Hartnell Sweeps Coast Championship
The goal was perfection for the Hartnell College cross country program at Thursday's Coast Conference Championship on historic Crystal Springs cross country course in Belmont. The Panthers were came within just five points of achieving what could be considered a perfect cross country meet as the men's team scored 20 points with the women recording a perfect score 15 points to take the team title. The Panthers also had both women's and men's overall champions.
On the women's side, the duo of Malena Grover and Brandi Hobson lead the Lady Panthers to a perfect sweep of the first five finishing positions. In cross country, a low score of 15 points is the lowest attainable team score. Grover took the individual title by one second in 18:42 just ahead of teammate Hobson at 18:43. The pair ran side by side over the entire 2.95 mile course with the final outcome not decided until the final strides of the race. They were followed closely by Rachel Shimabukuro in third (18:53), Nancy Rodriguez (19:04), and Maritza Ruelas (19:29) to complete the sweep. The ladies were not done as three more earned all-conference honors with Cynthia Tovar in seventh (19:50), Maria Rodriguez (20:27) in ninth, and Lizette Garcia (20:57) in tenth. Dariani Salvador (22:20) picked up the last medal in fifteenth. This was the second consecutive conference title for the women with Grover adding a second consecutive overall title for the Lady Panthers.
Diego Leon is the top runner in the state virtue of his early season win at the Fresno Invitational and recent victory at the Mt. SAC Invitational but he has yet to win a Coast Conference title in either cross country or track. Last fall, he was third at the conference championship in cross country and was out-leaned in the spring for the 1500 meter title. On Friday, Diego paced teammate Justin Carrancho early but made a move in the final mile to decisively pick up his first conference title in 21:21 over the 4.195 mile course. Carrancho followed in the runner-up spot at 21:45. The most exciting race was for third as former Watsonville HS producet Rene Siqueiros battled with former CCS 800 meter champion David Aguilar of DeAnza College. Siqueiros held the lead until the final strides but was rewarded with a personal best 21:57 on the course. Only Aguilar and Juan Morales of Las Positas kept the Panther men from duplicating the women's sweep with Andrews Gutierrez (22:26) in sixth and Luis Vargas (22:27) in seventh. Frosh Diego Avila put together his best effort this season in ninth (22:33). Avila was last fall's CCS Division V champion on the same trails at Crystal Springs. Javier Garcia (22:47) and Jesus Vazquez (22:50) also picked up all-conference honors placing eleventh and twelfth. This was the fifth consecutive team title for the Panthers tying the longest streak in school history.
The Panthers will compete Saturday, November 8th at the Northern California Championship at Crystal Springs.
For full Coast Conference results:
http://www.directathletics.com/results/xc/6524.html