State Meet Qualifiers/Preview/and Predictions

The #1 Ranked Oakdale Boys

What an amazing XC season! StanCo teams claimed 3 of the 5 VB Sac Joaquin section championships. I am certain that has never happened before. Additionally two more StanCo teams qualified along with three individuals. For the math challenged in the audience that make 38 StanCo runners who are State bound--woot, woot. This is by far that largest StanCo contingent to participate at State during my tenure with StanCo Distance.

 

For this article I sent the coaches of each qualifying team and the individuals who qualified a brief questionnaire. I am super excited that they ALL RESPONDED!  I also decided to include 2 non-StanCo individual qualifiers from Hilmar and Ripon--we'll call them honorary StanCo runners. Here is a link to the STATE MEET PROGRAM. For those unfamiliar with this meet, you must purchase tickets ahead of time if you are planning to attend. Yes you will need to ticket to drive into the park, please plan ahead.

 

D1

 

Wolfe

The only StanCo D1 qualifier is Maya Wolfe of Modesto High. Maya is a soph who placed 8th in the SJS Championship meet. She has been balancing two sports (XC and tennis) at the same time and is successful in both. Maya says that her team is her biggest motivation and support, they always push her to work harder and do better. Her humorous moment this season was early in the season at the Mt Carmel meet when her shoe came untied shortly after the race started and nearly flew off. Her goal at State is to run under 19:30. My prediction is Maya places between 75 and 80. This race begins at 10:30.

 

D2

There were no StanCo qualifiers  in this division in either of the races

 

D3

 

Oakdale's Alsaidi and Daley

Oakdale and Beyer qualified teams in VB and Kassidy Fmura of Oakdale qualified as an individual in VG.

 

The Oakdale boys repeated as section champions. They were 4th at last year's State meet averaging 16:19 over the 5K course. This year they are ranked #1 in D3 and have competed on the Woodward course several times. Their top four of Omar Alsaidi, Dax Daley, Jackson Oliveira, and Caleb Cavanaugh are formidable. The emergence of Caleb's brother, Jacob, as a fifth man has helped round out the squad. Last year at State Caleb was 12th and Dax was 28th. I am looking for their top 4 to all place in the top 30 (and maybe even the top 20) and likely all under 16:00. Coach Fowler says that they do everything together, "they are a family and they all get along!!" He says, "We believe that the boys team can be on the podium at State." My prediction: Oakdale wins D3. The D3 VB race starts at 1pm.

Beyer's Olsen and Elias shadowing Oakdale's Oliveira

The Beyer boys repeated as the 3rd place finisher at SJS, requalifying them for State. This year's team is better up front but really spread out after that. Nate Olsen placed 6th and Ryan Elias was 9th at SJS. On a good day they may be able to crack the top 30 at State. Beyer was 17th last year; and Coach Olsen says, "our goal is to place as high as possible...it will be a challenge because our #5 will be out of the country for State." This is a team that has seen a lot of illness and adversity this season, yet has seemed to find a way to succeed. My prediction Beyer places 20th. The D3 VB race starts at 1pm.

 

Fmura

Oakdale's Kassidy Fmura placed 2nd in D3 VG. Kassidy says that, "One aspect of her training that I feel helped me qualify for state was staying focused when it was most necessary; during hard workouts I'd think about my goals and push myself..." Her time goal for State is to go under 19:00. Coach Fowler says they are hoping she can get 19:10. My prediction is Kassidy places in the top 40. The D3 VG race starts at 11:30.

 

D4

Hughson's Arambula and Lighthall

Hughson qualified as a team in VB. Individually Hughson's Sophie Benham, Ripon's Annie Wild, and Hilmar's Sidney Logsdon qualified.

 

The Hughson's boys won the SJS title and are ranked #10 in the State. They have a senior heavy, experienced team.  Coach Bernard says, "Our boys started doing their hard workouts in the morning. This really helped during the early, hot part of the season. During the 110+ heat wave, we never missed a beat." Nathan Horton has led the Huskies most of the season. They put three runners into the top ten at sections. Their Coach says they have gelled as a team because, " After races or hard workouts we have an athlete led session where the kids can talk about their races..." My prediction is a ninth place finish for the Huskies. The D4 boys' race starts at 9:30.

Benham

Hughson's Sophie Benham placed 9th at SJS. Sophie is a frosh and says she has had a great time this season. "One thing that sticks out is when we were down at Woodbridge, we had some down time, which the girls' team put to good use doing some of the boys' hair, French braiding it and putting it in pigtails." She says that she would love to go sub 21:00. My prediction for Sophie is about 100th in the middle of the pack. The D4 girls' race starts the meet at 8:30. 

 

Logsdon followed by Benham

Hilmar's Sidney Logsdon placed 8th at D4 Sections. She is also a Frosh. I believe she is the first girl and only the second Hilmar runner to ever qualify for State. Sidney related a funny moment when the team went to Waterford to run hill repeats when it poured on them. They ran back to the vans and were all soaking wet and laughing. Sidney says that she is hoping for a place under 100 and a time of 20:30 or even better a sub 20:00. Regardless of time Sidney and Sophie will battle for Frosh bragging rights. My prediction just like Benham is something between 90 and 100. The D4 girls' race starts the meet at 8:30 so over-coming the early cold temps may be the biggest challenge.

 

Wild

Ripon's Annie Wild placed 2nd at Sections to lock up her third trip to State. Unlike the newbies Benham and Logsdon, Annie has been here before. This is her last opportunity to cement her legacy. She says "An aspect of training that has helped is mile repeats. It has helped to build race rhythm and stamina for sustained speed." Annie's State meet goal is a top 40 finish. My prediction is about 35th. The D4 girls' race starts the meet at 8:30.

 

D5

Raider's Hannink

Central Catholic qualified both their boys and girls teams.

 

The Central Catholic VB team won the Section title for the first time ever. It was a team effort with no real stars.  "WE" is the school motto and they personify it. Coach Fierro says "Boys and Girls train together. This is what helped us qualify for State. Doing ALL aspects of training creates a positive and friendly competition the permeates the entire team...Girls and Boys have different strengths and training together makes them better/smarter/well-rounded runners."  Austin Hannink was their highest finisher at SJS. He finished 10th.  My prediction is they will finish about 20th. The D5 VB's race starts at 10.

Jones and Zensius

The Central Catholic VG team placed 2nd at SJS to qualify. As with the boys this is the first time a girls team from CC has qualified for State. Coach Fierro says, "Distance running is a hardship. Our team embraces the suffering, heck our team cheers for any member who may barf during a particularly tough workout. The team named the act of vomiting during a workout a 'baptism.'" They are led by senior Julia Zensius and Frosh Avery Jones who finished 9th and 10th at Sections respectively. My prediction is they will finish about 20th. The D5 girls' race is at 9.