Eyan Turk last November achieved his dream of winning a CIF State championship. The top Division V runner from Riverside’s Woodcrest Christian finished in 14 minutes, 59.20 seconds to claim his big win at Fresno’s famed Woodward Park course.
And, just like enjoying the thrill of a theme park ride, he wants to go right back to the line and do it again.
“I’ve soaked it all in,” says the 2022 and 2023 IE Varsity Boys Runner of the Year, of the championship feeling he’s enjoyed these past 10 months. “And I’m ready to crush it again.”
Workouts have been built for him, changed slightly to keep things fresh, but still with the mindset of achieving major results. His goals?
Performing well at the Sept. 20-21 Woodbridge Cross Country Classic sweepstakes race at Irvine’s Great Park is one. Turk will line up against competition from California runners from all divisions and CIF sections as well as top runners from out-of-state teams. He won’t compete at the ASIACS Clovis Invitational due to a new two-day meet format Oct. 11-12, but Turk will vie at the Inland Empire Challenge Oct. 19 where he finished second last year. He will seek his third straight Southern Section Division 5 final title and then focus on successfully defending his state title. He’d like to break the Division V state record, a 14:51 mark set by San Diego Francis Parker’s Kenan Pala in 2021.
A record-breaking state title win would undoubtedly achieve the other goal — competing in the NXN national meet in Oregon.
“There’s a lot of expectations when defending the title,” Turk says. “It’s my senior year, the final ride, and I want to enjoy it while I still can. I want to have fun and end it on a high note.”
On the team side, there’s numerous suitors for the unofficial title of being IE’s best. Sure, the Inland Empire Challenge helps with that reveal, but does it go, by default, to Temecula’s Great Oak? They have a handful of returners and a healthy return by senior Westin Brown, who missed the bulk of the cross country season with a broken foot but returned in spring for a strong track distance season. He is busy preparing for his season debut in the Woodbridge sweepstakes race, according to Great Oak Coach Tammy Draughon.
But there’s plenty of buzz surrounding Riverside’s ML King, led by junior Maximo Zavaleta. The team finished 10th at last year’s CIF State Division I meet. With a young core back — Brad Quezada, Logan Carlson and Frank Stewart are also juniors — and seniors Brayden Lunetta and Alex Wesolowski rounding out the top seven, things are looking good for the Wolves.
“There’s a lot of excitement for sure,” says third-year head coach Alfonso Ibarra. “Our top boys are working at a very high level. It is a special group. All of the kids have been with me since I got here. Every year they’ve gotten a little bit better. It was a big year last season, and it really got them going and they know what they’re capable of doing. They know what’s coming and they’re excited for the opportunities ahead.”
Zavaleta won the Big VIII League title and Inland Empire Challenge title (three-mile PR, 14:13.90) and was first in the CIF-Southern Section Div. 1 prelims run on the normal Mt. SAC course. He was fifth in the CIF-Southern Section final (14:17.40) run on the seldom-used Mt. SAC rain course. He followed that with a 5000-meter PR (15:07.50) while finishing seventh in the CIF State Meet final.
“He’s definitely an extraordinary athlete, but not just because of his exceptional talent, but more so for his humility and the example he sets for the entire team. Despite his numerous successes, he remains grounded and is always a team-first guy,” Ibarra says.
Zavaleta’s presence for two more years will certainly have him in any conversation as a top individual, but he’s not the only top returning area runner.
Here’s a list of other IE Varsity first- and second-team boys runners who are back in 2024:
Jacob Brown, Great Oak, Sr.: One of several key returners, he ran PR times in the CIF-SS Div. 1 Final (14:39.90) and was 14th in the CIF-State Div. I final (15:17.90).
Kael Jex, Big Bear, Sr.: Won the Cross Valley League title (17:11), went 14:41 for eighth in the Div. 4 CIF-SS Finals and was 21st overall in the State Div. IV race in a 5000-meter PR time of 15:55.
Westin Brown, Great Oak, Sr.: He only ran three races before a foot injury sidelined him for the season, but he had PR times at Woodbridge (ninth, 14:09.40) and Clovis (41st, 15:46.60).
Jace Deledonne, Riverside Poly, Jr.: Defending Raincross Conference champion, was 37th in the CIF-SS Final with a PR three-mile time of 14:53.20.
Nolan Koopman, Rancho Cucamonga, Sr.: Baseline League runner-up in 15:40, 32nd overall at the CIF-SS Finals in a PR time (14:51.80). He set his 5000 PR at the Clovis Invitational (16:14, 13th).
Nathan Magana, Patriot, Sr.: Won the River Valley League title (15:41.70), Large School boys varsity division title at Inland Empire Challenge (15:25) and his Junior Blue Division title at Woodbridge (15:24.80).
Lyle Mideiros, Claremont, Jr.: Finished fifth in the Palomares League Finals with three-mile PR of 15:04.97. He was 46th in the CIF-SS Final (15:17.30).
Jack Paradise, Great Oak, Jr.: He finished 19th in the CIF-SS Div. 1 final in a PR time of 14:37.50. He’ll be a key returner for Great Oak this fall.
Daniel Reza, Chaffey, Sr.: He’s the defending Mt. Baldy League Finals champion, winning in 15:04.43. Set PR mark in ASICS Clovis Invitational with a 16:17.50, good for 18th.
Frank Rodriquez, Redlands East Valley, Sr.: The defending Citrus Belt League Finals champion (15:22.20) was 19th in the CIF-SS Finals in a three-mile PR time of 15:04.50.
