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Molly Grabill (Sr., Rancho Bernardo) stayed with Ashling Cuffe for half of the 6K race clocking a 6:55 at the 2K mark on the 3 loop course in San Diego. As Cuffe surged ahead Grabill ran her own race and finished 2nd in 21:39 to qualify for the USA team.
"I felt great the first lap and a half," said Spain bound Grabil after the race.
Also, qualifying for the USA Team are Julie Nacouzi (Sr., Montgomery) who finished 5th in 22:09 and Hannah Valenzuela (Sr., Apple Valley) who took the final 6th place spot in 22:17. UCLA freshman Sierra Vega (formally from Foothills HS in Santa Ana, CA) finished 4th in the race with a time of 22:00.
All 3 prep girls finish their high school cross country careers on a high note. Nacouzi and Grabill both finshed in the top 10 at Footlocker Nationals with Valenzuela barely missing a qualifying berth with a 13th place finish at the Foot Locker West Regionals.
The 2011 IAAF World Coss Country Championships will be held in Punta Umbria Spain on March 20th, 2011.