Clovis Invitational
Saturday, October 7, 2006 At Woodward
Park (SS) - 3.1 miles
Saturday, October 7, 2006
marks the 28th running of the Clovis Cross Country Invitational at Woodward
Park in Fresno, California. 3,284 of the finest high school athletes
from 153 California and Nevada schools will converge at the home course
of the California State Championships to battle it out for mid season
glory. The day’s events begin at 7:15 am, with 15 races slated
to wind through the pristine hills and valleys of California’s
premier harrier course.
With the State of California divided
into 5 divisions, 45 teams with a current top ten state ranking will
venture to Fresno to get a taste of the course on which each team is
determined to race come Thanksgiving weekend when the state championships
are held here. Many teams travel here in October to get a preview of
the course, while others are getting their athletes a taste of the flavor
and mystique of Woodward Park.
The Clovis Invitational offers
two races that allow competitive teams from all divisions to go toe-to-toe
regardless of school enrollment.
All eyes will be fixed on the starting
line at 10:10 am, when the Championship Girls race is set to begin.
Three-time national silver medalist Marie Lawrence, of Reno High, will
once again defend her title at Clovis. Trying to unseat her will be
local standout Lauren Saylor of Buchanan (Clovis). The Bears lead 11
state ranked CA schools in the race, and are themselves currently ranked
#4 in division 1 and #5 in California overall. Buchanan finished third
at last weekend’s Stanford Invitational. Davis High, ranked #8
overall and #5 D1, is led by the double threat of Chelsea Riley and
Laurynne Chatelat who finished 8 and 10, respectively, at Stanford.
California’s top ranked D2 school, Ayala of Chino Hills, also
# 6 overall, is riding a fantastic early season into Saturday’s
showdown. Other D2 schools hoping to make a statement against Ayala
include Southern Section powers Brea Olinda and Newport Harbor. Sac-Joaquin
leaders St. Francis (Sac) and recent D2 addition Fairfield intend to
add to the north-south balance of what looks to be a very exciting race.
At 10:35, the Championship Boys
field will feature what looks to be possibly the most anticipated boys
field in Clovis Invitational history. California’s top ranked
team, Royal High School of Simi Valley, is bringing their probable #2
US ranking (after a close second to former #2 Ferris of Washington)
to Fresno, and will line up behind two-time California 3200 meter champion
and defending Clovis Invitational champion Michael Cybulski and teammate
Hudson Andrews. Evan Watchempino and Phil McKennary of Jesuit (Carmichael),
ranked #4 in the US, #2 overall in California and the defending Division
2 state champion, will attempt to defend their team title here against
a very deep field. Surging Arcadia High, ranked # 5 in D1 and #4 overall,
attacks the field this week after a strong showing at Stanford. Davis
High (#4 D1) may be the dark horse here after finishing 7th at Stanford
behind Brendan Gregg’s stunning victory over Cybulski. Local powerhouse
Madera looks to regain its form behind Isai Orea as the Coyotes prepare
for the yearly late season surge in an attempt to keep a D1 team plaque
here at home in the central section come November.
California’s Division
2 schools are not content to let Jesuit do all the work, as 5 other
state ranked teams join the fray. Mikel Thomas of the host school Clovis
High finished second last year and is joined by teammate Jonathan Peterson
as the Cougars (#5 D2) make their first visit to Woodward Park since
placing second at last year’s state championships. St.John Bosco
(Bellflower) brings a strong team tradition and a #2 ranking into the
29 team field that includes Torrance’s Kent Morikawa, Brent Honda
of Fall River, Daniel Garza of Don Lugo (Chino), Ryan Cosens of Oak
Ridge , and San Jose standouts Mohamed Abdalla and Marcos Corona of
Willow Glen.
Defending National, State, Central
Section, and last year’s small schools Clovis Invitational champion
Jordan Hasay of SLO’s Mission College Prep will again run with
her team in the small schools race at 8:45 am. The early start gives
her great running conditions should she wish to challenge the meet record
of 16:55 set by Ukiah’s Amber Trotter in 2001. Joining Mission
Prep will be seven state-ranked teams, including perennial power Oak
Park as well as La Reina, Morro Bay, and Flintridge Prep.
The D4 boys race at 9:15
looks to be equally enticing, with 8 CIF D3, D4, and D5 rankings on
the line. The central valley’s legendary McFarland will face Oak
Park in a war that looks to include Sac Joaquin leader Colfax and the
D5 tradition of Woodcrest Christian. Look to see the rankings shaken
up a bit here.
The Clovis High Cougars,
the host team, sill send their girls team into the Extra Large school
division to defend last year’s title against some teams whose
top seven are running the Championship race. Ayala, Buchanan, and Dana
Hills will test their depth against many strong D1 and large D2 teams
from throughout California.
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