CROSS COUNTRY '22 in REVIEW - Oakland Section

Junior Miles Jones (1205) was a runaway winner at the section finals while leading Oakland Tech to the team title.

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Miles Jones (Oakland Tech/Jr.) - Aside from the accomplishments noted above, Jones won five of nine races, with one runner-up and one fifth-place finish.

Andy Ixtabalan Argueta (Skyline/Sr.) - The 2021 OK champion placed second this year in 17:30.53. He was a runner-up four times with one win in eight races and ran his 3-mile PR of 15:23.90 for ninth in his race at Woodbridge.

Alexi Leduc (Oakland Tech/Jr.) - Third at the section meet in 18:08.78, also third in the Oakland City Meet earlier in November - behind Jones and Argueta - and runner-up at the Oakland Region meet in September.  

Yosef Amaha (Oakland/Jr.) - The only runner among the top nine at the section meet not from Tech or Skyline. Fourth at the section finals in 18:34.57. Ran 11 races, with three wins and three other top-five finishes.

Ronan Cavanaugh (Skyline/Sr.) - Placed fifth at the section meet in 18:43.38. Ran 5K PR of 17:40.60 at the Oakland City Finals, and his 3-mile PR of 16:55.90 at P. Wilder Mariner.

Oliver Arnold (Oakland Tech/So.) - Another member of the all-underclass lineup that led Tech to the section title. Arnold placed sixth at the section final in 18:48.99.

Gus Schafer (Oakland Tech/So.) - Placed seventh at the section final running No. 4 for the team champions in 19:28.04. Ran 5K PR of 17:12.50 at the Oakland City Finals, and 3-mile PR of 16:32.30 at P. Wilder Mariner. Won Oakland Regional meet in September. 

Oakland Section Boys Team of the Year

Oakland Technical - Three juniors and two sophomores went 1-3-6-7-8 for 25 points and a 20-point win over rival Skyline for the section title and its only berth into the CIF-State Meet. Aside from the four boys mentioned above, junior Cezar Gomez placed eighth at the section final, running No. 5 as Tech put five across before Skyline's No. 3. 

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Tech Brought The Broom in '22 - A year after watching Skyline sweep the boys and girls titles at the Oakland Section Finals, it was Oakland Technical's turn with the broom. The Tech girls completed the sweep, albeit narrowly, 34-36, to earn the section's only team berth into the CIF-State Championships.

Chloe Leduc (Oakland Tech/Fr.) - (bib 1198 above) The freshman rolled to a 69-second victory at the section final, running the 5K course in 21:07.08 while leading her team to the section title. She won seven of 10 races and went on to place 53rd in the D-II race at the State Meet, the No. 10 freshman in that race.

Jessica Vogel (Skyline/Jr.) - Runner-up at the section final in 22:16.71 a year after placing eighth. Ran her 5K PR of 20:42.90 at the Clovis Invitational on the State Meet course.

Lily Seiberlich (Oakland Tech/Jr.) - Placed third in the section final in 22:33.91 and No. 2 for the team champions. Ran 3-mile PR of 19:53.90 at P. Wilder Mariner and 5K PR of 21:46.22 at State.

Trisha Ho (Oakland Charter/Jr.) - Placed fourth at the Oakland Section Final in 22:34.32, improving on her sixth-place finish as a sophomore. She placed either third, fourth or fifth in eight of nine races including running her 3-mile PR of 22:08.58 for third at the Farmer Invitational.

Roselin Saavedra-Silva (Castlemont/Sr.) - The lone senior among the top 12 at the section final, Saavdra-Silva placed fifth in 22:50.80. Won two of six races with a second, third, and a fifth-place finish. 

Karina Larrieta Ceron (Skyline/Jr.) - She ran No. 2 for Skyline and placed sixth at the section final (22:51.56) a year after placing 20th. Placed between fourth and eighth in five of eight races including a 5K PR of 21:13.80 four fourth at the Oakland City Finals meet. 

Charlotte Seven (Skyline/Jr.) - Among five non-seniors who scored for team runner-up Skyline. Seven placed seventh at the section final in 22:58.28. She had three seconds, a fourth and a seventh-place finish among nine races, including her 5K PR of 20:49.60 for second at the Oakland City Finals meet.

Oakland Technical - While defending champion Skyline put five across before Oakland Tech's No. 5, Chloe Leduc's win and Lily Seiberlich's third-place finish were four points that provided the foundation the Bulldogs needed to win. After juniors Karina Larrieta Ceron and Charlotte Seven came across in 6th and 7th (4th and 5th among scorers) for Skyline, and freshman Sophia Doane crossed in 9th (7th) for Tech, the score was tied at 11. But sophomore Harper Carlson came across in 11th (9th) giving Tech 20 points. Sophomores Komogodje Bagayoko and Sylvie Arestides combined for 25 points giving Skyline five across and 36 points. But Tech senior Josie Green was next across the line, 14th among scorers, giving the Bulldogs 34 and the victory. 

Photos by DeAnna Turner