Friday, January 04, 2019

2018 Top NorCal Moments in Track and Field and Cross Country

In no particular order, here are some of the outstanding moments from this past year in both Track and Field and Cross Country for Northern California athletes and teams. If I missed anybody, please feel free to include them in the comment section below.

Dublin HS boys race to victory at the NCS MOC meet in the Division I race at Hayward HS with five runners in the top six and the following times: 14:53.7, 15:00.6, 15:12.7, 15:15.2 and 15:22.1.

Liam Anderson, Matt Strangio, Loic Scomparin and Riley Chamberlain qualified to NXN as individuals following California state meet.

Gabrielle Peterson, Colleen McCandless and Connor Livingston qualified to the Foot Locker National meet. Livingston had the best finish with a 15th place in the boys' race.

Vista del Lago girls won the Division III team title at the California state meet.

Redwood HS senior Liam Anderson concludes an undefeated senior cross country campaign by winning the NXN individual title. He is the first California male to win NXN. He is named NorCal Runner of the Year for his efforts.

Del Oro freshman Riley Chamberlain runs the fastest time at the California state meet as she wins the Division III race. She is named NorCal Runner of the Year for her efforts.

Cathilyn McIntosh of Del Oro HS racing to victory at the California state meet in 800m with a 2:05.22 personal best after two 2nd place finishes as a sophomore and junior.

Davis HS senior Sondre Guttormsen's season in the pole vault that included a California all-time best 18'4.5". Oh, by the way, Guttormsen also finished in 2nd place in the 110m. hurdles with a time of 14.02.

Dublin HS boys winning the Arcadia 4 x 1600m. at Arcadia Invitational with a time of 17:29.92 finishing just in front of Bellarmine and their 17:30.20.

Sophomore Malcolm Clemons of St. Mary's Berkeley winning the state meet long jump that included a lifetime best 25'1"w. Finishing in 2nd place was St. Ignatius senior Alex Enos who also had a noteworthy season that included a best of 25'0" at the CCS Top 8 meet.

Erica Grotogeer of Wheatland HS (NS) won the California state meet discus with a best of 174'9".

Oak Ridge senior Maddy Denner repeated as state champion in the 1600m. with a best of 4:42.77.

Twin sister Elena Denner won her first state title in the 3200m. in 10:10.32.

Oak Ridge as a team finished in 2nd place at the California state meet paced by the two sisters and their points in both distance events. Oak Ridge also repeated as Arcadia Invitational champions in the Distance Medley Relay with a time of 11:42.85. Santa Cruz girls finished in 2nd place with a time of 11:48.15.

Marin Catholic senior sprinter Max Glasser had a near undefeated season that culminated with a state championship in a best of 46.97.

Jason Gomez, Westmont HS senior, saved his best race of the season for the California state meet as he raced away from the field with a best of 1:50.20.

Bishop O'Dowd senior Tierra Robinson-Jones one of the best sprinters in California won two state championships in the 400 meters (52.37) and 200 meters (23.66).

Redwood junior Liam Anderson posted the fastest 3200m. for California distance runners at the Arcadia Invitational with his 5th place finish in a lifetime best time of 8:52.74. At the California state meet, Anderson won the 1600m. with a best of 4:09.31.

Santa Catalina junior Laurel Wong won the California state meet in the pole vault with a jump of 12'6".

Silver Creek senior Arianna Fisher, triple jump champion with a leap of 41'7".

Clayton Valley finished in 2nd place in the 1600m. relay with a season-best of 3:12.31. That was without their senior star hurdler Aiden Jackman who had bests of 13.98 and 37.47 for the 110m. hurdles and 300m. hurdles respectively. Clayton Valley finished in 3rd place as a team at the state meet paced by juniors Cameron Reynolds (200 5th in 21.50/400 2nd in 47.27/1600m. relay) and Daylon Hicks (high jump 2nd place 6'10").

Jesuit HS sophomore Matt Strangio won the California state meet 3200m. to become the 3rd sophomore in California state meet history to win the event. You can check out the video of that race at this LINK.

I am sure there are other noteworthy moments that I missed so please help with your own and I will add them to the list above.

Cross Country highlights to follow. Feel free to include your own in the comment section below.

13 comments:

Dan T said...

This is pretty track heavy, so I would definitely include Matt Strangio winning the state meet 3,200 as a sophomore and then coming back and winning the D1 XC title. Will be interesting to see if Anderson tries to double again this year.

Albert Caruana said...

Started with Track and Field first since that was the first season in 2018. Yes, Matt Strangio winning his state title in the 3200m should definitely be added. I was there on the infield and that was some race! Good add.

Anonymous said...

Who are California's All-Time Top 10 runners Male and Female?

Criteria being:

1) High School thru Professional career (Cross Country and Track)
2) PB's from 1 mile thru 10,000m (road/track)

Cali has had many talented runners but who has had the most success with regard to range, longevity, and accolades?

Hank said...

Francie LS (Fremont, Svale)

Dan T said...

I am thinking Deena Drossin (Kastor) and Meb Keflzighi would have to be on the list.

Albert Caruana said...

If you go with all of California, that would be a very tough list to cut down to just 10. Perhaps people can continue to list runners that should be considered. Jordan Hasay? Mary Decker? Who else?

Anonymous said...

Rowbury, and Fleshman.

Anonymous said...

Sara Bei Hall
Ryan Hall
Desi Davila Linden

Anonymous said...

How about a Nor Cal list of high school athletes that have competed in the Olympic Trials while in High School. I’m guessing many have competed post HS and would be a monster list.

Hank said...

http://www.bayareasportsstars.com/schoolsathletes.htm

This most likely gives you more than you want but if you got time to kill it's pretty interesting (and you can find all the NorCal Olympians as well).

hank

Anonymous said...

Olivia O'Keeffe of Davis beating Maddy and Elena Denner at SJS Masters in 1600, setting season's fastest 1600 time nationally.

Denners and O'Keeffe going 1,2,4 in 1600 at State meet in 1600, and 1,2,3 at State in 3200. SJS looking good!

Lawrence Road said...

This is a little biased seeing that I'm on the team, but for me, Dougherty Valley's 1 point upset over Amador at NCS was a spectacular thing to watch. With everything seeming to point towards Amador taking second place, including predictions on this website, Dougherty came and left everything on the course to secure the spot at state for the third year in a row despite facing a much harder field this time around.

Albert Caruana said...

Thanks for the last two adds. That was certainly an eye-popper when O'Keeffe won the SJS 1600m. Same goes for Dougherty Valley getting past Amador Valley this past XC season.

Any others?

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