2005 CIF-State Cross-Country Championships
Saturday, November 25 @ Woodward Park, Fresno

State Meet Bulletin State  -   Championships History
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Individual Race Predictions
DIVISION IV
Doug Speck - Editor DyeStatCal

The following predictions are an attempt to predict the State Meet
Finals finish in Fresno. Emphasis is on "end of season" performances, with
consideration given to major "in-season" heads up races in major competitions
around the state

Boys Divison IV

Bill Leung photo

1. -Chad Hall (Big Bear-SS) - Having an absolutely specatular senior year, Hall has taken his place truly among the elite runners nationally with a powerful bounce to his stride this Fall that has had him race to a super series of wins, since setting the CR way back in mid-September's Woodbridge Invitational in Irvine. Probably still smarting from the runner-up finish he had at last year's State meet to upstart German Fernandez (Riverbank), Hall will look to place a mark, rare now a days, on the all-time list at Woodward Park for seniors! 4:11 mile and 8:58.42 3200 last year in track.

photo by Joe Hartman

2. *German Fernandez (Riverbank-SJ) - A spectacular run last year as a sophomore had him race 15:14 and win comfortably over Hall and the field in the equal #5 soph time ever, one of the most stunning performances in state meet history. Since that time knee surgery and all has slowed the act some, but Fernandez did have a fine Section finals run, where he won by nearly a minute in a very good time at Willow Hills. Whether he tries to go with Hall will be interesting to watch this day!

3. -Erick Garcia (Parlier-CE) - Another on a mission this Fall has been the Central Section star, who has traveled up and down the state and blasted some good fields in Invitational races. He was better than the ninth he placed in the 2005 competiton here, and should prove to be very, very tough in adding up-front depth to this field! 9:17.98 3200 in track for seventh in state meet.

photo by Margaret Gallagher

4. *Matt Duffy (St. Mary's, Berkeley-NCS) - The North Coast Sction star is another willing to travel near and far to meet the best this Fall, with a series of great Invitational race runs against good groups! A fine sixth here last year as a soph, he should move up a couple of places and be ready to challenge for the win next year!

5. *Alberto Solis (Big Bear-SS) - Runner-up in the tough Southern Section, Solis was eighth last year here as just a soph. Running for himself and his team this day he will find no shortage of motivation and add another fine notch in his 2006 belt of accomplishments in running.

6. -Brandon Shirk (Nordhoff, Ojai-SS) - Emerged with a solid race in the Southern Section Finals for third behind Chad Hall and Solis. Should join in the long line of Nordhoff stars through the years who have grown to own this course come late November. 9:29.82 3200 in track last spring.

7. -Julio Ortega (St. Joseph, Santa Maria-SS) - Tough private school Southern Section senior has had a solid season, and matches up well with the best in this division. He will earn his spot in the awards tent here.

8. -Misael Corral (King City-CCS) - Runner-up in the CCS to Michael Landry (Santa Cruz), who we read in the paper will not be running with plantar fascitis recovery time that is needed. Corral had a great CCS finals run that predicted the ability to run at 16:00 here.

9. -Jeremy Eaton (Laguna Beach-SS) Closed down a great Southern Section career with fine fifth in the Section Finals there in leading his squad to a runner-up performance behind Big Bear in the Finals. Lots of big meet expereince will stead him well here. 1:57.42 in track over 800m last season.

photo by Margaret Gallagher

10. -David Buscho (San Rafael-NCS) - Runner-up to Matt Duffy in the NCS, David had a fine Stanford Invitational run against a strong group in late September, and seems to be peaking in fine style.

Top Division IV Returnees for 2006
1 1323 SJS German Fernandez SO Riverbank 15:14 4:55
2 1393 SS Chad Hall JR Big Bear 15:51 5:07
5 713 NCS Mark Ceraldi JR Piedmont 16:04 5:11
6 747 NCS Matt Duffy SO St. Mary's 16:06 5:11
8 1394 SS Berto Solis SO Big Bear 16:11 5:13
9 411 CS Eick Garcia JR Parlier 16:14 5:14
14 1654 SS Adam Cunningham JR Milken Com 16:22 5:16
17 129 CCS Wes Buntman JR Monte Vist 16:33 5:20
20 749 NCS Rob Riccardi JR St. Mary's 16:37 5:21
21 1731 SS Edwin Flores SO Paraclete 16:39 5:22
22 1838 SS Marcus Buckles JR Twentynine 16:40 5:22
23 975 SDS Jesus Romo JR Guajome Pa 16:41 5:22
29 715 NCS Jesse Baldridge JR Piedmont 16:51 5:26
31 1632 SS Sam Delgado SO Lutheran 16:51 5:26
32 1626 SS Cameron Everhart SO Lutheran 16:53 5:27

GIRLS DIVISION IV

photo by Joe Hartman

1. -Maritza Garcia (Riverbank-SJ) - The defending champ here, Garcia has steadily improved each big meet this Fall, and appears ready to blast something special here. She has been the spirit and soul of a very good program over the last few years and should really come to run to finish out her senior season in the sport. 5:06.71 for a mile and 11:23.32 for 3200m in track

2. -Kate Grace (Marlborough, Los Angeles - SS) - Very impressive improvement all Fall to a Section title in the very tough south last weekend. At 55.74 for 400m and 2:10.31 for 800m in track, others better not wait until the very end to seal a higher place against her, as she has leg speed that has never been seen at the harrier sport at this level. May win it all.

photo by Hank Lawson

3. ***Samantha Hamilton (Half Moon Bay-CCS) - Make it “Sammy” please, for the frosh mitey-mite, who was another who shocked with her steady improvement this fall, her first year as a prep, with a big CCS title run a couple weeks back at Toro Park. Could she upset the seniors, it would not be a shocking win.

photo by Shawn Sumpter

4. -Brittny Escamilla (El Molino, Forestville-NCS) - The North Coast Champ will head over to Fresno and fine some good competition to really press her. Soccer star truned to running, whether to go with the race leaders or sit back a ways is a consideration as the Bay area star decides to go for it all. 11:21.68 in track over 3200m last spring.

photo by Joe Hartman

5. ***Sara Howard (Colfax) - Sac Joaquin runner-up to Maritza Garcia had a fine Fall, with a sub-19 minute run here in the Clovis Invitational along the way. School with a fine tradition should add to the trophy case haul with her effort here.

6. ***Danielle Van de Sande (Marlborough, LA - SS) Another from the super Marlborough team who amazed with her steady improvement during the season, with the squad recording 34 points in their Section title win! Danielle was second to teammate Kate Grace there, with the potential to pull closer than what we have her picked here.

photo by Michelle Gallagher

7. **Michelle Johnson (West Valley, Cottonwood-No) Sixth in this event last year, and with a fine track and fall cross-country season behind her we find it hard to believe that as many above as we have picked will be ahead of her at the finish. Has accomplished a lot in less than two years as a prep. Johnson was 5:01.15 for 1600m and 11:19.74 for 3200m as a frosh last year.

photo by Michelle Gallagher

8. -Thea Lee (Carmel-CCS) - Good section runner-up effort to Sammy Hamilton (above) in the CCS, helping lead her team to a convincing title there with 38 points. One who will be “running for the team” in addition to her individual honors in this event, usually a formula for a solid effort. 2:16.60 for 800m last spring in track for Lee.

photo by Michelle Gallagher

9. **Jennifer Bergman (Valley Christian, San Jose-CCS) #2 returnee from the 2005 event who will be in the race, with a fine fourth place finish at this level in State last November. Jennifer was third in the CCS behind Hamilton and Lee up above, and had a fine regular season of races, with some strong Invitational runs.

10. ***Catherine Hasbrouck (Nordhoff, Ojai-SS) Another fine young runner at the Ventura County traditional power, the frosh Hasbrouck should be under 19:00 here, with a fine third in the Southern Section finals contest.

Top Division IV Returnees for 2006
1 1318 SJS Maritza Garcia JR Riverbank 18:14 5:52
2 185 CCS Taylor Johnson SO San Lorenz 18:20 5:54
4 241 CCS Jennifer Bergmann FR Valley Chr 18:35 5:59
5 1619 SS Jacqueline Turner JR Lutheran 18:39 6:00
6 878 NS Michelle Johnson FR West Valle 18:47 6:03
7 1621 SS Jane Kerner SO Lutheran 18:52 6:05
8 184 CCS Cara Hoyt SO San Lorenz 18:53 6:05
9 1587 SS Alex Crawley JR Laguna Bea 19:01 6:08
11 1813 SS Jenessa Rose SO St. Bonave 19:05 6:09
13 1647 SS Kate Grace JR Marlboroug 19:15 6:12
15 1713 SS Roseanne Fleming SO Oaks Chris 19:22 6:14
17 1261 SJS Erika Keylon SO Inderkum 19:27 6:16
18 187 CCS Chelsea Schwerdtfege SO San Lorenz 19:27 6:16
19 1007 SDS Lauren Pischel JR La Jolla C 19:28 6:16
20 1622 SS Staci Foster FR Lutheran 19:28 6:16