The purpose of this blog is to promote and acknowledge the hard working HS distance runners of Stanislaus County. This list is a compilation of my research, thoughts, and gut feelings. Making this list should not be anyone's main goal. My hope is that the list will stimulate discussion and thus promote the sport and the athletes. Also making/or not making the list may urge the StanCo runners on to work just that much harder--enough said.
After a couple of months of no meet photography/coverage I am getting antsy for the start of XC season. For me it is a time of great anticipation. Who will emerge from the pack after all the long hours and miles of summer training? What impact will the newcomers have? Have old injuries healed...so many questions. I will begin the discussion of the 2017 XC season with the PreSeason All-StanCo boys' team.
Who are the returning All-StanCo Runners? That is where I will begin, with their previous accolades noted. The first ten represent the PreSeason selections:
SANTIAGO RUIZ (Gregori) 12th--earned All StanCo XC in 2016 and 2015, additionally was All StanCo in track 2017. Santi led the County in both the 3200m (9:23) and the 1600m (4:25) this past track season. He also turned in a 2:01 in the 800m. Last XC season he swept through the MMC undefeated, won at Half Moon Bay, placed 8th in the D1 Sect meet to qualify for State
MASON REEVES (Grgeori) 12th--earned All StanCo in 2016 XC and 2017 track. 4:32/ 9:29 in track. Santi and Mason have pushed each other to faster and faster times. They won't be fully satisfied until they lead their Gregori team to the State meet.
ANTHONY VAZQUEZ (Central Catholic) 12th--earned All StanCo in 2016 XC and 2017 track. finished 3rd in the D5 Sect XC meet to qualify for State. 1:57/4:34/10:50 in track.
JOSUE PEREZ (Modesto) 12th--earned All StanCo in 2016 and 2015 XC. 2nd in MMC 2 and 15th in D1 Sect XC. 10:02 in the 3200m in track.
MOISES BENAVIDES (Downey) 12th--earned All StanCo in 2016 XC. 3rd at MMC 3 and 24th at D2 SubSect. 10:06 in the 3200m in track.
SEBASTIN CRONKITE (Gregori) 12th--earned All StanCo in 2016 XC. 24th at D1 Sub Sect XC. 4:44/10:24 in track.
ALAN GUERRERO (Modesto) 11th--earned All StanCo 2015 XC. 5th at MMC Champ. He suffered a stress fracture at the end of XC and still managed 2:07/4:40 in track.
MATHEW MARSH (Gregori) 12th--was injured on and off through last season and he still managed marks of 2:02; 4:36; His fitness and health could be the real key to whether the Jags are able to challenge for a spot in the State meet.
BRENT CURIEL (Pitman) 12th--2:07; 4:40; 10:05 in track tells most of the story...but not all of it. He was injured for almost all of XC last year. If Brent learns to keep his focus during the race, and trusts his fitness, he will be a force because he will out kick anyone who is even close to him.
HUNTER REEVES (Gregori) 12th--maybe overshadowed by his teammates and underestimated because of his awkward running style but he is a competitor and perhaps the hardest worker on the list. 10:08 3200m.
Many others of note:
RYAN WEIDMAN (Enochs) 11th--May be over-shadowed by the other top MMC runners but there is huge potential here! 10:18 3200m in track.
CADE MIDDAUGH (Oakdale) 12th--4:41/10:23 in track. It is time for Cade to show he can be tough and run up to his potential.
ENRIQUE MARTINEZ (Central Valley) 10th--the biggest unknown and untested runner on the list, but his 10:40 3200m mark as a Frosh in track is legit. Add to that the fact that all the top WAC runners graduated--the league is wide open for him
ANDREW KEYES (Enochs) 12th--10:42 3200m in track shows that he and Ryan and a pack of others could make some noise in the MMC this season
JUSTIN THOMAS (Gregori) 11th--10:44 in the 3200m shows that the Jags are deep and ready to compete.
CHRIS MARTINEZ (Riverbank) 12th--Could be the top StanCo male in the TVL this season. He had the potential last season. Now he is a year older and I think ready to reach that potential.
JACKSON DUCHALA (Gregori) 10th--got injured during track, but as a 9th grader in XC he swept through the MMC F/S competition and won Roughrider and Castro Valley. There is no doubt that he is a competitor.
Even some more to recognize:
EDDIE CHARLES (Beyer) 12th--skipped track so that he could compete for TRM
CHRISTIAN GUTIERREZ (Downey) 12th--ran 10:39 for a full 2 miles
JAMES FORKNER (Oakdale) 12th--10:43 for 3200m
JONATHAN STALEY (Waterford) 10th--greatly improved from XC to track. Finished with a time of 10:50 in the 3200m. As he matures he may become the class of the SAL.
OBID MERAZ (Turlock) 12th--10:50 for 3200m
ZACK EVE (Gregori) 10th--10:55 for 3200m
EDGAR CEBALLOS (Turlock) 12th--10:57 for 3200m
ELIAS FIERRO (Central Catholic) 11th--improved with every race during track. Finished with a best time of 10:57 for the 3200m.
JAXON REEVES (Gregori) 11th--10:56 for the 3200m (BTW he makes the 9th Gregori runner mentioned in these selections demonstrating just how deep they are (should be).
RUSSELL PABLAN (Oakdale) 12th--ran 10:56 for the 3200m
Correction: Matt Marsh ran a 4:36 1600m.
ReplyDeleteyes, thank you
ReplyDeleteChristian Gutierrez of Downey ran 10:39 for a full two miles and was a solid xc runner last year. He should have been noted.
ReplyDeleteYou are probably right. I think what happened was I was looking at the 3200m list for the county (and those Hughson times since they were 2mi and not 3200m weren't on that list). However as a counter point, he barely broke 5 min in the 1600m. I will try to get something added in for him when I get the chance. There are a few others that just missed and I could give some "love" to. Thanks
ReplyDelete