Running Home | Weather Forecast | What is Redwood Empire
Track All-Time | Cross Country All-Time
Schedule | Archives | Links
10/13/2004 Meets
By DEWEY FORGET
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
PINER'S TESFASILASSIE SMOKES COMPETITION
SENIOR FROM ERITREA, WHO BEGAN RUNNING SERIOUSLY 2 YEARS AGO, SURPRISES HIMSELF WITH PERFORMANCE
PHOTO By JEFF KAN LEE / The Press Democrat
Dawit Tesfasilassie is one of the state's top cross country runners. The Piner senior is ranked
39th in the state and is improving with every race.
On Wednesday at Spring Lake, Tesfasilas-sie blitzed his competition, completing the 3-mile course
in 15 minutes, 44 seconds, a fast time considering the unusually hot weather.
Tesfasilassie's nearest competitor -- Maria Carrillo's Michael Brew -- finished in 16.20.
Tesfasilassie's time was the 16th fastest ever run over the course, tying Santa Rosa's Eddy McFarlin.
``What he's doing this early in the season is something. That was an amazing time he ran today,''
said longtime Santa Rosa track and cross country coach Doug Courtemarche.
Two NBL meets were run simultaneously at Spring Lake on Wednesday. In the tri-team competition,
the Santa Rosa boys outdistanced Rancho Cotate and Piner, and in a dual meet, the Maria Carrillo girls,
the top-ranked Div. III team in the state, defeated Montgomery.
The Carrillo boys, also state ranked in Div. III, took the top five spots to finish first with 15 points,
well ahead of the Vikings.
Tesfasilassie, an immigrant from Eritrea, began running as a freshman but says he didn't really
take it seriously until late in his sophomore year.
``I picked it up running in P.E. class,'' he said. ``I spent a lot of time on the track to stay
out of trouble. Then I realized after watching other top runners, I could be like them if I trained.
``Now I feel bad if I don't run. It gets into your head. It's a part of my lifestyle.''
Tesfasilassie has a natural running style that seems effortless. He glides along with long strides
and has the ability to maintain his speed throughout a race.
At Spring Lake, he had a 20-second lead after the first mile, increased his advantage with one mile
remaining, and then tuned on the after-burners to break the coveted 16-minute mark comfortably.
His effort surprised even himself because a small injury kept him from training last week.
``I really didn't expect to go that fast,'' he said.
What isn't a surprise is that Tesfasilassie has emerged as one the top runners in the state.
He is beginning to incorporate his natural ability with better fundamentals and training routines,
including weight training and better pre-race preparation.
``But when the race starts you have to adjust,'' Tesfasilassie said. ``Each course and race is different.
Sometimes I go out hard, and other times I follow the leaders for a while. So, I just run to win the race.''
Maria Carrillo's Amy Robinson recorded the top girls time of 18.59, with Kristen Sanzari running second
and Leanne Fogg third.
After the first mile, Robinson and Sanzari were strides apart, but Robinson pulled away in the final
half-mile for a comfortable win.
``I've run the course faster,'' Robinson said. ``But it was really hot, and I'm not a hot-weather runner.
I prefer fog and cold.''
Pumas coach Danny Aldredge, who led Carrillo to its first-ever boys cross country title last year,
said both the girls and boys teams are made up of good, team-oriented athletes.
``We don't have a superstar, and we don't have anyone who can touch Tesfasilassie, but we have lots
of good runners, so we stress team notoriety. Many of the athletes on the boys team are very close in ability;
only 24 seconds separates our one through five runners.''
Kevon LeMaitre-Roberts finished in 17.05, well behind Tesfasilassie, but the best time for the first-place Panthers.
NBL
Santa Rosa’s 2.97 mile Spring Lake County Park course, since 1988
Boys
Santa Rosa 24, Rancho Cotate 45, Piner 52.
Course Record: 14:50 Ryan Mack, Ukiah 11/13/98, next 15:01 Steve Laurie, Maria Carrillo 11/13/98
Boys Deeper list
Tesfasilassie Piner 15:44
LeMaitre-Roberts Santa Rosa 17:05
Winkler Santa Rosa 17:34
Prange Santa Rosa 18:26
Josue Rancho Cotate 18:28
Myers Rancho Cotate 18:34
Dunn Santa Rosa 18:55
Hannis Santa Rosa 19:25
Prost Piner 19:30
Cisneros Rancho Cotate 19:36
Hayes Rancho Cotate 20:06
Pappas Piner 20:25
VanDamme Rancho Cotate 20:34
Willson Piner 20:35
Herman Piner 20:37
Baec Piner 20:47
Petersen Santa Rosa 20:47
Hendrix Santa Rosa 20:50
Goodwin Piner 21:28
Dadid Rancho Cotate 22:40
Scoggins Piner 24:01
Regan Rancho Cotate 24:10
Girls
Rancho Cotate 20, Santa Rosa 36, Inc.; Piner, Inc.
Course Record: 16:15 Julia Stamps, Santa Rosa 10/11/95, next 16:31 Amber Trotter, Ukiah 11/01
Girls Deeper list
Rich Rancho Cotate 19:53
Charles Rancho Cotate 20:27
Moylan Santa Rosa 21:18
Herold Rancho Cotate 22:04
Kalagorgevich Rancho Cotate 22:13
Heisler Santa Rosa 22:22
Strunin Santa Rosa 23:20
O'Hara Rancho Cotate 23:29
Jellison Santa Rosa 23:46
Desmond Rancho Cotate 24:34
Bickford Santa Rosa 25:23
Winkler Santa Rosa 26:01
Archer Santa Rosa 26:47
Lopes Piner 26:54
Su Rancho Cotate 27:08
Montgomery's 2.97 mile Spring Lake County Park course, since 1988
Boys
Maria Carrillo 15, Montgomery 42
Course Record: 14:50 Ryan Mack, Ukiah 11/13/98, next 15:01 Steve Laurie, Maria Carrillo 11/13/98
Brew, M MC 16:20
Wolf-Root, A MC 16:27
Ensign, L MC 16:28
Roth, A MC 16:49
Aldridge, R MC 16:55
Conley, A M 16:59
McDowell, B M 17:25
Cutcher, J M 17:28
Cumbo, J MC 18:02
Perry, R M 18:20
Hall, L M 18:54
Clayton, S M 19:06
Coughlin, Q M 19:36
Girls
Maria Carrillo 15, Montgomery 41
Course Record: 16:15 Julia Stamps, Santa Rosa 10/11/95, next 16:31 Amber Trotter, Ukiah 11/01
Robinson, A MC 18:59
Sanzari, K MC 19:16
Fogg, L MC 19:19
Fladseth, k MC 19:21
Wentz, J MC 20:39
Blake, K M 20:43
Conley, E M 21:02
Walsh, M M 21:32
Dove, K M 22:13
Robert, T MC 22:17
McManus, M M 23:37
Krug, A M 0:07
JV Boys
Karrman, A MC 18:33
Smonski, B MC 18:36
Collett, B MC 18:43
Kitchen, J MC 18:50
Lanz, M MC 18:55
Bendana, C MC 19:02
Olsen, T MC 19:47
Martindill, J M 19:50
Skabelund, D MC 20:10
Mandanis, P MC 20:12
Skabelund, Z MC 20:25
Lee, D MC 20:40
Stone, B MC 20:51
Potter, Z M 21:18
Fritz, K M 21:49
Hilton, D MC 21:49
Murphy, M M 21:59
Lucia, M MC 22:54
Griffiths, K M 23:44
Wolff, S M 0:31
Arbios, C MC 2:15
Wahl, E M 2:18
Fung, Z M 2:24
Ryall, J M 4:50
JV Girls
Cheney, K MC 22:46
Gnoss, Alex M 22:56
Hallohan, J MC 23:41
Martindill, J M 0:37
Gnoss, Ashley M 1:08
Oser, A M 1:09
Yiding, Z MC 2:25
Tunzi, E M 2:35
Lebichuck, A M 2:49
Archer, E M 2:51
Proctor, L M 2:56
McManus, M M 3:08
Wahl, M M 3:10
Zanetti, M M 4:26
Zanetti, L M 4:28
Bryan, K MC 5:06
AT CARDINAL NEWMAN
Boys
Cardinal Newman 16, Ukiah 44.
Vann CN, 17:07;
Bertoli CN, 17:52;
Atkerson CN, 18;
Withers CN, 18:05;
McEntee U 18:06.
Girls
Ukiah 26, Ursuline 30.
Ponticello Ur., 19:41;
Mullin Uk., 20:31;
Nicholson Ur., 20:38;
Froschl Uk., 21:45;
Van Learn Uk., 22:47.
SCL
AT Sonoma Valley’s 2.7 mile Maxwell Depot Park course in Sonoma, since 2003
Boys
Healdsburg 25, Petaluma 37, Sonoma 74
Old Course Record: 15:54 Jonathon Teeter, El Molino 10/22/03
Quiroga H 15:50
Raines P 16:35
Murphy H 16:39
Machi H 16:5;
Yungert P 17:00
Girls
Healdsburg inc., Petaluma 19, Sonoma 41
Course Record: 18:32 Rene Chaffin, Sonoma 10/22/03
Parks P 18:51;
Zapata P 19:45;
Osborne S 20:22;
Vaughan P 20:31;
Henrich P 20:36.
AT Casa Grande’s 3.0 mile Martinelli Ranch course in Petaluma, since 2002
Boys
Analy 24, Casa Grande 35, Windsor 85.
Course Record: 15:45 Dawit Tesfasilassie, Piner 9/29/04, next 16:37 Ruben Mora-Roman, Analy 2002
Becker CG 17:15
Stephens A 17:37
Inman CG 17:51
Prescott A 17:55
Siebert A 18:15
Weis A 18:42
Cannon-Reese A 19:08
Hollinger CG 19:12
Simpkins A 19:15
Jones A 19:24
Philson CG 19:25
Sennello CG 20:02
B. LeSieur CG 20:05
Hensel CG 20:53
Kennedy W 21:29
Millan W 23:43
Brady W 28:11
Fortunado W 29:53
McQuaid W 32:44
Girls
Analy 23, Casa Grande 34, Windsor inc.
Course Record: 19:35 Ashton LeSieur, Casa Grande 11/5/03
A. LeSieur CG 20:19
DeLuca A 21:04
Michelson A 22:51
Jones A 22:54
Accornero CG 22:59
Field-Bell A 23:09
Lee CG 23:31
Tang W 25:05
Burchett A 25:24
Tuohy A 25:40
Garcia CG 26:01
Austin W 26:06
Minero W 26:15
Hurd CG 26:33
Latosa W 26:51
Haverlah CG 27:33
JV Boys
Analy 23
Casa 33
Windsor INC
Grissom CG 19:39
Greer A 20:01
Dratten A 20:08
Sturvmoto A 20:19
Moses CG 20:22
Nielsen A 20:23
Nowicki CG 20:39
A. Meeson A 20:40
C. Mason CG 20:46
Edwards A 20:58
Braun CG 21:16
Fornaciare A 21:23
B. Bryon CG 21:34
C. Bryon CG 21:38
Finer CG 21:40
Klotz A 21:47
Tarantino CG 22:00
Lockhart A 22:18
Andersen CG 22:38
R. Meeson A 22:51
Stevenson CG 22:57
Arden A 22:58
J. Mason CG 23:04
Vuong CG 23:06
Newman A 23:10
Fernandez A 23:28
Kendall CG 23:29
Klein A 23:29
Calley A 23:31
Descamp A 24:11
Franklin A 24:19
Stafford A 24:21
Arellano A 24:25
Kulwiel A 24:26
White CG 24:36
Siebert A 24:38
Ashlock CG 24:52
Peterson A 24:55
Volbrecht CG 25:10
Loiseau A 25:25
Heath A 25:31
T. Kenney A 26:08
Patterson CG 26:11
G. Meeson A 32:33
Moreno A 33:59
Girls JV
Analy 15, Casa & Windsor INC
Bianca Bigornia-Licata CG 24:42
Miao A 25:33
Bland A 26:53
Rasmuson A 27:25
Harrison A 28:33
Mich A 30:27
Gibson A 31:25
Simkins A 32:09
Shumaker A 32:16
J. Devoto A 34:02
LeSieur CG 34:51
Parreira CG 35:01
CMC
AT Willit’s 2.87 mile Brooktrails Parcourse in Willits, since 1990
Boys
Willits 23, RVC 32;
Ft. Bragg 23, St. Vincent 34;
RVC 19, Fort Bragg 36
Course Record: 15:29 Jesse Miklose, Fort Bragg 1990, next 15:44 Kelly Clark, Willits 11/6/02
Carey W 17:11;
Huckeby RVC 17:19;
Atkinson SV 17:34;
Bowlds, W, 17:36;
Smith, W, 17:49;
Schwartz, RVC, 18:03;
Kelley RVC 18:04;
Welter FB 18:06;
Mehtlan W 18:13;
Merrit W 18:16.
Girls
Willits 21, RVC 38;
St. Vincent 21, Ft. Bragg 38;
RVC 27, Ft. Bragg 28.
Course Record: 18:02 Tammy Hunt, Middletown 1997
Carlton Mendo. 18:55;
Waldman W 21:00;
Isola sV 22:04;
Davis W 22:17;
Hughes W 22;19;
Martin Mendo. 22:45;
Schlosser Mendo. 23:03;
Crouse RVC 23:11;
Kershner FB 23:36;
Vegher SV 23:40.
AT CLOVERDALE
ASTI WINERY (2.95 mi)
Boys
Cloverdale 21, Clear Lake 34;
Cloverdale 24, Middletown 31
Cole SH 18:00;
Smith C 18:50;
Diaz C 20:39;
Holt CL 21:34;
Bollach M 21:40.
Girls
Cloverdale 27, Middletown 28
Clear Lake inc.
Malvino M 23:40;
Schuldhaus M 24:02;
Miller C 24:29;
Lampert C 26:10;
Rentz C 26:35.
AT SPRING LAKE
Boys
SR Christian 15, Tomales inc.;
SR Christian 15, Calistoga inc.;
SR Christian 20, Lower Lake 38;
SR Christian 23, Kelseyville 37;
Kelseyville 15, Tomales inc.;
Kelseyville 15, Calistoga inc.
Course Record: 14:50 Ryan Mack, Ukiah 11/13/98, next 15:01 Steve Laurie, Maria Carrillo 11/13/98
Jackson SRC 16:46;
Perez LL 17:06;
Boyles K 17:57;
Serrano K 18:31;
Dolan SRC 18:47;
Dinglasan SRC 18:47.
Girls
SR Christian 23, Tomales 34;
SRC 15, Calistoga inc.;
SRC 19, Lower Lake 39;
SRC 23, Kelseyville 35.
Course Record: 16:15 Julia Stamps, Santa Rosa 10/11/95, next 16:31 Amber Trotter, Ukiah 11/01
Aquilina SRC 23:59;
Oppen T 24:35;
Albers C 25:10;
Zalusky K 25:31;
Black K 25:36.
JV--SRC 15, Tomales inc
By Harry Skandera
Santa Rosa Christian remains undefeated in Coastal Mountain Conference racing.
Both boys and girls teams 4-0. The harder match-ups will come in the next three weeks.
The big news today was that Jeff Jackson of SRC, set a new school record on the
Spring Lake course at 16:46, defeating the previously undefeated Lake County Champion
Mike Perez of Lower Lake by 20 seconds. Perez, you may remember won the Junior Class race
at the Viking Opener, becoming the first CMC athlete to win any division at the Viking.
In the CMC boys all the contenders will come from the western half of the league:
SRC, RVC, Willits, and Ft. Bragg. SRC will go against Willits next week at Lower Lake.
In the CMC girls the teams that will contend are
Willits, St. Vincent's, Cloverdale, Middletown, and SRC.
SRC has already beaten Middletown by 1 point.
Middletown has beaten Willits by 2 points.
St. Vincent's and Cloverdale have 6 solid runners but are vulnerable to Willits' top three runners 1,2,3.
Middletown and SRC are the only teams with girls capable of breaking Willits' top three.