DyeStatCal Cross-Country State Athletes of the Week

October 31-November 4, 2005

Doug Speck

Girls Athlete of the Week

Shannon Murakami (Saugus) - Southern Section

photo by Mike Kent from recent Foothill League Finals

One of the most improved athletes in the entire nation in the last year, junior Shannon Murakami (Saugus) has to be brought up in consideration of the Golden State and Nation’s best! She strongly emerged last spring in track after a slow steady build-up from the fall, with a number of very, very impressive runs, solo and as part of groups, on the way to 10:34.75 (3200) and 4:50.59 (1600) distance bests, with a fourth in State over the longer distance.

This Fall she has had a very steady season, with teammate Katie Dunn providing some good competition along the way. Shannon raced the #6 All-Time effort ever early in the season at the Seaside Invitational in Ventura at 17:18, and was fourth in the amazing Woodbridge affair, racing to a sub-17 there, coming in at 16:58! At Stanford she was seventh in the Sweepstakes race at 18:30, with a fine third in the Individual Sweeps on the Section Championship course at Mt. SAC, blazing a 17:08 clocking! Most recently she was the Foothill League Champion, winning the contest there by a minute.

As we head into some great championship running once again in California, a name in consideration in all discussions near the top of the Large Schools divisions, or in the later individual quest for national championship level experience needs to be this week’s Athlete of the Week, Shannon Murakami of Saugus.

Boys Athlete of the Week

Ben Sitler (St. Francis, Mountain View) - Central Coast Section

Photo by John Dye of Ben's 14:42 Individual Sweeps finish at Mt. SAC

Another Golden State star who has had a well-timed Fall season of action and great successes is Central Section star Ben Sitler of St. Francis in Mountain View, this week’s male honoree for Athlete of the Week.

Fourth Statewide Division II last Fall in the sport, Ben and his St. Francis crew dropped this year to Division III in enrollment, with a flock of great races at all levels so far this season! Biding his time early until a break-out performance at Stanford, Ben emerged on the stage there with an impressive 33 second win at 15:27, one of the day’s fastest. At Mt. SAC he was a very impressive Individual Sweepstake race winner at 14:42, looking full of run. The 14:42 clocking marked Ben as among the top dozen on the Southern California facility since its modern alteration in 1999.  Most recently he was a League winner by 30 seconds at just under 15:00 at Crystal Springs. Last spring in track Ben had a 9:10.47c 3200 best, with an eighteenth from the State Meet in June.

Come big-time championship race time one athlete we are sure is looking for higher places this year is Central Section star, thin, smooth-striding Ben Sitler of St. Francis in Moutain View.

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Previous Athletes of Week

9/5-9
9/12-16
9/19-22
9/26-30
10/3-7
10/10-14
10/17-21
10/24-28