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PREP NOTEBOOK
Petaluma boys leg out another victory

By RICH RUPPRECHT
PRESS DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER

When last we caught up with the Petaluma boys’ cross country team it was finishing second 
at last year’s state meet in Fresno, the highest placing ever by an Empire boys’ team.

Jeff Kan Lee / PD Sterling Lockert of Petaluma won the boys race at the SCL championships 
at Spring Lake Park. November 7, 2007.Fast forward to last weekend when Petaluma, led by 
winner Sterling Lockert easily won the Ed Sias meet at Hidden Valley Park in Martinez, 
recording 27 points to runnerup Campolindo’s 52.

“These guys have stepped up,” said Trojans coach Jim Lynch. “I’ve never felt better than 
with our first five runners, as long as they stay healthy.”

Sterling Lockert won the small school race in 10:03, the third fastest time ever on the 
course and was followed by teammates Hugh Dowdy (10:20), Devin Lockert (10:25), Benjamin 
Stern (10:28), Brandon Felipe (10:33), giving Petaluma five of the top-10 spots.

Most satisfying, said Lynch, was the return of Stern after a year away from running because 
of illness and injury.

According to enrollment, the Trojans drop from Division II to III and Lynch said the change 
shouldn’t make much of a difference. The NCS may be stronger overall at Div. III (Petaluma 
is top-ranked), but there may be a better chance of winning state (Petaluma is No. 2, 
ranked behind Barstow).

With four of his top-five runners seniors, Lynch said this could be the team’s best chance 
of capturing a state title.

Sterling Lockert also led Petaluma to a win at Rancho Cotate the first week of the season 
with a 15:11 winning 3-mile time in 100-degree heat.

Lockert has been contacted by Loyola Marymount and Iona College of New York.

Petaluma has an interlock meet today with Maria Carrillo and will next gear up for the 
Stanford meet Sept. 27.

Carrillo’s Lauren Curtin won at Ed Sias in 12:03 and was named female athlete of the meet.

Casa Grande’s Jacque Taylor won the junior/senior race at Montgomery’s Viking Opener last 
weekend. Taylor’s time of 11:17 on Spring Lake’s 2-mile course (3.05 is the regular course) 
was the second fastest junior mark behind only Julia Stamps (10:49) and ahead of Amber 
Trotter (11:20).

Santa Rosa’s Suzi Rozga was second in 12:04.

Santa Rosa senior Rory McLeod won the boys’ senior race in 10:00.

The Santa Rosa boys had the third best combined score (2-miles) with McLeod, Reesey Byers 
(10:14), Jason Petersen (10:48), Matt Taylor (10:53) and Chris Edwards (11:06).

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