IRVINE — To build something strong, you need to go through tough tests and times the same way you celebrate good moments, the best of times as they appear. Late Saturday night at the 43rd Woodbridge Cross Country Classic, Maximo Zavaleta lined up at the newly expanded starting area. The junior from King High School was surrounded by his fellow cross country teammates, but also a very talented group of elite runners from California and a number of teams who were there from other states. Throw in a huge crowd everywhere the runner looked, and all was well. “All I can say is that everything is beautiful,” Zavaleta said. “I loved the energy here. I loved seeing all of the people who were here. The energy just helps bring out the best in us.” King’s top runner did the best he could in the coveted Doug Speck boys sweepstakes race — among the season’s marquee events. He ran the fast 3-mile course at Irvine’s Great Park in 13 minutes, 56.4 seconds to finish a respectable seventh place overall. The competition was fierce as expected but he took on the challenge of running against a bevy of runners from inside and outside California. Zavaleta was the first California boys runner in the race to cross the finish line Saturday. He followed sweepstakes winner senior Owen Powelll of Merced Island (Wash.), who had a meet-record-setting time of 13:30.3. The next five finishers were senior Josiah Tostenson of Crater (Ore.), Maximus Cervi-Skinner from Coeur D’Alene (Idaho), Southlake Carroll (Texas) junior Caden Leonard, Crater senior Tayvon Kitchen, and Herriman (Utah) junior Jackson Spencer. To note the competitive nature of the race, Zavaleta was one of 13 runners to finish with a sub-14-minute time. Running on a flat, fast race course typically delivers personal-best marks like they are a dime a dozen. So, to gain an advantage, you need to employ a strategy that works for you and maybe on the fly. “It brings out a lot in all of us,” Zavaleta said. “I think it was very important for me and my teammates to have the top people to run against. We build these ideas that they are so high above us, but in reality, we’re all in the same race, have the same fair chance when the gun goes off. Why not make the best of it?” The finish was chaotic as so many runners suddenly surged through the line at the same time. “I had no idea I finished (seventh), but I was just seeing people in front of me, and I told myself, you feel good and you need to just keep trying to catch people,” Zavaleta said. “When I saw the finish line, I gave it my all with my kick and I think I appointed myself very well.” Another local runner in the mix was defending CIF Southern Section Division 5 and CIF State Division V champion Eyan Turk of Woodcrest Christian. The senior finished ninth overall in 13:57.6. Chaffey’s Daniel Reza crossed in 15:07.2, 139th out of 273 runners who took the line in the sweepstakes race. Running and finishing behind Zavaleta for King, which placed 15th in the team race among 36 schools that scored, were Logan Carlson (14:30.4, 61st), Alex Wesolowski (14:42.5, 84th), Bradley Quezada (15:11.9, 150th) and John Sosa (15:39, 226th). Jack Paradise (14:16.5, 33rd), and Jacob Brown (14:41, 79th) were the top finishers for Great Oak, which placed 12th in the team scoring, which was won by Herriman (Utah) led by former Wolfpack coach Doug Soles. Other scorers for Great Oak were Christian Gump (14:44.7, 86th), Marco Franco (15:03.5, 130th), and Ruben Sanchez (15:24.4, 189th). Other top Inland boys included from Riverside Poly (22nd among teams), Jace Deledonne (30th, 14:15.9), Micah Chandler (114th, 14:56.4), Owen Weems (142, 15:08.2), and Ares Grez (157th, 15:14.2). Freshman Bryson Caganap placed 99th (14:50.91) to lead Ayala, which placed 27th. Other scorers were Derek Campos (126th ,15:01.3) Jacob Facenda (128th, 15:02.8), Jack Paz (167th, 15:17.1), and Robert Razo (202nd, 15:29.7). Related Articles High School Sports | IE Varsity’s Week 5 high school football schedule, Sept. 25-28 High School Sports | IE Varsity’s Week 4 football roundup: Kalib Pacheco helps Don Lugo reclaim ‘Milk Can’ High School Sports | IE Varsity’s football wrap-up: Stories, scores and photos from Week 4 games High School Sports | San Gorgonio football routs Indio with dominant ground game High School Sports | Norco football team holds off Citrus Valley