DyeStatCal - internet home of California track

November, 2005

2005 State Individual predictions
Doug Speck

Girls Division II - Dynamite crew from around the state should put a number under the 18:00 barrier in this contest!!

1. **Kauren Tarver (Serrano, Phelan-SS) - Nation's top frosh from last year still plays some club soccer but limited the tennis this fall (she did all three last year seriously during this season) to some smaller-scale tennis club action! Blasted a 17:02 at Mt. SAC in the Invite and was the Section Champ last week down south. Super season and ready to go the next few weeks in fine style starting here with a defending of her title!!

2. -Whitney Blue (Newport Harbor, Newport Beach-SS) - Runner-up here last year, Whitney was 10:35 for sixth in State in Track over 3200m and has had a fine Fall. She was 17:28 last weekend, three seconds behind Tarver, and looks ready to crank up another special effort.

photo by Joe Hartman

3. *Alex Kosinski (Oak Ridge, El Dorado Hills-SJ) - Continues the super running after a great track and field season, with 4:49 and 10:35 bests! Next move to the absolutely elite prep level could be a really good run with Tarver here--Alex was fifth here last year at this level.

4. ***Kevyn Murphy (Mira Costa, Manhattan Beach-SS) - Super frosh stepped off the lifeguard tower this Fall to amazing running, skipping from the 18's past the 17's to the 16's for three miles back at Woodbridge in September, with a number of solid efforts since then. Was a super 17:09 at Mt. SAC in late October, with a third place behind vets Tarver and Blue last week down South. Among nation's top half-dozen ninth graders this season!

photo by Kirby Lee

5. *Anne Sperry (Simi Valley-SS) 9th in State Division I last Fall, Anna was 4:55 in the spring for 1600m and 7th in State there. She was a 17:33 race winner at Mt. SAC in late October, with a 17:43 in chasing the Section crowd listed above her here.

photo by Joe Hartman

6. *Hannah Dillard (Chico-No) Big section winner up north, Hannah had a super regular season gobbling up some course records, with an impressive third place in the Stanford Division II contest back aways.

photo by Dave Casper

7. **Christine Babcock (Woodbridge, Irvine-SS) Part of the great running family, Christine was an impressive fifth in the Southern Section meet, racing 17:52 as the morning started to heat up last week.

photo by Margaret Gallagher

8. -Jessica Van Ausdall (Aptos-CCS) - Section Champ has had a fine season, with a sixth against some of the best here at the Stanford Invite in leading her very fine team.

9. *Hannah Hodgkinson (Pleasant Valley, Chico-No) - Another northern star, had a fine fall with an 18:14 during a trip south while winning her race at the Mt. SAC Invite.

10. ***Markie Voyles (Don Lugo, Chino-SS) - Sixth in the Southern Section competition last weekend at under 18:00 on the Finals course there, Markie had a fine season, and was just outleaned by Hodgkinson during a regular race at the Mt. SAC Invite.

At Large - Sad that there is not some "at-large" provision for top individuals who are left out of the State meet. Stephanie Felix of La Mirada raced 18:05 last weekend at Mt. SAC and would have been very competitive for the awards stand here.

Boys Division II - Another great contest with some real geographical diversity to the favorites who have not hooked up together yet, so it should be much fun to watch.

photo by George Green

1. -Riley Booker (University City, San Diego-SD) - This very strong San Diego Section champ looks poised and ready to close with a rush like last year that had him as an underclass star in the Foot Locker National Championships as an individual! Riley was third in this race last year, and had 4:15 and 9:22 track bests, with a good fall season.

photo by Ernest Velarde/Bill Cockerman
proracegroup.com

2. *Mikel Thomas (Clovis-CE) - Tough to pick against the hometown favorite and he could very well run a great race to walk away with the gold medal. Runner up to Div I star Michael Cybulski of Royal here at the Clovis Invite in early October, and his familiarity with the nooks and crannies here may just be the difference for the 4:17 and 9:17 track distance star

photo by Joe Hartman

3. *Matthew Petrillo (Los Gatos-CCS) Hard working CCS Champ emerged with an impressive divisional win at the Stanford Invite and has never looked back. Raced to decisive area win two weeks back at the Section finals, and can challenge for the win here.

4. -Ted Price (Camarillo-SS) Drop down from Division I where he was among the top dozen finishers last Fall. Has had a fine fall, and was a decisive Section winner while racing 15:13 last weekend in the heat at Mt. SAC.

5. *Kent Morikawa (Torrance-SS) Really comes to run each week, with the South Bay junior ending up second in the Southern Section Div II contest, and was seventh in the Clovis Invite Seeded race at 15:44 here.

6. *Evan Watchempino (Jesuit, Sacramento-SJ) Leader of another great Jesuit team, and should be poised for a great Fresno run! Had fine big-meet races at Stanford and here in the Clovis Invite, eighth at 15:47.

photo by Joe Hartman

7. -Steve Sodaro (Redwood, Larkspur-NCS) Area Champion, Steve was second in the Division II race at the Stanford Invite to Petrillo at 16:09. Was a comfortable Section winner and looks ready to go!

8. -Curtis Aukshunas (El Modena, Orange-SS) - Closing with a nice rush this Fall after great year last year that had him finish in this place Statewide, and follow up with a 9:30 3200 in the spring. Was third in the very competitive Southern Section finals race.

photo by Joe Hartman

9. *Tony Bareno (Valhalla, El Cajon-SD) San Diego runner-up to favorite Booker, Tony was third in the Division II contest at Stanford in late September and the 9:30 3200 runner could move up a couple of spots here.

10. -Tom Richter (Serrano, Phelan) one of the state's most improved runners of the length of the season, he was a fine fourth in the Southern Section Division II championship run, and hopes to join school-mate Kauren Tarver with picking up a medal in the level 2 contest this weekend.