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The 40th Annual Nevada
Union/Asics Cross Country Invitational is shaping up
to be a very competative event. More than 50 schools and over 1100 harriers
from Los Angelas to Ukiah and Reno Nevada to San Jose will toe the line
on
Saturday morning to test their fitness level and courage against hills
at
the foot of the Sierra Mountians, in Grass Valley.
The Meet is divided into two even enrollment divisions. Large and Small
School. Boys and Girls, Frosh/Soph and Varsity. In addition, there are
two
Sweepstakes races, one for the girls and one for the boys. These two races
will feature some of the best teams and individual athlete's not only
in
their respective section, but in the state and in the nation.
On the boys side, The team title should be hotly contested. Galena of
Reno
Nevada returns 6 of 7 from a D4 state championship title in 2001. Reno,
Belmont of Los Angeles, Silver Creek of San Jose, Rocklin, Pleasant Valley
of Chico and Nevada Union of Grass Valley should keep them honest. Reno
beat Galena two weeks ago at the Reed Invitationl and would like to show
their up to the challange. For years, Belmont has had a traditional hold
on
the LA Section, I see no reason to believe that there is change in the
wind.
They have always done well here and expect nothing less in 2002. Silver
Creek was 2nd here in 2001. Last week they were 2nd of 41 teams at the
Ed
Sias Invitational. Rocklin, lead by B.J. McKay, finished a strong 2nd
to
Jesuit at the Rocklin Invitational 2 weeks ago. Pleasent Valley is ranked
4th in the North Section. Nevada Union, Lead by juniors Matt Freitas and
Troy Putman, hope to make an early season statment on their home course.
Defending Champion, course record holder (16:01) and Footlocker National
Finalist, Tim Nelson of Liberty Christian will return to cruise the tree
lined course. Individuals hoping to keep Tim in their sights are Jasper
Peach, a senior from Placer. Jasper ran 16:15 on this course in a tri
meet
on September 6th. Shawn Lawerence of Bear River, BJ McKay of Rocklin,
Jon
Cardenas/Chris Concha of Reno, and Ed Baltierrez/Daniel Jensen of Silver
Creek.
On the girls side, Placer, defending D1 SJS champions, currently ranked
6th
in the state in D2(will complete in D3 @ the state level)is coming off
big
victories at the Granite Bay Invitational (Aug 31) on the Sierra College
course, running 103.44 on this course on September 6th without sophomore
wonder Kim Crouch and beating state ranked Granite Bay in the 1st Sierra
Foothill League meet yesterday 36-48. Challenging for the team title will
be Woodland and their wonder trio, Megan Cearley, Mariya Townswick and
Melyndee Butterfield. Ukiah is ranked 10th in the latest state polls in
D2.
Del Oro is coming off a great 2nd place finish at the Viking Opener in
Santa Rosa, beating a very good Maria Carrillo team. Reno and Nevada Union
coming off a 31-39 loss to Woodland figure to be in the hunt.
Individually, this could be the race of the day. Shelby Leland of Ukiah,
Racheal Bryan of Laguna Creek, Bethany Gardner of Del Oro, Natalie White
of
Oak Ridge, Karen DiMartini/Collier Lawerence/Michelle Glenn all of Reno
and
Cearley/Townswick are all top quality and could figure in the mix. Leland
Won the Viking invitational and is considered a contender to make the
trip
to San Diego for the national championships in December. Bryan was 2nd
to
Caitlin Chock at the Granite Bay Invitational (18:23 Sierra College) and
is
also considered a National Champion contender. Cearley won the Lagoon
Invitational last weekend.
Whatever the outcome, one thing is for sure, at the end of the day, I
will
be one happy/tired camper
Good Luck to all
In Running
Daniel King
Nevada Union XC
Dyestat Cal News
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