Pacific Division cross country

 No one has put together a more auspicious start to their prep cross country career than freshman Sam Lavorato.
 The Palma distance ace won all three Pacific Division Center Meets and stunned a talented field in capturing the Salinas City Meet.
 The objective Saturday at the Pacific Division finals is a team title at Toro Park.
 The Chieftains won two of the three league Center Meets this fall. The one they didn't win came at Toro Park.
 In terms of balance, the Pacific Division has three teams all within striking distance of each other, including Watsonville, who won the second Center Meet.
 While Lavorato is the class of the Pacific, teammates Tommy Padilla and Matthew Gastello were both top 10 finishers at the last Center Meet.
 Depth will be critical for Palma as the Wildcatz and Monterey -- behind Dakota Sherry -- might be a little deeper in terms of overall balance.
 The girls finals will be tight as well with Monterey, Watsonville and Notre Dame all having won at least one Center Meet this season.
 The Toreadores Leslie Oseguera looked poised for a title run after winning the last Center Meet by 10 seconds. Her sister Itsel Oseguera was also a top 10 finisher.
 Notre Dame will rest its hopes of Alex Alcaraz, who was second overall at the Center Meet held at Toro Park earlier this month.


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