The 2008 season featured memorable moments and lifetime achievements. Calrunners recognizes the Coach of the Year, Girls and Boys Athlete of the Year. Producing nationally ranked teams and individuals, the 2008 California cross country season was exciting. The season began with individual dreams, team ambitions, and national implications. Coming into the season we waited in anticipation to see how good Saugus would be, they did not disappoint. We watched in awe at the dominance of the Queen of California, Jordan Hasay.
Milesplit Calrunner's Coach of the Year:
Rene Paragas, Saugus High School
Coaching one of the most successful programs in US history takes skill, focus, and knowledge. Paragas has all three as he has led the Saugus girls team to a repeat National Championship qualifying performance. Recently, Paragas team shattered the CIF State Course record with a 90:06 total team time which will be argued for years to come as the fastest time over 5000 meters in US history. Competing at the NXN National Championships Saugus finished 2nd for the second straight year. Rene Paragas currently teaches social studies at Saugus High School. Photo courtesy Saugus HS
Related Articles:
| Div II Girls: Nat#1 Saugus 90:06 | NXN Girls Championship: Race of the Ages |
Honorable Mention:
COACH TIM BUTLER - Dana Hills; Coach Butler is entering his 36th season as head coach of the Boys Cross County Team. He has won 18 League titles, 4 OC Championships, 4 CIF Titles and 3 State Titles, 29 consecutive years in the playoffs and a 19th place showing in the 2007 Nike Team Nationals in Oregon, finishing 17th at this years National Team Final. Mr. Butler also teaches PE and Drivers Education at Dana Hills High School State Article Photo courtesy Dana Hills HS
COACH REX HALL - Dana Hills; This is Coach Rex's 11th season coaching the Dana Hills Cross Country Team, this is his 7th season coaching the girls team. He has been involved in 9 consecutive League championships, 7 as Head Coach. Coach Rex has been involved in Cross Country and Track for over 30 years. His girls team won the CIF Div I State Championship and then placed 10th at the 2008 NXN National Team Championships. Before coming to Dana Hills he was an assistant with the Newport Harbor Cross Country teams. Coach Rex is a retired Firefighter from the Anaheim Fire Department. State Article Photo Courtesy Dana Hills HS
Milesplit Calrunner's Boys Athlete of the Year
Chris Schwartz, Foothill High School
A senior at Foothill High School rebounded from a disappointing 7th place finish at the CIF Div III Championship with a Foot Locker West Championship. Bursting onto the scene last year with an CIF Div III State Championship and a 8:58 3200 meters, Schwartz entered the cross season with high hopes. Photo by Margot Kelly, Arizona/California Milesplit
Displaying courage, perserverance, and fortitude Schwartz battled against all odds to qualify for Foot Locker National Championships breezing the 5000 meter West Region course in 15:38. At the Foot Locker National Championships Schwartz finished 8th place in 15:41 earning All-American Honors.
Related Articles:
Foot Locker All-Americans - Interviews with 45 of the athletes
Footlocker Preview Overcoming Obstacles Article by Zach Ewing
Milesplit Calrunner's Girls Athlete of the Year:
Jordan Hasay, Mission Prep High School
Perhaps the greatest female US prep distance runner all-time, the Queen of California, Jordan Hasay completed the season as National Champion.
After a stellar season producing a 4th consecutive CIF Div V State Championship, Hasay competed at the Foot Locker West Region Championship. Reigning in her 4th consecutive individual West Region Championship Hasay looked ahead to the National Finals and a rematch with 2006 and 2007 National Champions Ashley Brasovan and Kathy Kroeger.
Hasay failed to disappoint bringing home the National Championship to the sunshine state for the second time in four years. California cross country will remember Hasay for decades to come, simply the best. Photo by Margot Kelly, Arizona/California Milesplit
Related Articles:
Footlocker National Championships
Most Suprising Performer - Elias Gedyon, Loyola HS - After cruising to a
California State Championships sophomore record 15:01 and individual CIF Div II State Championship Gedyon travelled to Portland Meadows, OR. Leading the men from Loyola, Gedyon finished 12th in the NXN Championship race, 15:34.6 over the famed Portland Meadows 5000 meter course. Only a sophomore and already a national phenom Gedyon is establishing himself as a 2009 National Championship contendar. State Championship Story (Photo by Margot Kelly, Arizona/California Milesplit)
Best Team to Emerge as a New Power - Torrey Pines, CA girls; returning 6 of 7 for 2009 the 08' squad featured four freshman and a sophomore. Finishing second to Nationally ranked Dana Hills at the CIF State Championships, following the 4th fastest time in MT.Sac history (91:11) the Falcon's have burst onto the scene as a team with feiry guts and determination. The total team time at the State Championships was #3 All-Time. Look for the Brent Thorne coached Falcon's to have a breakout season for years to come. Team Website
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Alli Billmeyer SO; Megan Morgan JR; Ashlyn Dadkhah FR; Erin Gillingham SR; Soffe Watson FR; Rachel Hiraoka FR; Shannon Coughlin FR |
Coach Brent Thorne
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