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2009 Sac Joaquin Cross Country Preview
Davis and Oak Ridge battle Divison I
The below previews were prepared with schools in the divisions where they will compete in 2009. The below track and
field times were taken from efforts reported to our episports.com database, with the obvious 800, 1600, or 3200 times
unless noted.
Girls Division I
 
Joe Hartman photos
Christine Bowlus and Juliana Green (Davis) l
Oak Ridge was nipped by a tough Woodcreek crew in 2008 Division II finals 47-49, with OR returning a great group! OR has Soph LeAnn Hold (6th 08 D3 SJ - 5:16/11:10 track), Hayley Scott (8th 08 D3 - 2:15/4:59/11:12), and Brittany Putman (9th 08 D3 - 5:14/11:07) are joined by Samantha Ralstin (2:15/5:06), Maxine Goyette (5:18), Jacqueline Mansoor (5:18/11:43), and Robin Yancey to form an impressive seven! Davis HS, recently a prominent statewide power in the distances, swept both 2008 Division I contests, the girls returning five from a squad that totaled 40 points at this level. Christine Bowlus (3rd SJ D1 08 - 5:16/11:11 spring track) and Juliana Green (4th SJ D1 - 5:03 track) lead a group that showed progress during the spring track season and will look outside the section for teams to really test them. Modesto was fourth last November, with five back, Section sixth placer Rachel Van Ness (11:34 track) leading 11:57 3200 soph Lizzy Lehn and three others who return. Sheldon was eighth as a team here here last season, with eighth place D1 finisher Breanna Lewis (5:20/11:24 track) heading all five scorers back for this Fall. Nevada Union has Sara Marshall leading a team that was one spot out of qualifying for the D1 finals last November, with five Varsity members back from the that squad.
Rodriguez has four back from the Section’s sixth place Division I squad with Lodi another team that could develop.
Sac Joaquin Girls Division I Rankings:
1. Oak Ridge
2. Davis
3. Modesto
4. Sheldon
5. Nevada Union
Boys Division I
  
photos by Joe Hartman
Roberto Rosas (Grace Davis) - Kurt Ruegg (Napa) - Trevor Halsted (Davis)
Oak Ridge was fifth Division II last year, with Amjed Aboukhadijeh (3rd 08 D2 SJ - 4:23/9:23 track) leading four returnees from that squad and an army who had strong track seasons, including Benjamin Xie (9:35 3200), who did not finish the 2008 Section Finals race. Oak Ridge was seriously bolstered during the summer with the transfer of Nathan Williams (Centennial, Las Vegas, NV), who was sixteenth in the Foot Locker Western Regional last year, third in a strong State 4A race and had 4:27-9:59 times during track. OR could be tough to handle with this addition. Davis rolled in 2008 with 36 points Division I and they have an army coming back with the potential to run very, very fast. Junior Trevor Halsted (8th SJ D1 - 4:29-9:18 track), Dillon Shaw (9th 08 D1), Grayson Hough (9:42) and Bob Riestenberg (9:46) return from the 2008 Championship crew, with 1:55-4:18 star Corey Coates hopefully helping to power the squad in 2009! Grace Davis was second last year, with this level’s top returnee, Roberto Rojas (2nd 08 D1 - 4:24/9:28 track) leading five off that squad who are back. Modesto was seventh in 2008, and they will be led this Fall by junior Rodriguez Jamasen 19th individually with a 4:35 in track during the spring. Julian Patterson leads Franklin (Elk Grove), with the Section’s sixteenth place finisher 4:28 in the spring, the squad that was third D1 in 2008 four returnees back. Beyer just missed out on the Section Finals in 2008, and has a respectable five to build on in 2009.
Kurt Ruegg (Napa) was fourth at this level last year, with a fine 9:22 in the spring for 3200m, with Chris Gimble (Kennedy) eleventh and 4:29 in track, and Galt’s Jason Coupe 1:53 for 800 during that season.
Sac Joaquin Boys Division I Rankings:
1. Oak Ridge
2. Davis
3. Grace Davis
4. Modesto
5. Franklin (EG)
Girls Division II
  
photos by Joe Hartman
Brooke Holt (Granite Bay) - Stephanie Romo and Courtney Crosta (Woodcreek)
Woodcreek has Section fourth place finisher Stephanie Romo (5:14) and fifth finisher Courtney Crosta (5:18/11:06), and three others inside the top twenty-five section finishers last November. Granite Bay has Divisional Champ Brooke Holt (5:05/10:48 track), Christine Zavesky, who blazed 2:15/5:03 times in the spring, and three others from their 2008 sixth place crew. Ponderosa, third last year, has Ashley Silveira leading three who finished in the twenties of the division in 2008. St. Francis has a good tradition, with four back from their 2008 fourth place team, Susan Frazier (2:21) and Erin Matranta (5:20) strong in the spring. Del Campo has five back from a group that just missed out on the 2008 Section Finals at this level.
Rocklin and Vacaville are other teams who could develop this Fall.
Kristine Lozoya (Oakmont) was seventh in the division last Fall, with an 11:31 in the spring for track. Jessica Skalet rounded out the division’s top ten in 2008 for Rocklin, with fourteenth placer Shayna Powless (Rocklin) Rosevelle 11:32 during track for 3200.
Sac Joaquin Girls Division II Rankings:
1. Woodcreek
2. Granite Bay
3. Ponderosa
4. St. Francis
5. Del Campo .
Boys Division II
photos by Joe Hartman
Jared Lester (Fairfield)
Jesuit looks ready also to move to the top of the division, with Adam Kelly-Strong (4:22 track) and two other returnees from that group, and a flock of flyers from the track team, led by juniors Joel Mahoney (4:36), TJ (10:05) and Justin Brown-Pinzotto (10:11). Del Campo is also right in the mix, Divisional fifteenth placer from 2008 4:25 during track, Josh Mercado, on top. DC also had a huge group run strong during spring track, Robert Pflasterer (9:44) leading that group. Defending division champs Woodcreek adds to the strength of the division, with Tyler Raposa (10th D2 08 - 4:30 track) leadiing five returnees. Fairfield has Division fourth placer Jared Lester, Brandon Hunter, who was 4:36 in the spring, and others who are developing. Ponderosa was eighth last year and has top fifteen placer Mitchell Hawkins (9:56 spring) leading a potentially strong squad.
Cassidy Bertsch was ninth for Granite Bay here last year.
Sac Joaquin Boys Division II Rankings:
1. Jesuit
2. Del Campo
3. Woodcreek
4. Fairfield
5. Ponderosa .
Girls Division III
  
This division amazingly had one senior finisher in the top twenty-five last year, so improved running should be the word as all the “usual suspects” return. Defending Divisional Champs Del Oro looks very tough once again with everyone back! Top ten finishers Alissa Wood (7th D3 08 - 12:12 track), Caitlin Devitt-Payne (8th D3 08 - 5:12), Jessie Rozario (9th D3), and Emma Freeman (10th D3 08) are joined by 2:19 800 star Kelsey Seaman to maintain the quality! Placer was second last year, with five from that squad around again, divisional champ Shannon Harcus (5:17-11:47 track) leading the group. Galt was second last year Division I, and has improved in recent years. D1 fifth placer Sam Walling (2:20/12:12 track) will take the leadership role from graduated Lauren Peterson, with four others returning from the 2008 Varsity. Top half dozen 2008 finishers Kelli Bercier (5th 08 D3 - 5:24 track) and Roni Quintero lead El Camino, who finished third last November Division III. Woodland has six coming back from a 2008 fourth place squad. Divisional runner-up Karen Ramming, and third place finisher Evie Borchard joined by improved soph Natalie Alvarez (5:24 track) as they attempt to move up the ladder.
El Dorado has six back from its 2008 seventh place team. St. Mary’s has Taylor Pablo (16th D3 08), with Sonora top twenty finishers Lizzie Grolle (12th D3), Mercedes Langfeldt (13th) and Kimberlee Turner (19th) scouring the halls for depth that would make them very dangerous.
Sac Joaquin Girls Division III Rankings:
1. Del Oro
2. Placer
3. Galt
4. El Camino
5. Woodland
Boys Division III
 
The Boys D3 group will be very, very competitive. El Camino, defending champs, has Chris Kigar (3rd D3 08 - 4:25-9:13), soph Michael Frantz (10th D3) and two others in the divisional top twenty-five returning. Placer will keep EC honest, with 08 ninth place finisher Lucas Stancliff 4:29 and 9:58 in track during the spring. Others for Placer had solid track seasons, with senior Clay Campbell 4:34 not on the section CC team last November. Divisional runner-up last Fall, Del Oro, returns a half dozen from that squad, Toby Uptain Villa (12th D3) leading another developing group that had some new folks show nicely in spring track. Sonora was third last year, and they have Nathan Klein (10:04) leading five back plus a good soph group. 2008 sixth placer Woodland has everyone back, divisional seventh placer Matt Murphy joined by strong track middle distance stars John McAnelly (1:56 800) and Ryan Banwarth (1:57-4:32).
Sierra has John Bowers (14th 08 D3) leading four others back from their 2008 eighth place group. Alejandro Garcia (Ceres) was fifth individually here last Fall.
Sac Joaquin Boys Division III Rankings:
1. El Camino
2. Placer
3. Del Oro
4. Sonora
5. Woodland
Girls Division IV
  
photos by Joe Hartman
Denise Julian and Breanne Mitchell (Bear River) - Kaylee Sedler (Bret Harte)
Girls D4 is another division very competitive at the top end! Bret Harte was a 60-74 winner over Bear River last year, with BR everybody returning for this Fall. Supers Denise Julian (2nd 08 D3) and Breanne Mitchell (3rd D3 - 5:27-11:42 track) lead Bear River. Bret Harte returns a good scoring five, fourth place finisher Kaylee Sedler (5:28 spring track) heading the traditional power. Colfax was not far behind the first two last year with 83 points, with everybody back in 2009, eighth place finisher Sara Howard (12:06 track), Presley Wetterstorm (17th D4), and Haley Walker (21st D4) leading. Hughson was very young in 2008 as a fifth place squad here, soph Rebecca Hobby (5:14) leading five back from that varsity. Summerville was fourth last Fall, five returnees led by Heather Peterson (13th 08).
Vista del Lago has fifth placer Marissa Mendez (5:19-11:31 track), with Escalon ninth place divisional finisher Pearl Rivers (5:12 in the spring)
Sac Joaquin Girls Division IV Rankings:
1. Bear River
2. Bret Harte
3. Colfax
4. Hughson
5. Summerville
Boys Division IV
 
photos by Joe Hartman
Matt Airola and Derek Avrit of Bret Harte
Bret Harte, was third here last year, and they hope to work back to the top in 2009, with fine second (Matt Airola 1:57-4:20 track) and third (Derek Avrit) individual placers leading five off that squad. BH hopes for progression from the other scorers to cement the title. Escalon is another with fine tradition, 4:38 1600 runner Matt Barnum, tenth in the section D4 Finals last year leading all seven who are back from the division's fifth place team. Riverbank comes in four’s, four back from its 2008 fourth place squad, eleventh place 08 finisher Ben Hodges and ninteenth placer Alex Reyes (10:04 track) heading the 2009 group. Christian Brothers has two from the top dozen finishers back from its divisional runner-ups (it was a close race with Colfax winning with 42 and CB 45 in 2008). Nick Perez was seventh for CB in the Section CC run, with Cameron Goodman twelfth. Members of a good frosh group will need to develop for the Falcon team to thrive in 2009. Amador has six of its seven from the 2008 seventh place squad, top thirty finisher Christian Mullan the squad’s top runner.
Hughson has twentieth place finisher Ismael Felix heading four who return from a 2008 sixth place squad in this division. Vista del Lago is led by Ian Kennedy, fifteenth at this level last Fall and 4:40 in track, with Riley Martin and Marco Zaragoza also very strong efforts in the spring.
Sac Joaquin Boys Division V Rankings:
1. Bret Harte
2. Escalon
3. Riverbank
4. Christian Brothers
5. Amador
Girls Division V
photo by Joe Hartman
Christa Weisman (Forest Lake Christian)
A close division last year had Big Valley Christian (42) nip Jim Elliot Christian (44) and Forest Lake Christian (57). Champ BVC has a great foursome back for 2009, with Divisional fourth placer Amanda Shortley, fifth placer Laura Polacci, eighth finisher Morgan Cavenaugh, and ninth placer Deanna Cunningham scouring the halls for a number five that would put them back on the top step of the award stand locally. Jim Elliot has has everyone back in 2009 and will be very tough for BVC to stay ahead of once again, Divisional third placer Megan Crutchfield heading an Eagle group that will have to work hard to stay ahead of the rest of the D5 pack. Forest Lake Christian has five returnees from their third placers, Divisional 2008 winner Christa Weisman and ninth placer Elyse Vierra quality on top for the Falcons. Faith Christian was the fourth finishing squad last Fall, with sixth placer Angela Lee leading five of the seven from that 2008 group around once again. Victory Christian has Divisional runner-up Eleah Miner and a couple others back who finished in the 2008 Section run.
Sac Joaquin Girls Division IV Rankings:
1. Big Valley Christian
2. Jim Elliot Christian
3. Forest Lake Christian
4. Faith Christian
5. Victory Christian
Boys Division V
photo by Joe Hartman
Nathan Jackson (Big Valley Christian)
Sierra Ridge was the Division titlest in 2008, with three of the top ten overall finishers in the Section from that team returning for 2009, Benjamin Kay (fifth), Ivan Nunez (ninth), and Preston Peteet (tenth), so they will be very solid. Jim Elliot Christian was fourth last year and has everyone returning, Andrew Cotton (eighth) and Alexander Lappas (eleventh) heading a crew that with solid improvement can challenge for the title. Fifth place 2008 squad Foresthill has its top five scorers back, Kevin Tobin, third in the division, a solid leader. Victory Christian was third last Fall in the Championship run here, six returning, fourth placer Jake Miner and lucky seventh finisher Jake Wilhelm solid up front! Forest Lake Christian was the Divisional runner-up in 2008, with a good trio back, Austin Violette, second overall in last November’s section finals here, twelfth finisher Maxx Mamula, and thirteenth placer Seth Brainard forming the nucleus of a potentially strong squad.
Faith Christian has six back from its 2008 sixth place finishing squad at this level, top twenty finishers Ari Hall (16th) and Josh Betts (20th), leading the 2009 squad. Sophs were tough individually here last year in the Finals, Nathan Jackson (Big Valley Christian) won the 2008 Section contest individually, with Blake Dameon (Sacramento Country Day) sixth in the finals.
Sac Joaquin Boys Division IV Rankings:
1. Sierra Ridge
2. Jim Elliot Christian
3. Foresthill
4. Victory Christian
5. Forest Lake Christian |
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