2017 All-StanCo Distance Track Team

This is a first for me. I have compiled All StanCo XC teams for several years, but never a track team. Up front I want to state that this is a list of DISTANCE RUNNERS that competed in track. I am naming them based on the merits of their marks this season in distance events. I acknowledge that track encompasses many more specialty event than distance, but the primary purpose of this blog is to promote HS DISTANCE RUNNING--thus only distance runners on this list. Please feel free to expound upon my selections in the comments.

To be considered I was looking at marks of sub B 2:00/G 2:20 in the 800m; sub B 4:30/ G 5:30 in the 1600m; and sub B 10:00/ G 12:00 in the 3200m. There were two athletes who met one of these benchmarks, but I didn't include. I ended up with eleven on the list (there was no magic number I was shooting for, though). I have noted these exceptions at the bottom of the list. They are somewhat ordered by grade level.

CLAIRE SEYMOUR, 12TH (ENOCHS)--though primarily a 400m runner with a best of 55.27, she ran the 800m in the MMC Championship meet and produced a mark of 2:15.96 which was the top StanCo time of the season and ranks her as # 9 all-time.

SARA STEVENS, 12TH (OAKDALE)--primarily an 800m runner, Sara's best time was 2:18.41 which was the 3rd best 800m for StanCo ladies. That time is also ranked 14th all-time. Did I mention that she didn't even run the 800m seriously the past two seasons.

TOMAS VIRGEN, 12TH (PATTERSON)--Tomas often doubled in the 1600m and 3200m. Competing out of the WAC he rarely was able to run against the best in the county. He broke 10 min last season in the 3200m and followed that up with a sub 10 effort in a dual meet this season. At SJS Masters he had a huge PR with a 9:40.24 (3rd best mark of the season). He also had the 7th best 1600m of 4:38.09.

MASON REEVES, 11TH (GREGORI)--Mason was the StanCo Champion in the 3200m. He produced several sub 10 min 3200m efforts this season. His top mark came at SJS Masters where he ran 9:29.29. This was the 2nd best 3200m time of the season and #14 all-time). In the 1600m he ran 4:32.79, also the 2nd best StanCo mark.

SANTIAGO RUIZ, 11TH (GREGORI)--the other half of Gregori's "Dynamic Distance Duo," Santi was a Jack of all trades (err races). He was the StanCo champ in the 1600m. His best time at that distance was 4:25.43 (#1 for the season). At SJS Masters he raced to a 9:23.27 (#1 for the season and #11 all-time). He also ran the 800m in 2:01.35 (3rd best for the season).

ANTHONY VAZQUEZ, 11TH (CENTRAL CATHOLIC)--often required to triple in distance events at VOL dual meets, Anthony was a work-horse for the Raiders. He was StanCo champ in the 800m. He was one of only two StanCo boys to break the 2:00 barrier. His best time of 1:57.52 (#1 for the season) qualified him for SJS Masters finals in the 800m. He also ran 4:34.10 (#4 season) and 10:50.74.

ALONDRA HERNANDEZ, 11TH (RIVERBANK)--I have been waiting for Alondra to be healthy and breakout! She was the StanCo champ in the 800m. Her best 800m was 2:27.01 (#9 season). Her real breakout efforts came in the 1600m where she ran 5:16.91 (#2 for the season).

ESMERALDA CAMPOS, 11TH (HUGHSON)--like Anthony Vazquez, Esme was a workhorse in the distance events doing what ever her team needed her to do. Her best marks were 5:29.36 in the 1600m (#4 season) and 11:48.88 in the 3200m which was the top mark this season by a StanCo lady.

MAVLEEN MANN, 10TH (PITMAN)--Mavleen was completely off my radar prior to this track season. Well she has my attention now. She ran 5:29.58 in the 1600m  (#5 season) and 11:56.98 in the 3200m (#3 season). Oh and did I mention this was all in training shoes--without spikes.

BRISEIDA GARCIA, 10TH (GREGORI)--Briseida cranked out a 2:14 effort last season as a Frosh. By that standard this season might be considered a Sophomore Slump, but most runners would love to have such disappointment. She ran 2:16.11 in the 800m (#2 for the season behind Claire). She also ran the 1600m in 5:18.35 (#3 season).

EMILY FIFE, 10TH (HUGHSON)--Every time I see Emily run she reminds me of a puppy--I mean she looks as though she is learning from each and every experience. It all must be working because her times are improving. Her 1600m time of 5:14.62 was to best in the county this season. She also produced marks of 11:49.18 in the 3200m (#2 season just behind her teammate Esme) and 2:26.54 in the 800m (#7 season)




On a side note: there are two runners who met my benchmarks but were not included:
1. KINSEY LANGLEY, 10th (Hughson)--was the StanCo Champ in the 3200m and broke 12 min with a time of  11:59.76 (#4 season). However Kinsey was injured most of the season and ran very few races.
2. ISAIAH MARABLE, 12th (Pitman)--primarily a 400m runner (like Claire), Isaiah ran a few 800m races and was one of only two StanCo boys to break the 2:00 barrier in the 800m. He did not run this event in the championship portion of the season (and honestly just disappeared at the end of the season), so I am not including him on this DISTANCE list.