranch's (CA) Bille Issa. In his first full cross country season of his career, he debuted his junior year with a 15:04 three mile performance at the Cool Breeze Invitational to finish 11th overall. This performance was the second-fastest time recorded in his career.
The rising senior competed in a handful of cross country races afterward, including a 17th finish at the CIF Southern Section Championships.
With a year of experience underneath his belt now, Issa could potentially challenge for the title at this year's invitational.
* Matthew Donis at last year's Woodbridge Cross Country Classic
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Highland's (CA) Matthew Donis can be a darkhorse contender for a top finish at the Cool Breeze Invitational.
The last time he competed at this meet was when he was a freshman, as he finished in 18:45. Fast forward to his junior year, and he won the blue division race at the Woodbridge Cross Country Classic with a 14:46 effort to win the three mile race.
He also finished 21st at the CIF State Cross Country Championships with a new 5K personal best of 15:35. With this being his first time competing on the Brookside Golf Course in nearly four years, we could see something special as he returns to where his cross country journey began.