Clovis junior Chris Caudillo ran the fastest time on the the 5K Woodward Park course at Thursday's CIF-Central Section Cross Country Championships. Caudillo won the Division I title with teammate Nathaniel Avila (left) placing second. (DeAnna Turner photo)
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This article has been updated to correct the results and State Meet qualifiers in girls Division III.
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FRESNO -- Highlights were plenty throughout the 10 division races at the CIF-Central Section Cross Country Championships on Thursday at Woodward Park, with some usual suspects out front.
Junior
Sydney Sundgren rolled over the 5,000-meter course in a meet-best 17 minutes, 35.12 seconds in leading Buchanan to a defense of the CS Division I title it won back in 2019. The Bears, who went 1-2-3-5-6 for 15 points -- all under 18:17 -- are also the defending State Meet champions in the large school division.
Buchanan, which set a course team time record of 89.35 -- sixth all-time at Woodward Park -- and put all seven runners into the top nine, won the section title for the fifth season in a row, 19th time in the 2000s and 23rd time dating to 1993.
Grace Hutchison, who like Sundgren, helped Buchanan to that title two years ago when both were freshmen, was second to her classmate here in 17:39.45. This season's freshmen sensation,
Elliana Lomeli, crossed third in 18:02.58.
Other large-school highlights from the meet that additionally serves as a qualifier for the Nov. 27 CIF-State Meet -- also at Woodward Park -- included Sanger winning both titles in D-II, the Clovis High duo of Chris Caudillo and Nathaniel Avila dropping the two fastest times of the meet, while in the same Division I race, it was Madera South taking the title.
Each division is allotted either two or three automatic team berths into the State Meet. A maximum of five individuals not on a qualifying team who place among either the top 14 (for divisions qualifying three teams) or the top 12 (for divisions qualifying two teams) also advance to compete at the State Meet. (Qualifying teams and athletes are noted below.)
A division-by-division recap of Thursday's championship meet:
DIVISION I
BOYS
Caudillo, one of the state's elite juniors, flew over the 5K course in 15:18.44 with senior teammate Avila tethered throughout and crossed second in 15:25.19. Third across the line was
Alejandro Gutierrez in 15:33.55 leading the Madera South championship parade.
Dylan Devine was sixth overall and next for Madera South in 15:44.11, followed by
Isaac Chavez in 12th (15:57.99),
Adrian Hipolito in 15th (16:07.28), and
Estevan Medina in 20th (16:12.68). That gave Madera South 56 points. Clovis West was next with 71 and Clovis North was third with 76.
State Meet Qualifiers
Teams (3) - Madera South, Clovis West, Clovis North
Individuals
GIRLS
Rounding out the section title and team time record for Buchanan were freshman
Sierra Cornett, another youthful star for the Bears, who was sixth in 18:13.34, and senior
Caroline Mendyk, who placed seventh in 18:16.87.
Breaking up the Buchanan party was senior
Miliana Perez, who placed fourth in 18:08.59, and junior Ashlyn Leath, who was fifth (18:11.99) for team runner-up Clovis North. Two more Buchanan runners --
Stefania Sesock (18:25.82) and
Kaylee Elliott (18:37.82) -- crossed before Clovis North's No. 2,
Gianna Bomarito, who placed ninth (18:39.03). Arroyo Grande's
Jenna LeNay was 10th in 18:47.42.
State Meet Qualifiers
Teams (3) - Buchanan, Clovis North, Clovis West
Individuals
(Finish among the top 14)
DIVISION II
BOYS
San Luis Obispo was the favorite coming in but Sanger found a way to a 33-34 victory.
Daniel Galvez was sixth overall as No. 3 for Sanger (15:55.33) with
Myles Nicacio 11th in 16:21.79 and
Jared Borders crossing 13th in 16:48.62.
Corcoran's
Paul Quintanilla broke up the Sanger-SLO party up front, placing third in 15:46.65.
State Meet Qualifiers
Teams (2) - Sanger, San Luis Obispo
(Finish among the top 12)
GIRLS
State Meet Qualifiers
Teams (2) - Sanger, Frontier
DIVISION III
BOYS
State Meet Qualifiers
Teams (3) - Tulare Western, Frontier, Central
(Finish among the top 14)
GIRLS
Corrected: Highland took the top two spots as well as the team title. Sophomore
Mia Torrecillas was an 18-second winner in taking the section championship (18:24.14) with junior teammate
Lianna Guerra next in 18:42.22. Independence sophomore
Trinity McLean was third in
19:34.25. Priscilla Raya was fifth overall in 20:23.16 to lead Wasco, which placed second, earning the division's other berth to the State Meet. Ixchel Sanchez was next across for Wasco, in 17th place (21:33.97). Sophomore Jasmine Vasquez ran No. 3 for Highland, placing 19th in 21:28.48.
Araceli Medina of Pioneer Valley was fourth overall in 20:03.03. Templeton placed two among the top 10, freshman
Keani Neuhs finished sixth (20:21.62) and senior
Madeline Bobbitt was ninth (20:30.57). Lindsay freshman
Melanie Nevarro closed out the top-10, running the course in 20:37.33.
DIVISION IV
BOYS
Mission Prep's
Patrick Thomas (
pictured) took over late to win the individual title in 16:15.03, 5.02 seconds faster than East Bakersfield's
Nathanael Rodriguez, who ran out front for the better part of the race. It was Yosemite taking the team title over Matilda Torres.
Ben Olney placed fourth (16:40.96),
Ford Stegge was ninth (17:11.12) and
Jack Olney was 10th (17:15.50) to lead Yosemite.
Noah Graffigna, 15th in 17:37.51, and
Sebastian Rosales, 24th in 17:47.46, also scored for the section champions.
State Meet Qualifiers
Teams (2) - Yosemite, Matilda Torres
Individuals
(Finish among the top 12)
GIRLS
Farmersville's
Julissa Avila ran away with the section title, rolling over the 5K course in 19:19.72, well in front of the runner-up,
Illiana Murguia of Nipomo (19:53.09). Santa Maria was a 19-point winner over Nipomo in the team race, led by
Itandehui Olea, who placed 11th in 21:36.02,
Yadira Tello, who was 12th in 21:36.61, and
Crystal Herrera, who placed 21st in 22:20.99.
State Meet Qualifiers
Teams (2) - Santa Maria, Nipomo
Individuals
(Finish among the top 12)
DIVISION V
BOYS
Summit Charter Collegiate's
Raul Acevado won the section title in 17:47.93 with
Giacomo Curti of St. Joseph second in 17:49.91. Liberty Madera Ranchos was a 13-point winner over Riverdale in the team competition, led by
Emilio Ortega, who placed third (17:59.73),
Eduardo Gonzalez, who was 14th in 19:00.87, and
Spencer Gladders, who was 20th in 19:35.27.
State Meet Qualifiers
Teams (2) - Liberty Madera Ranchos, Riverdale
Individuals
(Finish among the top 12)
GIRLS
Sierra Wight (
pictured) won the title for Mammoth, in 20:28.16, with
Emma Connolly of Fresno Christian second in 21:23.43. St. Joseph was a two-point winner over Central Valley Christian for the team title, led by
Kaylee Palm, who placed 15th in 23:28.29,
Rilee Baker, who was 19th in 24:01.47,
Lizzy Arias, who was 25th in 24:35.58,
Paige Beal, 26th in 24:38.21, and
Jasmine Menusa, 29th in 24:52.72.
Caitlin Chea was third overall in 21:27.17 for Central Valley Christian.
State Meet Qualifiers
Teams (2) - Central Valley Christian, Liberty Madera Ranchos
Individuals
(Finish among the top 12)
Photos by DeAnna Turner and Jeffrey Parenti
