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PUMAS FAVORED IN NBL MEET DATE: Tuesday, November 8, 2005 BYLINE: By RICH RUPPRECHT THE PRESS DEMOCRAT PAGE: C5 BOYS Today kicks off the cross country postseason, when coaches are leery of any sniffle or runner's ache that could turn into something more serious at the most important time of the year. The Sonoma County League boys' championship will be held at 3 p.m. today at Spring Lake, and the North Bay League boys' championship will be 3 p.m. Thursday, also at Spring Lake. The Maria Carrillo boys, undefeated in NBL meets and chasing their third straight league title, are ranked No.1 in the North Coast Section in Div.II and fourth in the state. The Pumas' Michael Brew heads into the NBL meet favored, but teammates Logan Ensign and Ryan Aldridge also expect to be among the leaders. Carrillo coach Danny Aldridge noted the Pumas have won 35 consecutive NBL races and likes the depth of his boys' team. Sophomore Nathan Huckeba is running well, as are Alex Hartz and Anton Carmen. Freshman Grant Williams has been a mild surprise. Other top-ranked Div.II teams at state include St. John Bosco and Jesuit of Sacramento. The Montgomery boys are expected to do well at the NCS meet Nov.19 at Hayward, with a chance to go to state. Petaluma, also a Div.II school, is unbeaten in the SCL, although Analy finished a close second in a head-to-head meet last week. Petaluma coach Jim Lynch has a talented team of mostly underclassmen, including freshman Sterling Lockkey, who along with Analy's Tyler Cannon-Reese, are individual favorites today. Petaluma senior Jason Grubb should finish with the leaders. Based on a points, Petaluma would win the SCL team title outright with a win today, or could share the title with Analy, if the Tigers prevail. Dye.stats.com, ranks Petaluma second in the NCS at Div. II. The state meet is Nov.26 at Fresno's Woodward Park. GIRLS Early season injuries certainly didn't help the Maria Carrillo girls rankings in the cross country polls, but the Pumas are in as good of shape as they've been all season heading into Thursday's North Bay League championship meet at Spring Lake. The Pumas, coming off last year's second-place team finish at state, lost top runners Kristen Sanzari and Leann Fogg for extended periods this season because of injuries, but both have returned and added to the emergence of Jacqui Wentz (who hasn't lost an NBL race) make Carrillo a favorite in the North Coast Section. Fogg, who finished 11th at state last year as a sophomore, suffered a stress fracture and illness early in the season, and is just rounding into form. Sanzari strained her back and had three weeks off. Her last race was her best, finishing within 20 seconds of Wentz. The Pumas are also undefeated in the NBL and haven't lost a league race in three years. Coach Danny Aldridge said the injuries no doubt knocked the Pumas from their No. 8 preseason state ranking, but added his team is getting healthy and may surprise some people at state. Adding depth to the Pumas are freshman Jordan Davis, the No. 5 runner for most of the season, and sophomore Alicia Lueth. Montgomery's Jennifer Martindill and Rancho's Shannon Rich should also be among Thursday's leaders. SCL CROSS COUNTRY Petaluma and Analy should battle for today's Sonoma County League team championship at Spring Lake, as Petaluma edged Analy in their final league meet last week. ``It should be a heck of a race,'' said Petaluma coach Jim Lynch, of the team race. Petaluma is undefeated in league and Analy has just the one loss to the Trojans. Taylor Parks and Kimmy Vaughan lead Petaluma and Christine Byrne and Lea DeLuca top Analy. Freshman Laura Rogina of Windsor will be today's favorite.
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