The key to winning team championships in cross country is keeping your team running in a tight pack.

That's just what the San Bernardino Valley College men's cross country team did at the Cuyamaca Cross Country Kick-Off race at Harry Griffen Park in La Mesa. The Wolverines' top five runners finished with 11 seconds of each other to help the team with the title in the season opening 5K race.

Micah Watson crosed the line first for SBVC, stopping the clock at 16 minutes, 41 seconds, but four of his teammates were hot on his heels. Adam Acuna was eked out at the line to take the fifth spot one second behind Watson, while Jacob Orta was another second behind (16:43) for sixth. Samuel Chavarria was the next across, finishing at 16:48, and Noah Townsend rounded out the scoring group with an eighth place finish at 16:52.

The Wolverines had four more runners finish in the top 20. Oscar Hernandez was 13th at 17:18, with Zach Calderon finishing 14th at 17:22. Maximiliano Resendiz finished 16th at 17:24, and Diego Caldera was 18th at 17:36.

SBVC is bound to face a tough field in their second race of the season. Saturday, the Wolverines will head to Woodward Park in Fresno - the site of the state championships - for the Clovis Crush Invitational.