Lowell senior Jacqueline Holman, at right pictured competing at the Lowell Invitational in September, won her second consecutive CIF-San Francisco Section girls cross country individual championship while leading her team to its 11th consecutive section title.
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Bruno Bartalos and Griffin Santa went 1-2 in the boys race and Jacqueline Holman defended her title on the girls side while leading Lowell to another title sweep at CIF-San Francisco Section Cross Country Championships on Wednesday at Golden Gate Park.
Bartalos, a senior, ran the 5,000-meter course in 17 minutes, 19.45 seconds, with junior teammate Santa just back in 17:24.73.
After Galileo Academy senior Mathias Camilli crossed the line in third place (17:33.50), Lowell runners took the next three spots to close out the 18-point performance: Juniors Graham Witt (7:34.00), and Faaris Mirza (17:37.65), and freshman Malcolm Barry-Kao (17:39.15).
Lowell's boys won for the 15th time in a row, the 31st time in 35 seasons, the 41st section title, and the 40th outright title dating to 1944.
Lowell earned the section's only team berth into the CIF-State Championships. Galileo, which placed second with 42 points, qualified three individuals for the State Meet: Camilli, sophomore Nicolas Rivas, and junior Jackson Vazquez.
Up to five individuals not on the qualifying team who place among the top eight earn an at-large berth to compete at the CIF-State Championships on Nov. 26 at Woodward Park in Fresno.
Holman, a senior, ran 19:04.83 to win her second consecutive section title. She was more than 62 seconds in front of runner-up Noelle Kimotsuki, a junior at Galileo while leading the Cardinals to 32 points to hold off George Washington (38) and Galileo (56).
It was the 11th consecutive section title for the Lowell girls and their 42nd in 44 years dating to 1977.
Also scoring for Lowell were junior Lois McTrang, who placed fourth in 20:19.73, junior Connie Wu (sixth in 20:57.42), and seniors Devon Szalva (10th, 22:28.02) and Reese Jardiniano (11th, 22:34.61).
Sophomore Luisa Martin led George Washington, placing third in 20:18.36, junior Anne Madole was fifth in 20:51.33), junior Kiera Stauber was seventh in 21:39.84, senior Wren Swazo-Caton was ninth in 22:04.55, and sophomore Eliza Moore was 16th overall in 24:57.97.
Individuals advancing to the State Meet at Kimotsuki, Martin, Madole, Stauber and sophomore Sofie Godfredsen of Galileo. Kimotsuki and Stauber also went to State last fall.
Photo by Daniel Hernandez