Alex Ramirez returned to his hometown and took third place in the season-opening Ventura Invitational men's cross county meet on Friday at Arroyo Verde Park.
Ramirez, a sophomore from Buena High, covered the 4-mile course in 23:03. Alex Gomez of West L.A. was the winner in 22:49 and Jake Eisler of Moorpark was second in 23:00.
Moorpark won the nine-team meet with 69 points. West L.A. was second at 88, one ahead of the third-place Vaqueros.
Jose Tarula placed 18th for Santa Barbara in 24:06 and Patrick Lownes-Santos was 19th in 24:14. Charles Perry claimed 26th, giving the Vaqueros four runners in the top 26 of an 86-runner field.
Bradley Apodaca, who ran the last two years for SBCC, placed eighth on Friday running unattached.
The Vaqueros return to action on Friday, Sept. 16 in the Southern Cal Preview at Irvine Regional Park.
Ventura Invitational
At Arroyo Verde Park
Team (9 schools) – 1, Moorpark 69. 2, West LA 88. 3, SBCC 89. 4, Ventura 102. 5, Oxnard 119. 6, Bakersfield 121.
Individual (4 miles, 86 runners) – 1, Alex Gomez, West L.A., 22:49. 2, Jake Eisler, Moorpark, 23:00. 3, Alex Ramirez, SBCC, 23:03.
SBCC results -- 3, Ramirez 23:03. 18, Jose Tarula 24:06. 19, Patrick Lownes-Santos 24:14. 26, Charles Perry 24:53. 33, Marcus Dunkel 25:16. 56, Jordan Shinn 26:47. 72, Victor Santos 30:12.
