CHULA VISTA – Alfredo “Freddy” Rodriguez was all set to try out for the Bonita Vista High football team when he entered the ninth grade two years ago.

One small problem: Tryouts had already been held.

Rodriguez was informed the cross country squad could always use a couple of more legs. Not even certain what the sport entailed, he signed up.

“I didn't know anything about cross country. I was a soccer player,” said Rodriguez, a junior. “The first day the coach had us run three miles. After I finished, I thought, 'That was hard.' I still wasn't sure if I liked it or not until I won my first race three weeks later.”

Success can be a powerful stimulant.

Rodriguez, who worked his way up to No. 5 runner on the varsity by the end of his freshman year, is considered one of the South County's best runners. He sets goals and knows what's needed to achieve them.

“I want to go to state,” Rodriguez said. “As a freshman, I was on the same team with Eric Avila, but we didn't qualify as a team, so I didn't get to go.

“As a freshman I ran for fun. While running is still fun, I'm a team leader now, like Eric was then, and I run just as hard as I can looking to the future. I give 105 percent in practice and whatever it takes to win a race.”

Rodriguez tries to pattern himself after Avila, a 3,200-meter state champion in track. Barons coach Lou Russo said it is working.

“The gold standard at Bonita Vista High is Eric Avila,” Russo said. “What Freddy has done, except for one race, has beaten all of (Avila's) times as a junior. He has consistently beaten everyone in the South Bay except when we've held him back to rest him.

“As a sophomore Freddy was all over the place, but this summer he brought it all together. Freddy can't stand to have anyone in front of him and he uses those times he doesn't win as motivation.”

Rodriguez wasn't disappointed with a 13th-place finish at the Mount SAC Invitational last weekend, but his competitive fire was obvious.

“I have never looked back, never,” Rodriguez said. “It's a sign of weakness. The important thing is to always improve your time. It's more important to race the clock than other runners.”

On Friday, Rodriguez knows he'll have to do both when the Barons face Otay Ranch and top Mustangs runner Jacob Roach. The league title will be up for grabs.

“We're both unbeaten, so this is it,” Rodriguez said. “I think they have a better pack (bunching runners together), but we have the front-runners. It's cross country. You never know what might happen.”

It's a big stage, but Rodriguez is used to that.

In addition to playing soccer, he sings and plays guitar in the school's mariachi band, following years as a folkloric dancer. Still, sports and music rank behind academics, where he maintains a 3.27 grade-point average.

“I want to run in college,” Rodriguez said, “and I'm getting better every year. I'm 30 seconds to a minute faster this year than last. I can't wait for my senior year because I know I'll even be better.”

Football? The 5-foot-4, 125-pound Rodriguez figures he's far better off running.