Santa Rosa Press Democrat // News for California's North Bay and Redwood Empire

Low-tech edition (About)

Big day possible for Empire runners

By MICHAEL COIT
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

A fast and deep field of runners could give Sonoma County high schools one of the region’s best showings
Saturday at the North Coast Section Cross Country Championships.
If the top teams run strong in their divisions, as many as nine could advance to the state finals. More
than a handful of runners are poised to challenge for individual titles and make state, according to a
meet preview by Bay Area cross country blogger and small school coach Albert Caruana.
“I think it’s a pretty good field. There’s just a really solid group of kids all over the place,” Caruana said.
The first race at Hayward High School figures to be one of the most watched with Jacque Taylor, of Casa
Grande, and Julie Nacouzi, from Montgomery, expected to duel for the Division II title that Taylor won
last year. Both won their league championships by wide margins this year and are the section’s top ranked girls.
The pair has not met in a scoring meet this year. While Taylor ran more than a minute faster than Nacouzi
at last year’s state meet, Nacouzi ran just 2 seconds off Taylor’s time earlier this season on the same
Fresno course. On the Spring Lake Park circuit, Taylor’s time in the Sonoma County League finals was 9 seconds
faster than Nacouzi in the North Bay League finals.
“I think it’s going to be the race of the day,” said Casa Grande coach Carl Triola.
The day’s second race has Isabel Andrade, of Petaluma, defending her Division III title.
The Division II boy’s race follows with the top two in the NBL — Ukiah’s Andrew Zellman and Santa Rosa’s
Reesey Byers — expected to lead the pack.
“It seems the race for first will be between those two runners,” Caruana said.
Spencer Hall, of Casa Grande, ran just off their pace at Spring Lake Park and also could be near the front Saturday.
Petaluma’s top boy’s runner Hugh Dowdy is aiming for the Division III win in the fourth race Saturday.
Dowdy, the SCL champ, has improved thanks to steady pushing from teammates in training and races this year.
“Hugh’s best races are coming. He’s got to be ready,” said Petaluma coach Jim Lynch.
Providing the push Saturday should be Luis Luna, from Piner, who took third in the NBL. Dowdy’s teammate
Forrest Shaffer also could be near the lead.
Sonoma County small schools could have several runners in contention led by fourth place NBL finisher
Brian King, of Cardinal Newman, in Division IV.
In Division V, Santa Rosa Christian has Justin Watkins and Brandon Hicks, the top two runners in the
Coastal Mountain Conference. Sonoma Academy’s Katy Lee won the CMC girl’s title and should be up front
in the section meet.
So deep is the talent that Fogg said many could qualify for the state meet next week at Woodward Park, in Fresno.
“You have a really, really solid group of runners individually in the cross country programs. Usually
we’re lucky to have one or two kids who have a chance to place in state,” Fogg said.
Cross Country even more is a team sport, with many of the top individuals benefiting from running on
squads with a depth of strong runners.
Sonoma County teams are ranked at or near the top in five divisions. Two of the tightest races are expected
to be the Division II girls and Division III boys.
Montgomery and Casa Grande are the favorites in Division II girls.
“I could have had four different teams winning. It’s that competitive,” Caruana said. “It’s all going to
come down to what team has the most runners running well that day.”
The top five runners score for a team with the winner tallying the lowest point total. The best teams not
only have the fastest runners, but also the narrowest gaps in time between their runners.
Montgomery’s girls finished fourth behind Casa Grande last year, just missing returning to the state meet.
“They’re very, very determined to qualify this year. They’re all racing really well and everybody’s healthy,”
said Montgomery coach Val Sell.
While Petaluma is favored to win the Division III boy’s race, both Piner and Maria Carrillo are in the pack
right on their heels.
“I think Division III boys is going to be the most competitive out of all the races,” Caruana said.
Piner has been a sleeper in a breakout year, though they are young with the top four runners all sophomores.
Petaluma, though, has freshmen running numbers three and four.
“When you have young kids, they might run really well or all of a sudden it’s wow, people are expecting a
lot from us,” Caruana said.
Maria Carrillo should be in good shape to defend their Division III girl’s title.
“They’re healthy, they’ve got a good attitude. More than anything they’re working together as a group,” Fogg said.
Petaluma’s girls also could secure a spot in Division III at Fresno.
“It’s clearly the strongest division for girls. We’re going to have to run real well,” Lynch said.

Email story | Print story | Subscribe to paper

Get home delivery of The Press Democrat -- the North Bay's news source.
Rates start at $2.50 per week!