The Californian's cross-country All-Area teams
| Wednesday, Dec 24 2008 01:22 AM
Last Updated Friday, Mar 27 2009 01:49 PM
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East's Lucia Garcia
Garces' Monica Guzman
Shafter's Elizabeth Wittenberg
Ridgeview's Robby Baker
McFarland's Eddie Garcia
McFarland's Marco Perez
McFarland's Alfonso Cisneros
Ridgeview's Tijerra Lynch
BHS' Sarah Baker
Wasco's Ascencion Mendoza
Foothill's Natalie Fernandez
Foothill's Chris Schwartz
BOYS CROSS COUNTRY: 2008 All-Area first team
RUNNER OF THE YEAR: CHRIS SCHWARTZ
Foothill — senior
Became a nationally recognized cross country star this season who lost only once — in the Division III state race — to California competiton. He rebounded to win the Western Regionals and finished eighth at the Foot Locker National Championships in San Diego.
ROBBY BAKER
Ridgeview — junior
Second-year runner led the Wolf Pack to an SWYL championship and placed eighth at the Central Section Division III championships in 16:43, then 75th at state in 16:28.
ALFONSO CISNEROS
McFarland — senior
As the No. 1 runner on Kern County’s dominant team, he often led a pack of Cougars at the front of races. Finished second in the section’s Division IV race and 18th at state with identical 16:20 times.
EDDIE GARCIA
McFarland — senior
The Cougars’ No. 2 runner won the East Sierra League championship in 15:51, then took third in the section race and 20th at state.
ASCENSION MENDOZA
Wasco | senior
Finished sixth in the Central Section Division III race in 16:39, but his most impressive accomplishment came two weeks earlier, when he won his fourth straight South Sequoia League title.
MARCO PEREZ
McFarland — sophomore
The youngest Cougar starter finished third at the East Sierra League meet and fourth at the Kern County championships and Central Section meets. He was 30th at state.
BOYS SECOND TEAM
Marco Camargo, junior, McFarland
Alex Garcia, junior, Ridgeview
Curtis Kelly, freshman, Stockdale
Francisco Nava, sophomore, McFarland
Brian Solis, junior, Ridgeview
Jake Van Zandt, junior, Highland
BOYS HONORABLE MENTION
Bakersfield: Andrew Ariey
Garces: Connor O’Malley
Highland: Colin Lewis, Thomas Turner
McFarland: Gerardo Alcala, Eduardo Bautista
Ridgeview: Jerrid Lewis
Shafter: Christian Barrios, Jesus Villapondo
Past Runners of the Year
2007 Chris Schwartz, Foothill
2006 Alan Lloyd, Burroughs
2005 Octavio Ruiz, McFarland
2004 Brandon Rooney, Tehachapi
2003 Nathan Longcrier, Centennial
2002 Lucas Burke, Stockdale
2001 Billy Nelson, Taft
2000 Andres Gomes, McFarland
1999 Mario Macias, Delano
1998 Andres Gomes, McFarland
1997 Jose Perezchica, McFarland
1996 Jose Perezchica, McFarland
1995 Micah Fuson, Taft; Jorge Castro, Arvin and Luis Herrera, Arvin
1994 Galvin Gonzalez, McFarland
1993 Galvin Gonzalez, McFarland
1992 George Rivera, Delano and Ricardo Brewer, North
1991 George Rivera, Delano and Ricardo Brewer, North
1990 George Rivera, Delano
1989 Johnny Samaniego, McFarland; Juan Sanchez, Delano and Javier Flores, Wasco
1988 Juan Romero, Arvin
1987 Richard Duran, Wasco and Juan Romero, Arvin
1986 Thomas Valles, McFarland and Juan Romero, Arvin
1985 Jose Medina, Wasco and Thomas Valles, McFarland
1984 Eli Gonzalez, Highland
GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY: 2008 All-Area first team
RUNNER OF THE YEAR: TIJERRA LYNCH
Ridgeview — sophomore
The 800-meter specialist in track added cross country with great success, winning the Kern County championships and the SWYL, and finishing third in the Central Section’s Division III race. The Wolf Pack won all three of those team titles.
SARAH BAKER
Bakersfield — sophomore
Won her second straight SEYL championship and was the top Division I runner in the county. Finished 25th in the section’s D-I race in 20:45.
NATALIE FERNANDEZ
Foothill — sophomore
A third-place finish at the Division II section meet (20:04) was more than enough to make her the Trojans’ first girls state qualifier this century. She was second in the SEYL in 18:51 and 108th at state.
LUCIA GARCIA
East — junior
Even though the Blades didn’t field a full team, she was at the forefront of most meets, including a third-place finish in the SEYL (18:55) and fourth place at the D-II section meet (20:08).
MONICA GUZMAN
Garces — junior
Took fifth in the Southeast Yosemite League meet and proceeded to get stronger, running 19:53 for second place at the D-II section meet and 20:18 at the state meet for 127th.
ELIZABETH WITTENBERG
Shafter — senior
Champion of the Wolf Pack Invitational and the South Sequoia League and runner-up at the Kern County championships. Finished sixth in the Division III section race.
GIRLS SECOND TEAM
Desiree Armendariz, Ridgeview
Nichole Berry, Highland
Ashley Duran, Ridgeview
Jessica Huizar, Ridgeview
Cecelia Lopez, North
Megan Thompson, Taft
GIRLS HONORABLE MENTION
Arvin: Tanya Hernandez
Bakersfield: Emily Shoford
Burroughs: Jenny Durtschi, Jennifer Speer
Independence: Acacia Ingram
McFarland: Corina Garcia, Kelly Torres
Shafter: Mariah Millwee
Stockdale: Caroline Henry, Courtney Moore, Amber Nelson
Wasco: Alejandra Gutierrez
Past winners: Runner of the Year
2007 Candace Carlson, North
2006 Cassandra Salazar, Shafter
2005 Amanda Montgomery, North
2004 Clarissa Rivera, Delano
2003 Brittany Grimes, Centennial
2002 Brittany Grimes, Centennial
2001 Brittany Grimes, Centennial
2000 Brittany Grimes, Centennial
1999 Alicia Veiss, McFarland
1998 Janel Suburu, Ridgeview and Laura Davis, McFarland
1997 Laura Davis, McFarland and Veronica Sanchez, Wasco
1996 Tracy Bowling, Taft; Cristina Sanchez, McFarland; Brianne Barber, Centennial
1995 Veronica Sanchez, Wasco and Tracy Bowling, Taft
1994 Tracy Cohn, Stockdale and Veronica Sanchez, Wasco
1993 Lori Fancon, Taft
1992 Cindy Franco, Delano
1991 Lori Miller, North and Cindy Franco, Delano
1990 Maribel Salinas, Arvin
1989 Mary Martinez, Foothill
1988 Mary Martinez, Foothill
1987 Mary Martinez, Foothill and Julie Caufield, East
1986 Mary Martinez, Foothill and Julie Caufield, East
1985 Julie Caufield, East and Tonya Russell, Taft
1984 Julie Caufield, East
