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SAC-JOAQUIN SECTION - SUBSECTIONS PREVIEW
By Joe Hartman!
Event: SJS Subsection Meet
Date: Saturday November 8, 2008
Location: Calaveras County Fairgrounds (“Frogtown”), Angels Camp, CA
Directions from Sac.: Hwy 16 East, Hwy 49 South, one mile past d/t Angels Camp
Directions from Stockton: Hwy 4 East, then Hwy 49 South, one mile past d/t Angels Camp
Driving Time: Allow 1 3/4 hours from Sacramento
Weather: High 67 degrees, a few showers possible
Purpose: Qualifying event for SJS Section Finals (11/15/08 at Willow Hill Reservoir)
Qualifying: In the varsity races, eight teams per division will advance to section finals
Number of races: 21 - 8 Varsity, 4 Jr. Varsity, 4 FSG, 3 Soph. Boys, 2 Frosh Boys
Time schedule: First race 9:30, Last race 3:35
Who: All SJS XC runners will be there, 2662 runners in 2007
2007 Breakdown: 1177 Varsity runners, 428 JV, 394 FSG, 412 Soph Boys, 251 Frosh Boys
Subsection format: see www.cifsjs.org
On Saturday morning over 2500 runners and their families will make their annual pilgrimage to Frogtown for SJS Subsections. Frogtown is the nickname for the Calaveras Country Fairgrounds, home of the annual frog-jumping contest and Calaveras County Fair each May, an event made famous by Mark Twain’s 1867 short story, “The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County”. The contest continues to this day with the world-record leap of 21 feet, 5.75 inches by a frog named Rosie the Ribeter still holding up since 1986.
SJS subsections is truly a multipurpose event. For some faster teams and runners, the meet will merely be a stepping stone - a training opportunity - on their way to further glory in subsequent weeks. For other teams, the meet will be a tense litmus test to see if a fledgling program is capable of making that huge leap to the next level: qualifying for section finals. And for other young programs, subsections is a culmination, celebration, and known conclusion to a season of hard work and accomplishment: a cross country ‘bowl game’, if you will. Besides the external pressure versus other schools of advancing to the next round, the meet also serves as an internal pressure-cooker as runners on the same team fight for their spot on the starting varsity seven among their teammates. When watching the JV races, consider that the runners toward the front are doing everything can to possibly knock a runner out of that school’s varsity seven with a high finish and fast time. The effort by those runners will be every bit as noteworthy as what will be seen in the varsity races. And for the varsity races, don’t turn away after the leaders bolt past. The sixth and seventh runners on most teams will be making sure their spot is secure with a solid, sustained effort on Frogtown’s hilly 3-mile course as they strive to keep their hopes alive of reaching every California harrier’s dream: running at Woodward Park in the state finals.
There are 21 total races: the first seven are non-varsity in Division 1 and 2, the next eight are all the varsity races, and the final six are the non-varsity races in Divisions 3, 4, and 5.
What we’ll try to do here - without making any predictions or providing specific rankings - is briefly give the spectator a varsity race-by-race guide on who the top teams are (listed alphabetically) and just a sampling of the top runners who might be in each race – keeping in mind that these runners all know a section title cannot be won today. Many are saving their very best effort for November 15th in Folsom. The number of teams that qualify for the state meet varies by division and gender. That number follows a formula for how many top ten finishes at the state meet that division has had in recent years. The better the SJS teams do at the state meet, the more qualifying berths are awarded in subsequent years. For example, the success that the SJS has had in the Division 2 boys’ bracket recently has resulted in four berths to the state meet for 2008, above the SJS minimum of two.
Race 8 – Varsity Girls – Division 1 – 11:10am
Number of teams that will qualify for state at section finals: 3
State meet contenders: Davis Senior, Folsom, Galt, Modesto
Section meet contenders: Beyer, Elk Grove, Grace Davis, Lodi
Section meet hopefuls: Enochs, McClatchy, Nevada Union, Sheldon, Turlock
A few runners to watch: Rachel Van Ness (Modesto, MMC Champion), Ashlyn Durhan (Enochs, 2nd MMC), Holly Rankin (Tokay, SJAA Champion), Christine Bowlus (Davis Senior, DVC Champion)
Race 9 – Varsity Boys – Division 2 – 11:30am
Number of teams that will qualify for state at section finals: 4
State meet contenders: Del Campo, Jesuit, Oak Ridge, Rocklin, Woodcreek
Section meet contenders: Fairfield, Granite Bay, Ponderosa
A few runners to watch: Zackary Zadrozna (Rocklin, 2nd at SFL), Dan Mitchell (Del Campo, CAL Champion), Adam Kelly-Strong (Jesuit, 2nd at DRL), Jeff McKenzie (Oak Ridge, 4th at SVC), Garrett Seawell (Woodcreek, SFL Champion)
Race 10 – Varsity Boys – Division 1 – 11:50am
Number of teams that will qualify for state at section finals: 2
State meet contenders: Davis Senior, Franklin, Grace Davis, Kennedy
Section meet contenders: Beyer, Galt, Modesto, Sheldon
A few runners to watch: Roberto Rosas (Grace Davis, MMC Champion), Sean Gomes (Beyer, 3rd MMC), James Sconyers (Sheldon, 4th at DRL), Julian Patterson (Franklin, 7th at DVC)
Race 11 – Varsity Girls – Division 2 – 12:10am
Number of teams that will qualify for state at section finals: 3
State meet contenders: Granite Bay, Oak Ridge, Ponderosa, St. Francis, Woodcreek
Section meet contenders: Del Campo, Fairfield, Oakmont, Rocklin, Roseville
Section meet hopefuls: Atwater, Buhach Colony, Casa Roble, Vacaville
A few runners to watch: Stacey Haack (Oakmont, 6th at SFL), Lillie Cross (Fairfield), Thea Fredrickson (Del Campo, 5th at CAL), Jennifer Ramos (Buhach Colony), Taylor Spencer (Casa Roble, 4th at CAL)
Race 12 – Varsity Girls – Division 3 – 12:45pm
Number of teams that will qualify for state at section finals: 3
State meet contenders: Del Oro, El Camino, Placer, St Marys
Section meet contenders: El Dorado, Sonora, Union Mine, Woodland
Section meet hopefuls: Dixon, Lincoln-L, Pioneer, River Valley
A few runners to watch: Veronica Quintero (El Camino, CAL champion), Samantha Hawkins (El Dorado, made state meet at 800m), Karen Ramming (Woodland, TCL champion, 2:29 improvement at Mt. SAC), Kirby Riecks (Placer, 4th at PVL)
Race 13 – Varsity Boys – Division 4 (and 5) – 1:05pm
Number of teams that will qualify for state at section finals: 3 in D4
State meet contenders: Christian Brothers, Colfax, Riverbank
Section meet contenders: Bret Harte, Hughson
A few runners to watch: Wesley Cox (Colfax, 5th at PVL), Jason Howard (Christian Brothers), Derek Avrit (Bret Harte), Jacob Hodges (Riverbank)
Race 14 – Varsity Boys – Division 3 – 1:30pm
Number of teams that will qualify for state at section finals: 2
State meet contenders: Del Oro, El Camino, Placer, Woodland
Section meet contenders: Center, Dixon, Sonora, St Marys
A few runners to watch: Toby Uptain-Villa (Del Oro), Trevor Williams (Center), Matt Murphy (Woodland, Tri-County Champion), Evan Bornstein (El Camino, 5th at CAL)
Race 15 – Varsity Girls – Division 4 (and 5) – 1:50pm
Number of teams that will qualify for state at section finals: 3 in Div 4
State meet contenders: Bear River, Bret Harte, Colfax, Riverbank
Section meet contenders: Escalon, Loretto, Hughson, Summerville
Section meet hopefuls: Amador, Calaveras
A few runners to watch: Tayler Anderson (Riverbank), Rebecca Hobby (Hughson), Shiori Aoyama (Summerville), Olivia Mickle (Loretto), Sara Mikesell (Bret Harte)
Frosh Boys - Div. 1, 2 @ 9:30
Frosh/Soph Girls - Div. 1 @ 9:45
Soph Boys - Div.2 @ 10:00
Frosh/Soph Girls - Div. 2 @ 10:15
Soph Boys - Div.1 @ 10:30
Jr. Varsity Boys - Div. 1, 2 @ 10:45
Jr. Varsity Girls - Div. 1, 2 @ 10:50
Varsity Girls - Div. 1 @ 11:10
Varsity Boys - Div. 2 @ 11:30
Varsity Boys - Div. 1 @ 11:50
Varsity Girls - Div. 2 @ 12:10
Varsity Girls - Div. 3 @ 12:45
Varsity Boys - Div. 4, 5 @ 1:05
Varsity Boys - Div. 3 @ 1:30
Varsity Girls - Div. 4, 5 @ 1:50
Jr. Varsity Boys - Div. 3, 4, 5 @ 2:18
Jr. Varsity Girls - Div. 3, 4, 5 @ 2:23
Frosh Boys - Div. 3, 4, 5 @ 2:50
Frosh/Soph Girls - Div. 3 @ 3:05
Soph Boys - Div. 3, 4, 5 @ 3:20
Frosh/Soph Girls - Div. 4, 5 @ 3:35
INTERVIEWS with SJS League Champions and Runners-Up (10/29-11/1)
LUCAS STANDCLIFF – PLACER H.S. – 1ST PLACE – PIONEER VALLEY
Dyestatcal: Luke how does your time rate with other races here at Twelve Bridges.
Lucas Standcliff: I think my time was 16:35 and my best time here was 16:32 so I was three seconds slower but I didn’t have Nick Reed out there to help me push. The race was good. I was with Wesley Cox for the first mile, mile and a half, and then I just lost him on a downhill and I had to keep going from there. I just kept telling myself this is bigger than me, this is for the team so I just kept thinking about the team and what we’re trying to do.
Dyestatcal: Are you where you want to be at for this time of year?
LS: I feel much better now than earlier in the season. I’m still dropping times.
Dyestatcal: Christian’s (Finkbeiner) having a fine freshman season and Gordon (Sproule) has been closer than he’s been in the past. Give us some analysis on what your teammates did at the league finals today.
LS: We set goals before the race. With Christian, we wanted to go 1-2 and then Gordon, of course, he wanted to get Wes (Cox). We had this goal ever since the second league meet where we knew where we were and looked forward from there.
Dyestatcal: Are you still optimistic about Placer’s chances to get on to state?
LS: We really want to go to state. It’s been in the back of my mind ever since I heard about state. We all want to go there and I want to go with the team, not just individually because that’s horrible. You want to have your buddies there and share the glory.
AMJED ABOUKHADIJEH – OAK RIDGE H.S. – 1ST PLACE – SIERRA VALLEY
Dyestatcal: Amjed you were running with Benji (Xie) for most of the race. What was the plan and how well did you execute it?
Amjed Aboukhadijeh: It’s been three weeks since we raced at Clovis where we were third overall and our whole top five had PR’s on that course and it was pretty convincing since we were in our base phase and hadn’t done much speed to that point. It’s been three weeks since we raced so we’ve gotten high quality workouts. So we knew we were ready for this race. This obviously was not an all-out effort for any of us because we have to go for sections in which we’re seeking our first title ever. We’ve taken second too many times. Our plan coming in was to win convincingly and not cut it close. Personally, coach (Rob Fairley) told me to go out and slow the race down which I did for the first half mile before Josh Evans from Galt took the lead and started pushing the pace. So I went with him and Benji came with me and Jeroen (Keukenkamp) was right there. This is our home course and we’re very well trained on hills.
Dyestatcal: Whose race were you most impressed with: Jeffrey McKenzie who mounted a nice effort in the final stretch to allow Oak Ridge to go 1-2-3-4 or Abby Walker who ran for two miles with a nail in her foot.
AA: You can’t replace a Jeff McKenzie. He shocks us more and more. He does very little summer training and the times that he can post are unbelievable. He could easily be a 15:30 guy at Woodward, without a doubt. His talent is unbelievable. He runs maybe twice a week over the summer. Very impressed with his race. But gotta give this one to Abby Walker. Running with a nail in your foot? That takes a lot of heart. I was talking with her before the race. She sort of wishes she had raced frosh/soph so she could win so it could have been for the best. You could look at it either way. She’s sort of new to the sport. I give this one to her for running with a lot of heart and perseverance to go through that.
Dyestatcal: After the last conversation you and I got in some hot water with the Oak Ridge girls. So now, what can you tell me about what the Oak Ridge girls have done this season.
AA: (laughs) Well see, that was all part of my plan to motivate them, you know. I knew by saying that, that was going to motivate them to run a lot faster and a lot harder. Third in the state? (recent girls ranking). That’s incredible. We’ve never finished top ten before so that’s unbelievable.
Dyestatcal: So basically if they get on the podium, you belong in the team photo?
AA: Oh yeah. Oh yeah. If they get on the podium I take credit for that. (laughs)
EMILIO GARCIA – JESUIT H.S. – 1ST PLACE – DELTA RIVER
Dyestatcal: Emilio, you were #1 at Meeting of the Marauders and then settled into a more contributory role for Jesuit in the middle of the season. That looked like a very confident race Saturday as the rains began to come down at Willow Hill in the DRL finals. Can you tell us #1) how the race went and #2) how your season has gone overall.
Emilio Garcia: Ya, in the race with the rain we tried to just stay safe and not to slip. We took the sharp turns pretty easy to make sure we didn’t fall. The first mile we just ran together as a pack and then going around the lake I just decided to pick it up a little through the hill section and then just coasted in. Definitely, I've been really inconsistent this season unfortunately, but now especially with this race, I’ve been feeling more relaxed in the races, and I'm feeling very confident about how we will do at sections and state.
Dyestatcal: Jesuit has an excellent running tradition: 9 state titles and up until last year, 34 league titles in a row. What is driving the team to be the best they can be in 2009: atonement for 2008 or because this team wants to leave its own mark?
EG: Last year is definitely pushing us to redeem ourselves from the disappointing season last year. We got back our league title and now we are focusing on getting another section banner hung up in our gym.
Dyestatcal: Do you think Oak Ridge or Del Campo (or both) is the bigger threat to Jesuit to win the D2 section title this year?
EG: Both teams are definitely very solid teams and we've had very close races with them earlier this year, but I think that if we run what we are capable of running, especially with key guys returning who have been hurt all year, we will be very competitive.
Dyestatcal: For Emilio Garcia, how has Coach Walt Lange made you a better runner and a better person in your years with Jesuit XC?
EG: Walter is awesome to have as a coach. He's such a guru of the sport and so dedicated that it’s hard not to rub off on you. From him making elevation maps of every course, and him yelling at us "Here we go!", he inspires our team every day to run hard. He was the one who got me to quit soccer sophomore year to run on the varsity team where we won a state title, and went to NTN. And Walter and me both love to watch “Curb Your Enthusiasm” where we share Larry's stories and learn from his mistakes.
SHANNON HARCUS – PLACER H.S. – 1ST PLACE – PIONEER VALLEY
Dyestatcal: This is Shannon Harcus of Placer who just won the Pioneer Valley League finals. Shannon, congratulations and take us through the race.
Shannon Harcus: For the first mile I went out and was in front of Denise. And in the second mile she was leading….we were pushing it. Third mile same thing and then, I don’t know, with a half mile to go I just broke away. I didn’t think I could do it. I was really tired but it feels so good now that it’s over.
Dyestatcal: You won the first two league meets but you knew it wasn’t a given that it would happen here.
SH: Oh no. It’s a relief. Definitely.
Dyestatcal: The pressure only gets tougher. You’ll be one of the individual favorites in Division 3. Are you looking forward to that whole set of competitions and who’s some of the competition you admire in your own division.
SH I’m definitely looking forward to that. That’s my goal this season. Anyone from Del Oro. That’s definitely our goal, (the competition with) Del Oro.
DENISE JULIAN – BEAR RIVER H.S. – 2ND PLACE – PIONEER VALLEY
Dyestatcal: We’re here with Denise Julian who was the runner-up to Shannon Harcus of Placer at PVL finals. I would think this was as close as you’ve been to Shannon this year so why don’t you take us through the race.
Denise Julian: I’m not sure about my time yet (Julian 19:10, Harcus 19:02) but I definitely felt like I had the strongest PVL race of the season and I felt really good. Shannon’s an amazing racer and I really love to work with her during the races. Generally between the first mile and second mile I try to keep up with Shannon and I just like to work with her and stick with her pace. Typically we go back and forth a couple paces and it keeps us going so throughout the first and second mile we were together. Normally going uphill I pass her and downhill I pass her and then she catches back up with me. With about 800 meters left she got away from me. But I love to run hills. Hills are definitely one of my strengths.
Dyestatcal: Bear River seems to be really coming on strong, and they have all season. What do you think of the team’s chances to have a good postseason.
DJ: I think our team definitely has a chance of making it all the way. We all have kind of a new energy and new attitude toward the cross country team and it’s definitely pushing us forward this year. Everyone’s been enthusiastic and I think it’s going to take us really far.
Dyestatcal: Denise, a lot of people might not know but you have a wrestling background – you and teammate Breanne Mitchell. That’s pretty uncommon, so how do you think wrestling helps you be a better cross country runner and vice versa?
DJ: Well, cross country definitely helps me for wrestling because wresting is one of the toughest sports out there and cross country is one of the toughest sports out there. The mindset that I have to have in cross country carries over to wrestling which is “I have to keep going” and give myself that mental boost so that transfers into wrestling and helps me do the best that I can. And the training in cross country also helps get my endurance up.
LAUREN PETERSON – GALT H.S. – 2ND PLACE – SIERRA VALLEY CONF.
Dyestatcal: We’re with Lauren Peterson of Galt who was just second to Hayley Scott of Oak Ridge in the Sierra Valley finals. Lauren it was a really exciting race with you and Hayley so can you break down the race.
Lauren Peterson: Well in the first mile I got out REALLY slow. Got a bad start but I caught Hayley about the mile mark and we just stayed together the whole race. Her coach was telling her to let me lead but I was determined just to stay with her. My goal was just to stay with her and do well at subsections next week and…yeah.
Dyestatcal: So it was kind of tactical?
LP: I don’t know. I didn’t really plan anything. I just went out and thought “Oh, I’ll just stay with Hayley this race.”
Dyestatcal: What happened in the third mile?
LP: The third mile I started getting tired. But I was “No. Stay with Hayley. We can do this,” because I wanted an OK time today. It’s only the second time this season that I’ve run the course. (Peterson was 19:22, Scott was 19:16). I just wanted to come in first or second, it didn’t really matter to me. I just wanted our team to get the points.
Dyestatcal: This year the Davis girls are really strong this year in Division 1. Three teams go to state. How excited are you about Galt going as a team for the first time?
LS: We’re really excited actually. We are really looking forward to it. Last year was the first year ever that Galt’s gone to sections as a team so we’re hoping that this will be the second year to go to sections and the first year to go to state. We’ve got big goals and we’re looking forward to it.
Dyestatcal: How has your October training gone?
LP: Going into this year I’ve changed a little here and there but overall it’s been similar. Recently the last couple weeks me and Ally (Allison Motor) have started doing a little bit of weight room and a little bit more running on the side, so we’ve been upping the mileage.
Dyestatcal: Any hints for us on where you might be going to school?
LP: I’ve got a few colleges I’m looking into. I’m going hopefully to Division 1 level. I’m not looking forward to Division 3 or Division 2 – that would be too small for me. I’m planning on staying closer to home but out of state. I might stay in state, I don’t know yet.
NICOLE MENDOZA – ST. FRANCIS H.S. – 1ST PLACE – DELTA RIVER
Dyestatcal: Today you won the DRL finals, your fifth win in a row (Yolo County, DRL #2, Bronco Invite, Mt SAC Race #57, and DRL Finals). At Mt SAC you had the fastest time of any girl outside the seeded races (18:22). After coming off a difficult track season, what's been the biggest reason for running this well?
Nicole Mendoza: After track, I was really eager for this cross country season and I focused this summer on building a good base. I have also added some cross training this season, which seems to have really helped.
Dyestatcal: After winning the D3 section team title your freshman year, it's been the Ponderosa team that has always been blocking the path of the Troubadours. With Oak Ridge and Woodcreek fielding very strong teams, it looks like once again a pivotal girls contest will be between Ponderosa and St Francis (and possibly others) for the third and final state berth out of Division 2. We know you have friends on Ponderosa and wish them the best, but what does St. Francis have to do to continue their streak of ten straight state meet appearances - the longest current streak in the SJS?
NM: Ponderosa has a really great group of girls and it has been a lot of fun competing with them the last couple years. As our team gears up for sections it’ll be important to stay enthusiastic and take all the training of these past months and leave everything out on the course, with the hope of earning that qualifying spot to the state meet.
Dyestatcal: At Boulder in 2007 you had the opportunity to be a club teammate of Marie Lawrence (Reno HS '07, University of Washington) and that was very special to you. Who are some of the runners (either elite, in college, or maybe your peers) that you look up to and why?
NM: At Boulder it was awesome getting to know Marie Lawrence and also Laurynne Chetelat, two runners that I really look up to. Another great runner I look up to is my friend, Maria Malone, because I admire her positive outlook and her dedication to the sport.
Dyestatcal: St Francis has had two individual section champions under Coach John Ducray: Kolleen Kassis (Koko McNamee) and Cybelle McFadden. But it was you who established the fastest Troubadour time ever at Woodward Park last November with an 18:34. If all goes well, November 29th will be your fourth state meet race. What do you like about the course and do you have an individual goal for the state meet in terms of time or place?
NM: Woodward Park is one of my favorite courses, because it is a pretty fast course. My goal for state meet is to place in the top five, and to run under 18:00.
Dyestatcal: Having known you since the days of PAL middle school running, academics have always been a huge part of your life. What's your school load right now, most recent GPA, and what are some of the colleges you've either officially visited or are considering?
NM: Classes this year are challenging but still manageable and my most recent GPA was a 4.27. I’ve taken three official visits so far, to Loyola Marymount University, University of Portland and Sacramento State University. I am also considering UC Davis and Santa Clara University.
(Ed. Note: On the women’s side, Portland just won the West Coast Conference one spot ahead of Loyola, Sac State was second in the Big Sky, and UC Davis was third in the Big West.) |
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