Coronado’s Laurent breezes to win in Southern Division Championships

The Coronado senior breezed to a first-place finish in the Southeast League race of the Southern Division Championships at Basic High School.

Laurent, one of the top girls cross country runners in the South this season, won the 3-mile race in 18 minutes, 6 seconds. She finished 1:14 ahead of second-place Lauren Lucas, also from Coronado.

Laurent’s winning time was more than 30 seconds faster than any other girls race winner Saturday.

The Cougars had five of the top-10 finishers to easily win the Southeast meet with 24 points. Foothill was second with 60 points.

Foothill’s Sage Long was third in 19:24.

In the Northeast, Heather Hollinger of Canyon Springs pulled away to win in 19:27.

Wendy Villa placed second in 20:11 and helped Valley to a first-place finish in the team standings. The Vikings had 26 points. Las Vegas was second with 50.

Arbor View’s Katie Carrell nipped Centennial’s Brittany Williams by one second to win the Northwest League race.

Carrell finished in 18:45, Williams in 18:46.

Williams’ effort helped the Bulldogs claim the team competition with 32 points. Shadow Ridge, without top runner Michelle Schenck who missed the meet with an injury, placed second with 45.

In the Southwest, Bishop Gorman runners took fourth, fifth and sixth to help the Gaels win with 42 points. Clark was second with 53.

Pahrump Valley senior McKenzie Dean won the race in 19:58, five seconds faster than Clark’s Elisa Vazquez.