Where Wilson Goes, Glendale Will Follow : Cross-country: Vaquero runners must stay close to Moorpark ace for team to win State title.

How well will the Glendale College men’s cross-country team perform in the State junior college championships at Fresno’s Woodward Park today?

It could depend on how high Moorpark’s Jeff Wilson finishes.

Wilson, formerly of Newbury Park High, is expected to contend for a top-five finish. Glendale Coach Eddie Lopez figures that if the Vaqueros’ Nacho Delgado and Jacques Sallberg can stay within 20-25 seconds of Wilson, his team will stand an excellent chance of winning its first major division state title.

Glendale won State small schools titles in 1974, ’76 and ’80.

“I think we need two guys to run 20 minutes or faster (over the four-mile course),” Lopez said. “And we need our fifth man to be around 20:20.

“The key is, we have to get out well. We can’t get boxed in like we did at (the Johnie O Invitational on Oct. 29). I’ve been telling the guys all week that they have to come through the first mile in 4:40 to 4:45. They need to have Wilson in sight at the mile mark.”

Wilson ran conservatively for the first mile while winning six of seven races this season, but Moorpark Coach Manny Trevino says his charge plans to stick with the leaders from the start today before trying to make a move after 2 1/2 miles.

“I think we owe it to him to do that,” Trevino said. “He might sacrifice some places later in the race if the first mile is really fast, but I think he’ll feel better about the race afterward if he runs to win instead of running to place in the top five.”

Wilhelm Gidabuday of Riverside, second in last year’s meet, is a heavy favorite. The Tanzanian is undefeated against junior college competition this season and had a 27-second margin of victory over Moroccan teammate Abderrazak Merchoud in the Johnie O Invitational, a meet that serves as unofficial Southern California championships.

“Riverside deserves to be the favorite, but I think it’s going to a close race between them, us, El Camino and (Mt. San Antonio College),” Lopez said. “They’ll go 1-2, but what happens after that will determine who wins.”

Kenyan Cosmos Nguku and Cruz Gallegos, a sophomore from Corona Centennial High, are capable of finishing in the top 10 for the Tigers, but their overall success will depend on where their fifth runner finishes.

If he’s between 50th and 60th, Coach Ted Banks figures Riverside has a good chance of winning its second title in four years. If he’s 70th or worse, however, the Tigers’ title hopes could be doomed.

In contrast to Riverside, Glendale’s strength is depth. The Vaqueros’ top five runners finished within 27 seconds of each other in winning the Western State Conference finals Nov. 8, and they will try to finish among the top 30 individuals today.

Moorpark and Antelope Valley, led by Manuel Perales, will also be among the 28 teams in the race.

Ventura, paced by WSC champion Josephina Sanchez, is expected to be the top local team in the women’s meet.

College of the Canyons will be led by Heidi Tisovic, Antelope Valley by Nicole Martin.

Glendale failed to qualify as a team, but the Vaqueros did advance three individuals, topped by Tanya Janet, runner-up in the WSC finals.