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DATE: Friday, December 1, 2006 BYLINE: By NATHAN WRIGHT FOR THE PRESS DEMOCRAT CASA RUNNER SETS THE PACE FRESHMAN JACQUE TAYLOR CAPS FIRST CROSS-COUNTRY SEASON WITH STRONG SHOWING IN STATE CHAMPIONSHIP If her freshman season is any indicator of things to come, Casa Grande High's Jacque Taylor is going to become a household name among high school runners. Taylor, 15, finished fifth overall in her division at the California high school cross-country state championship last weekend in Fresno, a week after winning the North Coast Section championship in Hayward. While she didn't win the state meet, she did post the fastest time of any freshman in California. The strong finishes have left the Gauchos' young runner in high spirits as her first season of high school cross-country comes to a close. ``I'm usually always happy after racing if I get first,'' she said. ``It was a good first year to start off with. I expected a lot from myself, but not this much.'' Taylor has enjoyed her share of winning. She won every single league meet this year, along with the Rancho Cotate Invitational and the Viking Opener. She took second place in her division at the Stanford Invitational, and ninth overall out of 5,000 runners at the Mount Sac Invitational at Mount San Antonio College in Los Angeles County. While those unfamiliar with Taylor may be somewhat surprised at her early success, the Sonoma County running community has long known that she has talent. Taylor emerged as a distance runner in middle school. At the age of 12 she finished 45th overall at the Dipsea Race in Marin County, which follows a trail that includes a 1,360-foot elevation gain over 7.1 miles up and over Mount Tamalpais. The following year she took 50th at the race, and earlier this year she finished 17th out of 1,400 runners. Taylor continued her success upon entering high school, dominating the Sonoma County League and entering the NCS meet as a favorite. ``I knew she was peaking,'' said Carl Triola, the Casa Grande cross-county coach and distance coach for the Gaucho track team. ``I figured she would finish either one or two in the race,'' he said. ``Just watching the race unfold I could tell she was in control.'' Taylor's NCS finish of 17:23 over three miles was 30 seconds faster than the second finisher's. At the state meet, Taylor made a strategic error but was still strong enough to finish fifth. ``It wasn't her best race,'' Triola said. ``She just went out way too fast. She ran through the first mile at five minutes, 20 seconds, 20 seconds faster than what she needed to be. It took her out of her race time a little bit.'' ``I kind of got sucked into the rhythm,'' Taylor said. ``I couldn't help but just go. I don't really know why I did that.'' Triola believes the experience will be valuable in the long run. ``She got caught up in the emotion,'' he said. ``After every race you pick out one thing you can do better, and applaud yourself on what you did well.'' While she came out too fast, she later showed strength and endurance by holding off any challenger while defending her spot. ``She really seemed strong in that last 100 meters,'' he said. ``She found that extra gear and held them off.'' Taylor will race many of the same girls again this weekend when she travels to Mount Sac for a second time this season to compete in the Foot Locker western regional race. If she finishes in the top eight she will run one final time this winter in the Foot Locker national championship in San Diego on Dec. 9. You can reach Correspondent Nathan Wright at 694-4053 or nwright01@gmail.com.
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