On Saturday, 9 am at Pierce College of Woodland Hills, the San Pedro High girls cross-country team will be looking to clinch their 'Perfect 10' moment, a tenth CIF-Los Angeles City Section championship in the City finals race. 

A strong group of runners paced by seniors Danielle Nunez, Dana Cameron, Violet Tipich, Isabel Hegge and Alex De La Pena, along with juniors Bronwyn Bunnell and Cynthia Kelso will look to will their way to the Pirates' third title in four years, while the boys team sparked by Wyatt Kircher and Kade Schmitz will look to repeat as champion.

Nunez, Cameron, Hegge, Tipich and Bunnell have all been a part of those previous two championships and look to one part of all their Marine League races that build them up for the City finals: the often treacherous terrain of running every meet at the Peck Park Canyon Trails, especially at one particular part of the trail.

“The Triple Hill, the infamously grueling part of our course,” Cameron says. “I believe it helps us prepare for hills at City though, because if you can run Triple, you can make it through pretty much anything.”

Tipich didn't think too long to remember her most favorite race in her four years at San Pedro. “My most memorable race would be the 2012 City finals my sophomore year when we beat our rivals (Palisades),” she recalls.

Bruce Thomson, the San Pedro boys/girls cross-country coach has established a dynasty since 1999, as the girls team has won nine City titles, and the boys team, who won City last season, has claimed six City crowns, five of which under Thomson's leadership.

The girls were third in City last year, but Bunnell fractured her ankle warming up at City Prelims, which left the Pirates shorthanded. Nunez and Cameron were both first team All-City and Tipich was 2nd team. The Pirates are currently ranked second in City behind defending champs Palisades.

“I am very proud to be a part of this amazing team,” Hegge says. “They are my family and I couldn't imagine high school without them. I love being able to represent San Pedro every time I run and I know we've made our hometown proud with the successes we have had in the past.”

Nunez placed fourth in the City Section Division I prelims last Thursday, while Cameron finished sixth, and Hegge eighth. San Pedro will battle the likes of other strong teams such as Palisades, Granada Hills, Birmingham and Santee for the championship.

Nunez, who is now a two-time individual Marine League champion, has high hopes for her final run at a City crown.

"It's bittersweet knowing this will be our last season together so it just fuels the fire even more to make it our best," Nunez says."I feel so lucky to have found something as special as San Pedro cross-country. I'm amazed with what this four years has brought to me."

Port Of Los Angeles will be after a City Section Division II boys cross-country title as their race is at 8:30 am. The San Pedro boys will race for the Division I championship in their quest to defend their title at 9:30 am.