Cross Country State Meet Results

This past weekend the men and women's cross country teams traveled for the last time this season to the State Championships in Fresno, California at Woodward Park. This would be their third time competing on the well known course. Most individuals competing have had the opportunity to run on this particular course several times during their high school careers but the course remains as challenging as ever, no matter the amount of times it is tackled.

Leading the women from start to finish this season was Freshmen Jojo Zorn of Monache who finished the 5k course in 19th with a personal best time on the course this season of 19:07. Ariana Jasso, a Freshmen from Redwood placed 49th and went on to drop a minute off her personal best course time from the beginning of the season, coming across the finish line in 19:47. Freshmen Sarah Reid of Exeter placed 84th with a time of 20:20 which was also a personal best course time this season. Also competing for the Giants was Freshmen Kelsay McClendon of El Diamante (123rd, 20:58), Freshmen Monica Lopez of Kingsburg (134th, 21:10), Sophomore Adeline Blair of Golden West (137th, 21:14), and Sophomore Marlene Alcantar of Monache (165th, 21:51). 211 women and 27 teams took part in the California Junior College State Championships. The women scored 356 points to take 12th place. Hartnell and American River were the only NorCal teams to place higher than the Giants.

For the men, Freshmen Adam Gonzalez of Redwood continued to lead his team this season taking 61st in at time of 21:41 for the 4 mile course. Rogelio Luviano, a Freshmen from Tulare Union finished 113th in 22:17, running a 11 second personal best time on the course. Following Luviano was Freshmen Tyler Dalton of Mt. Whitney who placed 134th, running 22:32, also a personal best. Wrapping up the men's side was Freshmen Gary Austin of Corcoran (156th, 22:53) and Freshmen Abran Ayon of McFarland (158th, 22:55) who achieved personal best times on the course. Freshmen Arturo Ochoa of Exeter (161st, 22:58) and Freshmen Isaac Leal of Sanger (184th, 23:57) also competed for the Giants. The men went up against 28 teams and 208 runners, placing 21st in the State as a team with 564 points. They were the third NorCal team in the State behind American River and Hartnell.

Although the season has come to an end, most of these Giants will now take a break and then begin to gear up for Track in the spring.