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Taylor bounces back at state cross country championships
Photo By Gary Kazanjian / AP
Jacque Taylor of Casa Grande takes the lead past Julie Nacouzi of Montgomery
in the Division II girls cross country race Saturday at Woodward Park in Fresno.
By STEVE BRAND / FOR THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
Published: Saturday, November 28, 2009
FRESNO — Jacque Taylor may make a mistake once, but don’t expect it to become a habit.
A week ago, the University of North Carolina-bound senior from Casa Grande scorched a 5:15 first mile at the North
Coast Section Cross Country Championships and was burned out at the finish.
Montgomery junior Julie Nacouzi took full advantage to capture the Division II title.
Taylor made no such mistake at Saturday’s CIF State Championships at Woodward Park in Fresno and as a result, secured
her first state crown by holding off Nacouzi even though both were given the identical time of 17 minutes, 29 seconds.
“Last week I just went out too hard and I tried to hold on the last 800,” said Taylor who hugged everyone in sight as
they finished the first race of the day held in cold but dry, overcast conditions on the 3.1 miles of rolling hills
at Woodward Park.
“That was my faux pax. This time I decided to hold back until less than a half-mile remained but it was scary because
I know Julie and (Saugus’) Kaylin (Mahoney, the defending champion) are good. But I also know I have a better mile
time, so I just told myself to relax.”
In her four trips to the state championships, Taylor has learned that the gold medal often goes to the toughest,
not necessarily the fastest. Yesterday she was both.
The final 100 meters are a long straightaway on grass where sprinters have a clear advantage. Taylor simply would not
let either of her two closest pursuers past as she edged Nacouzi, who once again showed tremendous improvement, and
Mahoney, who collapsed in exhaustion after the finish.
“This is a big PR (personal record), 11 seconds, for me,” said Taylor who now has a complete set of medals after
finishing third here a year ago in 17:40 a year after placing second as a sophomore in 17:44. “I can’t wait to tell
my coach (at North Carolina).”
She’ll also try to keep the momentum going as she competes in the Foot Locker Western Regional this coming weekend
at Mt. San Antonio College in Southern California in hopes of returning to the nationals the following weekend in
San Diego.
As for Nacouzi, she, too, will be a little wiser.
“Maybe it wasn’t such a good idea to lead the mile,” said Nacouzi. “I know Jacque has a great sprint and is strong
at the finish so that inspired me to go out. Last week, there was a hill before the finish and I picked up the pace
and closed on Jacque, but there was no hill here.
“Once she made the move, I just went along, but I’ll admit it was mentally degrading.”
Reminded that there is nothing wrong with a silver medal and that she will now be the favorite next year, she just
smiled.
Elsewhere, the Hugh Dowdy-led Petaluma boys captured fifth in the Division III team race. Dowdy, a senior, was
eighth overall in 15:29, just three spots ahead of fast-finishing Luis Luna of Piner, who ran 15:38.
In Division II, Santa Rosa senior Reesey Byers made his final race in the state championships a success as he placed
ninth in 15:23.