HIGH SCHOOL DIGEST : CLOSE-UP : Hart Runners Redeem Themselves at Mt. SAC

After a disappointing showing at the Los Angeles County Championships 10 days ago, the Hart High boys cross-country team redeemed itself Saturday with a fourth-place effort at the Mt. San Antonio College Invitational, the nation’s largest high school meet.

Led by Bobby Bans’ sixth-place (15:44.3) effort over the three-mile course, Hart defeated many of the premier teams in the Southland, including Thousand Oaks, the No. 2-ranked team in the Southern Section 4-A Division; La Habra, the No. 2-ranked team in the 3-A, and Walnut, the No. 1-ranked team in the 2-A.

Stephen Lepken (32nd in 16:20.5) and Kevin Fenenbock (45th in 16:35.2) have given Hart the fourth and fifth runners the team lacked.

“Our team is a strength team, not a speed team,” Hart Coach Gene Blankenship said. “We can’t go out in 4:50 for the first mile and run to our potential. We have to be more patient.”