2014 All StanCo Girls' Team

Just in case you didn't read yesterday's All StanCo Team post...it is the goal of this blog to give the hard working high school distance runners of Stanislaus County the recognition they deserve (and don't get from the local media). As with rankings in any sport on any level, it is not a pure science. I have spent most of the Fall attending meets, photographing runners, and writing up the results. These rankings represent my best effort to list the top ten local individuals. It is based on the total season and not just one specific meet. I'll also add that they are in no particular order.

KIM RUVALCABA (Riverbank) 11th Highlights--1st TVL1; 1st TVL 2; 1st TVL 3; 7th D4 SS (20:29); 4th D4 sect (19:17)--qualified for State. Without question Ruvalcaba was the class of the county. She appears slight but is a fierce competitor. The good news for the Bruins is that she has another year left.

ARIELLE NAMES (Downey) 11th Highlights--1st MMC 1; 1st MMC 2; 1st MMC3; 1st MMC 4; 2nd StanCo HMB; 25th D2 SS (21:34). Names emerged as the strongest competitor in the MMC. She has the strength to set the pace and incredible closing speed. Health issues kept her from competing in the Section meet.

ARIANNA LARA CHAVEZ (Turlock) 9th Highlights--1st CCC 1; 3rd CCC 2; 3rd CCC 3; 4th StanCo HMB; 69th D1 SS (22:00). Lara is a huge talent that is just figuring out how to race. Once her experience level and talent level are even, she will be a force.

HALEY RICHARDSON (Riverbank) 12th Highlights--6th TVL 1; 3rd TVL 3; 5th StanCo HMB; 18th D4 SS (21:49); 11th D4 Sect (20:44)--qualified for State. Richardson's strength grew as the season progressed. She is a seasoned veteran who rose to the level of her competition.

GUADALUPE VENTURA (Patterson) 12th Highlights--1st WAC Champ; 16th D3 SS (21:01); 20th D3 Sect (20:56). Flying under the radar in the WAC for much of the season, Ventura showed at Sections that she was still one of the best around.

SABRINA GARCIA (Riverbank) 12th Highlights--3rd TVL 1; 2nd TVL 2; 4th TVL 3; 27th D4 SS (22:15); 12th D4 Sect (20:56)--qualified for State. Like Richardson, Garcia was always at her best in the biggest meets. Garcia, Richardson, and Ruvalcaba provided a fierce 1-2-3 punch for the Bruins.

SAVANNAH MENDOZA (Modesto) 11th Highlights--2nd MMC 1; 2nd MMC 2; 2nd MMC 3; 2nd MMC 4; 15th D1 SS (20:21); 56th D1 Sect (21:36). Mendoza didn't have the same level of success in the MMC meets as she did last year, but she laid down a huge performance in SS to show everyone that they would be wrong to count her out.

HAYLEE OSGOOD (Downey) 11th Highlights--3rd MMC 1; 6th MMC 2; 3rd MMC 3; 3rd StanCo HMB; 29th D2 SS (21:46); 26th D2 Sect (21:28). Along with Names, Osgood spearheaded the emergence of Downey as a top-tier program. Her experience showed in the later meets on the tougher courses.

MADISON MAYS (Hughson) 12th Highlights--4th TVL 1; 5th TVL 2; 5th TVL 3; 15th D4 SS (21:30); 17th D4 Sect (21:20). Mays was the biggest surprise to me of the top ten girls. She definitely grew as a runner over the summer and used that strength to carry her through an impressive season.

ESMERALDA AGUAYO (Downey) 9th Highlights--5th MMC 1; 3rd MMC 2; 3rd MMC 3; 3rd MMC 4; 3rd StanCo HMB; 39th D2 SS (22:20); 29th D2 Sect (21:28). Just a Frosh, Aguayo has the potential to surpass the other MMC returnees and vault straight to the top.