Three Fallbrook High School boys earned medals for being among the top 40 finishers in their race at the Laguna Hills Invitational cross-country meet Sept. 8.

Elijah Roque placed fifth in the sophomore race, Connor Froboese was ninth among seniors, and Sam Comerford began his high school cross-country career by finishing 40th in the freshman race.

"We’re young," said Fallbrook coach Marco Arias. "I’m pleased with what they turned in."

A total of 23 Fallbrook boys ran in the Laguna Hills Invitational, including 18 who had never previously run cross-country for the Warriors. "The numbers are coming up, so that’s always exciting and they’re young and they’re not afraid to train," Arias said. "They want to bring themselves back to a league championship, and they’re capable within the next couple of years."

In 2010 the Fallbrook boys won the Avocado East League championship, winning all five of their dual meets as well as the league meet. The top five finishers at the league meet, however, were all seniors that year.

In the 2011 Laguna Hills Invitational, Roque was Fallbrook’s only freshman runner. Last year the meet utilized a 3.0-mile course, and Roque’s time of 18:28 placed 25th among the freshmen.

This year the course was 3.25 miles and Roque had a time of 16:38. "He’s putting in some outstanding workouts and he’s far ahead of what I expected him to be at this point," Arias said. "I was very pleased where Eli’s at."

In the 2012 meet, Comerford was one of 11 Warriors in the freshmen race.

"That’s going to be pretty good," Arias said. "I’m extremely happy. I think we can continue to grow those numbers and bring back the program."

Comerford had a time of 19:51. Froboese, who was one of three seniors and one of two returning seniors, completed the course in 16:48. Roque was one of two Fallbrook sophomores and the only one who ran cross-country in 2011, while two of the seven juniors were part of the program last year although on the junior varsity level.

Last year the Warriors were 3-2 in league dual meets to place third among the Avocado East League’s six teams but finished fifth at the league meet. Four of the eight Warrior runners at the 2011 league meet were seniors. Fallbrook moves to the Avocado West League for this year.