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Local runners eye state titles today

By RICH RUPPRECHT
PRESS DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER

Published: Friday, November 28, 2008 


You wouldn’t think a high schooler’s goal was to spend a weekend in Fresno, but there’s no 
bigger reward for a cross country runner than competing in today’s state cross country meet 
at Woodward Park.

The Petaluma boys’ team has been looking forward to the state Div. III race for at least a 
year, after finishing second in last year’s Div. II race.

Petaluma will have a couple of road blocks to try and avoid after losing a close North Coast 
Section championship race to Campolindo. Barstow is ranked No. 1 in boys Div. III.

Petaluma coach Jim Lynch said his runners are anxious to face Campolindo and Barstow and his 
senior-heavy team realizes it may be now or never to become only the second Empire school to 
win a state team championship (Montgomery in 2000).

Petaluma’s top runner, Sterling Lockert, should also be in contention for an individual title.

The Santa Rosa High boys, led by Rory McLeod and Reecey Byers, also qualified for state with 
a third place finish in Div. II.

Casa Grande junior Jacque Taylor is ranked second in the state in Div. II girls, behind only 
Kaylin Mahoney of Saugus.

The Maria Carrillo girls, led by Lauren and Cara Curtin, will be running in their eighth 
consecutive state meet (Div. III) and the Casa Grande girls also made the team field in Div. II.

Other Empire girls to qualify for state include Isabel Andrade and Francesca Honey of Petaluma 
(Div. III race), Montgomery’s Julie Nacouzi and Celeste Berg (Div. II), Santa Rosa’s Suzi Rozga 
(Div. II), Windsor’s Amber Piersol (Div. II), Healdsburg’s Meredith Inman (Div. IV) and 
Grace Hafner (Div. V), who will be running in her third state meet.

Other Empire boys to reach state include Piner’s Luis Luna (Div. III), Ukiah’s Andrew Zellman 
(Div. II), Cardinal Newman’s Brian King (Div. IV), El Molino’s John Whitman and Micah 
Shaw-Henderson (Div. IV) and Mendocino’s Skyler Thomas (Div. V).

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