2005 Oakland Section Championship Preview
By: Dave Ponas

Welcome to the Oakland Athletic League Finals
Joaquin Miller Park, Oakland November 16, 2005
Race Preview

There is going to be some excellent racing today. Both the girls and boys races will be filled with excitement. Oakland High, Skyline, and Oakland Tech all have legitimate chances to win the girls race. Oakland High was 5-0 in OAL dual meets. The Wildcats will be looking for great runs from last years runner up Jessica Phuong (23:23 this year), and three time state meet qualifier Lauren Lok. A healthy Gianna Gallo, improving Linda Liang, Jamillah Rose, and Caroline Sou look to move up and get Oakland a championship.
The dual meet against Oakland High was close and Skyline looks to turn things around here. Amy Cordisco (24:02) leads the Titans. Cordisco won the OAL in the 3200 last track season can run up front. She?ll get help from improving Maya Velez, as well as Victoria Lam and Alana Ayasse who are just a few second behind Oakland High?s 2-3, and 4 girls.
Oakland Tech may be without last years champion Sophie Quisquater, hurt toe, but the Bulldogs have Kara Anderson leading the way. Kara, a sub 25:00 runner here will be backed up by OAL 800 meter track champion Keneesha Pierce. Both have experience here and can do some damage up front. Anna Dayley, Naomi Berkins and Emiko Zumbro add needed depth for the Dogs.
McClymonds will bring a complete team here today to challenge with Darielle Davis and T?Keyia Penick-Goodwin leading the way.
In the boys race Oakland High has plans to win its ninth straight OAL Championship. A 25-32 win over Skyline was great, but this is where it is. A solid group that have ran together for a while the Wildcats have placed in three Invitational meets this year. This group is lead by defending Champion and OAL Joaquin Miller Record Holder Thomas Dileo. Three weeks ago Thomas ran 17:51 here, breaking a 10 year old record owned by Skyline?s Daniel Golhke in 1995.
Thomas Dileo has won three invitationals this year. John Cheng, 18:51 here is not far behind Dileo and is a very strong number two runner. Followed by Thomas? brother Jimmy Dileo, and John?s brother Paul Chang, these Wildcats can run. An improving Ryan Lok and Jonathan Chiu may do it today.
Skyline has other ideas. This is a very talented young group. Super sophomores Ryan Purcell, Sean Purcell and Andrew Sylvester have great credentials. Willie Godfrey and David Okikawa, round out the Titians. Skyline took second as a team at the Half Moon Bay Invitational, large school division, beating Oakland High in the process. Only state ranked St. Francis beat them that day. The Titians ran huge in the frosh-soph division in Clovis earlier in October, placing second, only behind nationally ranked Jesuit of Sacramento.
DeAndre Cherry leads the Tech Bulldogs today. Cherry has a best of 20:03 and is the all time fastest Tech runner on the course. Jacobo Izquerdo-MeGuire has made some big improvements and has a sub 22:00 to his credit. Charlie Morse has a few years experience.

Whatever the outcome today cheer on all the competitors and have fun!