Arcadia student cross country runners, a figure skater, and a baton twirler were all extremely successful in major competitions from Long Beach to France last week.
Arcadia High senior Ammar Moussa led the Apache cross country team to CIF State titles at Woodward Park, Ca., Saturday, completing an undefeated season. Moussa had the day’s fastest time on the 5-kilometer course at 14 minutes, 43 seconds. It was the second-fastest time on the course and the fastest in a State Division I race. The Apaches boys won the team title by 84 points, their first state crown. Their team time of 76:12 was the fastest ever for the course, according to the Pasadena Star-News. Moussa and the team compete in the 7th Annual Nike Cross Nationals championship in Portland, Oregon this Saturday, Dec. 4.
Mirai Nagasu is thrilled to win first Grand Prix figure skating medal -- silver -- in France.
On the same day in France, 17-year-old Olympic figure skater Mirai Nagasu of Arcadia medaled for the first time at a Grand Prix event, winning the silver at the Trophee Eric Bompard in France on Saturday. The event was shown on NBC Sunday afternoon. After finishing second in her short program to the “Witches of Eastwick” soundtrack, Mirai had the highest-scoring free skate to music from “Memoirs of a Geisha” but her overall score ranked less than two points behind gold medalist Kiira Korpi of Finland. The medal was notable for Mirai, who placed two spots ahead of prominent Japanese skater Mao Asada, because Mirai had been off the ice for six weeks in July/August with a right ankle stress fracture. She won the short program at the Cup of China earlier this month but dropped to fourth after the free skate. Mirai had to leave Arcadia High School after her sophomore year to focus on her training for the Olympics last February and as her mother Ikuko was battling cancer. At the family Kiyosuzu restaurant on Baldwin Avenue, Ikuko recently told ArcadiasBest.com that she has recovered well so far from the cancer and is splitting her time working some evening shifts and shuttling Mirai back and forth to her training at Lake Arrowhead.
Kelsey Miller wins four state baton twirling titles.
Six days earlier on Nov. 21, First Avenue Middle School 7th grader Kelsey Miller won four State Titles in Long Beach at the 2011 State Twirl Championships — Intermediate State Twirl; Intermediate State X-Strut; All Level State 3-Baton; and Beginner State 2-Baton Titles. Kelsey juggles three batons at once as the feature twirler for the First Avenue Spartan’s marching band led by Michael Danielson.
— By Scott Hettrick