Tustin-based Equalizers Track Club Fine
Placings USATF JO Cross Country

Saturday, December 9th, 2006 @ Spokane, Washington

by Jerry Palazzo

 
photos by Bill Foley
National Champ Katie Shirley (left) - Andrew Mayeda (2737 right photo) leads Youth Boys to Title!!

At the USATF Junior Olympic Cross Country National Championship Meet, held in Spokane, WA on December 9, teams from the Tustin-based Equalizers Track Club, fared well, with the Youth Boy’s team (13-14 year-olds) taking the national title, the Youth Girl’s team finishing 3rd, and, the Midget Girl’s team (11-12) placing 2nd in the country.

The Youth Boy’s team was led by Valencia HS (Val) freshman Andrew Mayeda who finished 13th overall and Foothill HS (SA) freshman Kyle Case who placed 21st, both achieving “All-American” honors. Also on this winning team were Michael Palazzo and Michael Estrada, both freshmen at Foothill, and Foothill-bound 8th graders Nathaniel Cushing-murray and Kevin Case. Nathaniel and Kevin were top 5 scoring runners. Two other 8th graders heading to Troy HS include Jonathan Blanton and Kevin Horchler. The 3rd scoring runner was 8th grader Hailu Hitchman who will be attending Mater Dei.

The Youth Girl’s team placed 3rd in classic cross country fashion, without a runner in the top 25, but with 7 girls finishing within 12 seconds of each other soon after. The team was led by Foothill HS freshman Carley Gross, and included classmate Allie Rigby. Warren HS freshmen, Dani Moreno and Monique Diaz, along with Valencia HS (Val) freshman Rella Kautiainen also played strong roles. Three strong 8th graders completed the team scoring, including Esperanza-bound Rebekah Bahra, the 3rd scoring runner, Cerritos-bound Taylor Williams and Ariane Gushue, who is heading to Corona Del Mar to join her sister.

The Midget Girl’s team included individual National Champion Katie Shirley, who will be heading to Saugus in 2 years. She led throughout and won by 22 seconds. Supporting Katie were Patsy Hurley of Whittier and 6 girls from Tustin who will all attend Foothill HS in a couple years. Three achieved “All-American” status, including Katie (1st), Cori Stemper (15th), and Patsy Hurley (24th).

Kyle Case (left) romps through the trail in the snow in the Youth
Boys race

Taylor Williams finishes for the Equalizer Youth Girls group