Hart Boys, Westlake Girls Win at Bell-Jeff Meet

Hart and Westlake high schools rolled to convincing victories Saturday in the featured cross-country races at the Bell-Jefferson Invitational at Griffith Park.

The Hart boys team, led by Bobby Bans’ fifth-place finish, won the large division with 84 points. Walnut, ranked No. 1 in the Southern Section 2-A Division, placed second with 112. Burroughs (155) and South Torrance (158) finished third and fourth.

Jennifer Feller placed fourth (17:43.9) to lead Westlake to a 60-71 victory over Hesperia in the girls large division. Walnut (102) and Morro Bay (110) finished third and fourth.

Bans, who has been Hart’s No. 2 runner this season, ran his best race of the year, clocking 14:58.6 on the hilly 2.9-mile course.

Teammates Frank Flores (15:05.9) and Don Patti (15:11.3) placed ninth and 13th.

Hart, ranked. No. 3 in the Southern Section 3-A Division, improved on its second-place finish at the Bell-Jeff meet in 1985.

Ian Alsen of Granada Hills made an impressive cross-country debut, placing second in 14:43.3. Richard Erbes of Glendale, the defending 4-A champion, set a course record of 14:10.6.

Although he was suffering from shin splints, Alsen was pleased with his performance.

“I’m happy with my time,” he said. “This course is very challenging with all the hills. I think all the cycling I did last summer really helped me today. My legs felt very strong.”

In the girls large-division race, Westlake won its third Bell-Jeff title in the last four years, despite the absence of Desiree Joubert. Joubert, who has been the No. 2 runner this season, missed the meet because of a strained groin muscle.

Despite her absence, Coach Don Shotliff’s team marched to its second straight invitational title in the last eight days. Last Saturday, they won the Big Ditch Invitational in San Luis Obispo.

Westlake, No. 2 in the Southern Section 4-A Division, displayed impressive depth, placing five runners among the top 21 finishers, including Jamie Butler in sixth (17:53.7) and Carolyn Feller in 13th (18:40.1).

Shotliff was pleased with his team’s performance.

“Our grouping was very good,” he said. “To win without Desiree is very satisfying. Out fourth girl, Robin Dake, is coming off an ankle injury and she ran very well.”

Kennedy’s Sheri Lawson, the City Section champion at 3,200 meters in track, also ran well, placing ninth in 18:19.9.