Team favorites prevail in SEYL, SWYL meets
| Thursday, Nov 05 2009 11:18 PM
Last Updated Thursday, Nov 05 2009 11:18 PM
If it's true that everyone pulls for the underdog, then a lot of people left Thursday's Southeast Yosemite League and Southwest Yosemite League Cross Country Championships at Hart Park disappointed.
Instead it was a banner day for the favorites as all four teams that came into the meet with 6-0 league marks; the Bakersfield girls, Stockdale girls, Highland boys, and Ridgeview boys won to clinch their respective league titles and three of the four individuals to cross the finish line first were repeat winners.
Sarah Baker dominated the SEYL girls race. Her time of 18 minutes, 42 seconds was 45.1 seconds faster than that of second-place finisher Jeannette Rodriguez of Highland.
It was the BHS junior's third straight year winning the SEYL title. Two weeks ago in a dual meet against Golden Valley she set a school record with a time of 17:46.
"The Highland girl kind of went out fast so I kind of stayed behind her for a little bit," Baker said "But then right around the mile mark I took off on my own. I felt like I could do it and I felt like I had enough in me to bring it home."
Stockdale and Ridgeview split a pair of close SWYL battles. The Mustang girls edged the Wolf Pack 37-42 on the strength of having all five of its runners place in the top 11. But later the Ridgeview boys led by an Alex Garcia, Robby Baker, Brian Solis 1-2-3 finish turned the tables on Stockdale, winning 28-34.
"Just winning it (the team title) means it all paid off, all those days of practice when you just wanted to quit," Garcia said.
It was a second straight league championship for Garcia who finished the 5-kilometer course with a time of 15:20.9.
Ridgeview's girls chances were dealt a blow when one of its best runners Lashya Morgan fell face first to the ground during the race and skinned her arm and hip.
The Wolf Pack freshman didn't let that deter her though. She went on to finish 9th while her teammates Tijerra Lynch (18:52.0) and Desiree Armanda (18:59.2) placed first and second. North's Kaylee Moyer was third.
"All seven of our boys had a personal best and six out of seven of our girls had a personal best including Lashya who fell down," Ridgeview coach Adam Setser said. " You can't ask for much more than that."
It was the second straight SWYL title for Lynch, who didn't start running cross country until her sophomore year. The Ridgeview junior spent most of the first part of the race hanging back with her teammates.
"I wanted to encourage them and it helped," Lynch said. "I wanted to win for my team today and forget about the individual stuff."
Highland beat East 35-43 to claim the SEYL boys team title. Foothill was third with 72 points.
The Scots had all five of its runner place in the top 14 including winner Colin Lewis (16:02.6) and runner up Jake Van Zandt (16:04.9). East's Joe Ramirez was third.
"Me and my teammate Jake led most of the race and with 800 meters left in the race I knew I had to go because he has a pretty good kick ," Lewis said. "I don't think I've ever won a race this big in my life so I'm just happy to win today."
Gracie Garcia and Emily Shuford added sixth and seventh place finishes for the BHS girls, which beat Highland 48-66. Foothill was third.
