Watsonville High senior Katelynn Ruiz was trailing the lead runner during last week’s Pacific Coast Athletic League Cross Country Championships until she reached the second hill at Palo Corona Park.
That’s when she saw a chance to pick up her pace and outrun the rest of the field.
“I saw that an opponent had slowed up and stopped to tie her shoe,” Ruiz said. “It’s a race, and even though I felt I was already catching up to her I saw the opportunity and I went for it.”
The standout Wildcatz runner never gave up the lead and kept up her pace en route to capturing the Mission Division race, and best overall time of the day, in 19 minutes, 45 seconds in Carmel on Nov. 2.
In the process, she also set a new course record, won her fourth straight league individual championship title and helped Watsonville place second as a team with a score of 50 behind Saturday morning’s winner Salinas (41).
Ruiz finished ahead of Monte Vista Christian senior Kylie Brunell (20:14) in second and freshman Anna Conca (20:50) in third. Fellow teammate Finley Castro (21:40) took eighth for the Mustangs, while ‘Catz junior Lizbeth Gomez Abrica (21:41) finished ninth to place in the top 10.
Other finishers for Watsonville include junior Azucena Sandoval (22:36) in 14th, followed by sophomore Aileen Reyes (17th; 22:56), sophomore Brianna Vanegas (22nd; 23:27), senior Jocelyn Guzman (25th; 23:51) and junior Dennis Hernandez (27th; 23:55). MVC senior Hannah Woodford (23:06) took 20th.
Ruiz had looked forward to the cross country finals after suffering an injury during the 2024 track and field season.
“I was out for three to four months and really didn’t start training until the middle of July,” Ruiz said. “Today I felt our team would do well but whatever we finish I am proud of it.”
Ruiz, a senior this season, will be making a decision in the next few months on where she will attend college next year in the fall.
“I definitely want to continue running in a school in California,” Ruiz said. “I am not completely sure yet as I don’t have a dream school. I just want to go somewhere where I can continue running and study. I have spoken to some coaches but nothing is set in stone.”
Pajaro Valley junior Emily Lopez took 10th in 24:40 in the Cypress Division race. Her finish was good for No. 4 all time in the program’s history. Ceiba sophomore Melissa Arellano (26:25) took 19th and senior Elizabeth Gonzalez (28:59) placed 28th.
Pacific Collegiate freshman Iris Paten won the Cypress Division race in 21:02 just ahead of Palma senior Izabella Tejeda (21:46) in second and Anzar sophomore Isabella Briceno-Nicholson (22:24) in third.
Boys
The Pajaro Valley boys’ team captured the PCAL Santa Lucia Division title for the first time in the program’s history.
Junior Erik Michi took fourth in 18:37—good for No. 2 all-time in school history—to help the Grizzlies place second as a team with a score of 45. They finished tied with Palma, which took first because of a tiebreaker.
Palma senior Wells Lilly won the race in 17:25, followed by North Salinas junior Javier Luna (18:00) in second and Seaside freshman Angel Ramirez (18:33) in third.
Other finishers for PV include juniors Luis Martínez (18:39) in fifth and Patrick López (12th; 19:44), and freshmen William Cruz (14th; 20:20), Donovan Valoroso (24th; 22:08), Diego Gonzalez-Cisneros (31st; 24:28) and Isaac Tellez (33rd; 25:49).
Ceiba senior Diego Sanchez took seventh in 19:05, followed by teammates senior Anthony Toirz (10th; 19:37) and senior Mateo Torres (26th; 22:56).
Monte Vista Christian senior Justin McCullick (17:34) took seventh in the Gabilan Division race. He finished slightly ahead of fellow teammate junior Gavin Beckmen (17:34) in eighth.
Alisal senior Gustavo Perez won the race in 16:59, followed by Marina junior Kevin Azpeitia (17:02) in second and Alisal junior Ferndando Herrera (17:07) in third.
MVC senior Bradley Orlando (17:45) took 11th, followed by junior Conor Gilliam (23rd; 18:32), junior Elisha Kieft (24th; 18:38), Dilano Lucero (26th; 18:55) and sophomore Luciano Guerra (32nd; 19:14).
Watsonville sophomore Nain Garcia-Ferria took ninth in 18:04 in the Mission Division race, followed by senior Rodrigo Barranco (21st; 18:35), senior Jared Sunga (36th; 19:22), junior Ernesto Martinez (52nd; 20:26), senior Daniel Salcedo (55th; 20:26), junior Desi Salinas-Hoz (58th; 20:59) and junior Diego Gonzalez (59th; 21:29).
Carmel senior Mack Aldi won the race and had the fastest overall finish in 16:21. Gonzales senior Giovanni Ochoa (16:45) took second and Greenfield junior Fabian Serrano (16:53) finished third.
