St. Francis High senior Julian Vargas and a group of other local high school runners put on a strong performance at the 34th CIF State Cross Country Championships on Saturday morning.
Vargas, who qualified as individual, took 12th out of 205 runners in 15 minutes, 58.6 seconds in the Division V race at Woodward Park in Fresno on Nov. 27.
Francis Parker’s Kenan Pala won in 14:51, Lick Wilmerding’s Alex Mader (14:56.3) took second and Santa Fe Christian’s Mark Trammell (15:12.9) was third.
Lick Wilmerding (79) won the team title, Santa Fe Christian (107) was second and Crystal Springs Uplands (148) was third.
Aptos junior Trent Nosky, who also qualified as individual, took 62nd in 16:24.9 in the D-III race.
Monte Vista Christian junior James Ponzio, who qualified as individual, took 29th in 16:10.2 in D-IV.
Scotts Valley High senior Ryder Brabo finished in a personal-best 15:35.4 for a ninth-place finish to help lead CCS champion Scotts Valley to third in the D-IV race with a score of 160. Albany (130) and Archie Williams (152) finished first and second, respectively.
Scotts Valley senior Jeremy Kain, who is committed to Duke University, took 15th in 15:48.1.
Senior Austin George (16:23.4; 46th), junior Aiden Boothby (16:25.1; 48th) and senior Drew Bryson (17:17.9; 111th) also scored for the Falcons.
The championships were highlighted with new state meet records that were set at Woodward Park. Newbury Park won their third consecutive State Division I boys title with a State Championship best course time of 73:23 and team score of 16.
Senior Colin Sahlman led the Panthers with an all-time best D-I boys time of 14:27, which was the second-best all-time course mark.
On the girls side, Aptos High junior Brooke Willoughby took 66th (19:45.4) and the CCS champion Mariners finished 19th in D-III with a score of 453. The field included 25 teams and 209 runners.
Campolindo placed all five of its runners in the top 50 and posted a winning score of 109. Del Oro (120) of the Sac-Joaquin Section took second and Cathedral Catholic (157) of the San Diego Section was third.
Montgomery freshman Hanne Thomsen won in 17:38.0. Del Oro senior Riley Chamberlain (17:41.0) took second and Agoura senior Georgia McCorkle (17:52.3) was third.
Sophomore Rachel Hoops (20:18.1; 105th), senior Annie Eikemeyer (20:41.9; 126th), senior Mairin Mullen (20:50.6; 130th) and sophomore Malia Moreno (21:03.5; 141st) also scored for the Mariners.
St. Francis sophomore Monserrat Ramirez, who qualified as an individual, finished in 21:07.2 and placed 86th out of 196 runners in D-V.
Scotts Valley High sophomore Ashlyn Boothby finished her race in 17:27.1 to help the CCS champion Falcons finish 12th with a score of 295. Albany senior Sophia Nordenholz (16:46.0) won the individual title ahead of Acalanes sophomore Olivia Williams (16:56.2).
Boothby had the seventh best overall fastest time, regardless of division, out of 977 girls who completed the course. Nordenholz posted the fastest time and Williams was third fastest on Saturday morning.
Scotts Valley junior Amber Boothby, who overcame a quadriceps injury late in the season, took 33rd in 19:07.7. Junior Rafaela Putnam (20:39.1; 110th), sophomore Dresden Brabo (20:48.2; 111th) and senior Megan Wu (20:50.2; 112th) also scored for the Falcons.
San Lorenzo Valley junior Haven Finley, who qualified as an individual, took 139th 21:24.3 in D-IV.
Several Santa Cruz County runners will compete in the Eastbay (formerly Footlocker) West Regional at Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut on Saturday.
UP NEXT
Eastbay West Regional
When: Saturday, 7 a.m.-12:15 p.m.
Where: Mt. San Antonio College, Walnut
