2002 Bella Vista Bronco Cross Country Invitational – Meet Preview

Over 800 athletes from 39 schools are expected this Saturday at Sierra College in Rocklin for the Third Annual Bella Vista Bronco Cross Country Invitational. With all athletes competing in the same race and team/individual champions and placers determined on large (CIF Division 1 and 2) and small (CIF Division 3,4, and 5) school divisions, the meet provides a unique opportunity for “head-to-head“ competition. Varsity races will be contested over the 5,000-meter collegiate course, which covers approximately 99% of the standard high school three-mile course and an additional 188 yards. With relatively mild weather (for the Sacramento area) expected and a number of quality individuals and teams scheduled to compete, a number of the meet records appear to be in jeopardy.

In the varsity girls competition, Oak Ridge (El Dorado Hills) junior Natalie White and Reno (Reno, NV) junior Lawrence Collier appear to be capable of challenging Jenny Aldridge’s (Maria Carillo, Santa Rosa) large school meet record of 18:41.1 set last year. Fresh from her (Natalie White) course and meet record setting performance at last week’s Bear River Invitational, these two exceptional athletes should continue the fierce competition that had them finish second (Natalie White) and third (Lawrence Collier) respectively at the Nevada Union and Stanford (Division 2) Invitationals. When one considers who they finished behind in those races (Rachel Bryan [Laguna Creek] at the Nevada Union Invitational and Caitlin Chock [Granite Bay] at the Stanford Invitational), you can expect a great competition. A number of other top individuals will also be challenging for top finishes including: Reno (NV) athletes Daryan Glenn (freshman), Karen DeMartini (senior), and Kathryn Magrath (senior); Folsom’s Lauren Mulkey (junior) and Natasha LaBeaud (sophomore), St. Francis (Sacramento) duo Sarah Krtil (senior) and Katie Hartman (junior), sophomores Michelle Born (Oakmont) and Erin Wachter (Cordova), and senior Tina Firouz (Benecia). In the varsity girl’s team competition, Maria Carillos’ (Santa Rosa) large school record of 101:30.3 could be in jeopardy by a strong Reno (NV) contingent that finished second to California state power Sultana (Hesperia) at the Stanford Invitational three weekends ago. Two of the Sac-Joaquin Section’s best, the Hillgals of Placer (Auburn) and the St. Francis (Sacramento) Troubadors, will continue their rivalry in the small schools division as they challenge Enterprise’s (Redding) meet record of 105:31.1. A consistent Placer (Auburn) team of senior Christina Buck, junior Andrea Gruber, and sophomores Kim Crouch, Amanda Gilming, and Katie Vaughn gapped 20 seconds in finishing third (Division III) at the Stanford Invitational with St. Francis (Sacramento) close behind in fourth.

Fresh from an outstanding sixth place finish at last weekend’s Clovis (Fresno) Invitational, Woodcreek (Roseville) junior Calvin Glass will be challenged by Reno (NV) junior Johnathan Cardenas, Galena (Reno, NV) junior Steve Pottey, and seniors Dan Napieralski of Oakmont (Roseville) and Jasper Peach (Placer, Auburn). When venturing into “low-altitude” California, Cardenas (Reno, NV) has performed extremely well finishing second at the Nevada Union Invitational and third (Division II) at the Stanford Invitational with Glass (Woodcreek) finishing only six seconds behind in the latter competition. Other athletes who could be “in-the-mix” for top individual positions include: Reno’s Joe Parker (freshman) and Chris Concha (senior); Galena’s (Reno, NV) Micah Parker (senior), Raul Tibiduiza (sophomore), and Geoff Casazza (senior); Oakmont (Roseville) seniors Kevin Newton and Mike Wells and junior Jason Prado; Woodcreek’s (Roseville) Alex Duenas (junior) and Zac Done (senior); and South Tahoe senior Hudson Wilvers. In the large school team race, look for an interesting competition between Nevada rivals Galena (Reno, NV) and Reno. Reno bested Galena (NV) at the Nevada Union Invitational with the tables turned a week later at the Stanford Invitational. Woodcreek (Roseville) could also be a factor as their fifth place finish at the Stanford Invitational (Division 2) was only one point behind Reno. Davis’ meet record of 86:36.3 established in 2000 appears to be vulnerable to these exceptional squads. With their convincing victory at the Stanford Invitational (Division 3), Oakmont (Roseville) could challenge St. Ignatius’ (San Francisco) meet record of 87:47.0 and is the favorite in the small school division with South Lake Tahoe and Placer (Auburn) possible challengers.

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