Bonilla Wins State Preview to Lead Panthers to Upset

Sophomore Edgar Bonilla shook the racing rust off last week with his fourth place finish at the regional preview meet. This week, in a close competition with five runners over the last mile, the former King City Mustang used his previous meet experience over the Woodward Park layout from both high school and last year to perfectly time his final move that propelled him to his biggest victory of his Hartnell College career. Bonilla took the win by one second 21:06 to Glendale College runner Shane Thompson at 21:07. Thompson was the overall winner at the Oxnard Invitational where Bonilla did not compete. Only three Panthers have previously won the state preview meet with Daniel Tapia and Diego Leon both going on to the individual state title in November. Already an All-American with his ninth place finish as a freshman, Bonilla joins a small list of potential candidates for this fall's individual title. Fellow sophomore Jorge Sanchez ran much of the race side by side with Bonilla and also found himself in contention for the overall win finishing just seven seconds behind his teammate in sixth place. Sanchez narrowly missed edging last week's Norcal Preview Meet winner Ozzie Hassan of American River College by less than one second. Last fall, Sanchez placed fifteenth in this same race. His time of 21:13 was a personal best on the course despite near 90 degree temperatures on Saturday in Fresno. Mario Perez, Jr. joined his teammates in the top 14 with his surprise thirteenth place finish in 21:40. Oscar Mora, Jr. (21:56) was 21st and frosh Jaime Garcia i(22:06) in 28th complete the scoring. Andrew Martinez (22:10) and Angel Mejia, Jr. (22:45) rounded out the top seven for the Panthers.