Invitational Results

Sunset Invitational at Kezar Stadium
https://www.rtspt.com/events/cif/2026Meets/sunset/compiled.pdf

Dan Gabor Invitational at Amador Valley HS (live results)
https://www.diablotiming.com/results/2026-03-07/

10th Annual Rust Buster Invitational at Monta Vista HS (live results)
https://lynbrooksports.prepcaltrack.com/ATHLETICS/TRACK/2022/CurrentMeet/Track___Field.htm

Catching up with Branham coach, Craig Lee

Today, we catch up with Branham coach, Craig Lee (in his famous yellow Cal hat in the photo on the right with coaches Chris Clima on far left and Chris Franco in the middle). Coach Lee competed at College Park HS where he was coached by current Campolindo coach, Chuck Woolridge. He continued his running career at Cal Berkeley under the tutelage of Tony Sandoval. During his coaching career, Coach Lee has had multiple stops at different schools (detailed below), where he has had lots of success, including section titles and state meet competitors. This past cross country season, the Branham boys finished in 2nd place at the CCS Division 2 race led by section champion Alijah Murillo who went on to finish in 2nd place at the state meet and qualify for NXN. Murillo was named the NorCal Runner of the Year. Branham also had two individual girls (Dhrithi Ravilochan and Gemma Cervone) qualify to the XC state meet.

1) How did you get your start in running? What other sports did you play before HS? 
I always enjoyed running during PE as a kid but I started doing CYO track and field in 8th grade and started doing cross country my Sophomore year in high school since I played football my freshman year. I was also on the Freshman basketball team at College Park.

Besides track, football, and basketball, I played baseball when I was younger.

2) You ran at College Park for Chuck Woolridge. What do you remember of your high school experience? Standout races? Any good stories about Chuck? 
My high school experience was great. Chuck Woolridge is one of the best coaches in the nation and I was lucky to be coached by him. He taught me a lot about running and made my high school running experience fun and challenging at the same time. 

I loved running the Dipsea Trail and attending Humboldt Running Camp in the Summers and doing Orienteering Runs and the King of Pain workout during the seasons. 

For Cross Country, my favorite/standout races were:

- The State Championship my Senior year (1997). It was my first and only time making the State Championship and it was also the first time a team from College Park had made the State Championship in any sport so it was pretty memorable, and I am glad I got to share that experience with David Vigil, Jeff Wang, Roy Holtman, Sina Aboutalebi, Chris Rust, Eric Henry and Justin Patute. 

- The Ed Sias Invitational, my Junior year. That same group of guys won the Varsity Boys race, and it was really exciting for us to win our own invitational. Coach Steve Nesheim was still working at College Park as the ceramics teacher, and he made an awesome ceramic chalice-like trophy for the fastest Falcon at the meet, and I was lucky enough to be that Falcon on that day.

- The Stanford Cross Country Invitational my Senior year (I ran it when the course still had the hill in the back section). It was the first time I had ever raced on a golf course so that was pretty cool. I wish they would bring back more invitationals on golf courses in the Bay Area. (Totally agree with this. Losing the Stanford XC Invitational was a huge loss for our sport-A Caruana) 

In track:

-  Going to the Mt. SAC Relays my Senior year was so much fun with my team. If I recall correctly, we set school records in the 4x1600 and Distance Medley Relay. What made it even more memorable for me was that I was a little nervous before one of the races. I remember getting ready for the starter to get us lined up when I heard my mom yell something supportive to me from the rail. It caught me off guard as I wasn’t expecting my family to make the trip to watch the meet since it was a 6-hour drive but there they were, my parents, my two brothers and my sister cheering me on.

- Every Bob Warren/Charlie Eaton Relays meet was a blast because it was the last invitational before the postseason, so it was the final chance to run a distance relay with my teammates (4x1600 or 4x800) before the focus became on individual events for me. We didn’t have the 4x800 at NCS or State like they do now. If you can’t tell, I am a big fan of relays.

There are a lot of stories I remember about Chuck but I’m not sure I can point to one that I’d want to share. I will say that having Chuck and Jonathan Spiros (former sprints and hurdles coach at College Park) really helped me grow up in a lot of ways and I am thankful for that.

3) You next ran at Cal Berkeley. How did you end up choosing Cal and what was your experience at Cal? Who was your coach? Highlights?
I got into the University of Oregon, UC Davis, and UC Berkeley (Cal). Although I was a good runner in high school, I wouldn’t say I was a top tier talent so it didn’t make sense to pay the cost to go to an out of state school just for running when UC Berkeley and UC Davis were both closer to home and academically really strong schools that I could still run at. I ultimately ended up at Cal due to its strong academics and the opportunity to race in the PAC-10. 

My college coach was Tony Sandoval and his strength was more on the track with the middle distances. I find myself adding elements of his training into my current training plans as well as using many quotes that he used to help hammer home a point when guiding the team. 

I’m not sure I had a lot of highlights but one of my more memorable races in college was when I placed second in the 3000m Steeplechase at the Woody Wilson Invitational at UC Davis. It was one of those races that felt really good and was a lot of fun. Side note, I finished the race, and I looked up and saw my parents on the rail again to my surprise. It felt just like Mt. SAC Relays in high school as I didn’t tell them I was racing but they figured it out anyways and made the trip to watch race. I think it was one of the only races they were able to come watch since my siblings played sports as well.

4) What made you decide to get into coaching? What was your first coaching experience? What did you learn from that experience?
I really love running and I knew when I graduated that I still wanted it to be a part of my life. Chuck reached out to me and suggested that I come help out at College Park along with a couple of my former high school teammates, Laura Andersson (Danner-Baird) and Ruth Dowling. That first experience coaching with Chuck, Laura, Ruth, and Jonathan Spiros shaped a lot of my coaching philosophies and expectations of how a highly successful program should be run. The culture of that team (2003-2004) was at such a high level that it almost felt college-like. It was serious but also a really fun group.

5) Aside from coaching, what else do you do? How did you end up choosing that profession?
I have worked for Santa Clara County as a Forensic Scientist (Criminalist) for 20 years. I graduated from Cal with a degree in Biology. During my Junior year, I came to the realization that I didn’t want go into biotech or go the med school route. My mother worked at College Park and one of the teachers there had a spouse who worked in the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Crime Lab. I was invited to visit the Crime Lab and after the tour, I knew that was the field I wanted to go into. After I graduated from Cal, I interned at the Oakland Crime Lab which made coaching at College Park doable. 

6) Where else have you coached after your first coaching stint? Highlights? Proudest accomplishments?
My first high school coaching experience was at College Park with Chuck. The commute to Pleasant Hill got a little tougher with interning in Oakland after a couple years so I was fortunate to coach one Cross Country season at Campolindo with the great Chris Walsh, Dino Petrocco, and Allison Adams before I started my job at the Crime Lab in Santa Clara County. Chris was great to coach with as he had a very different approach to coaching than Chuck. If you’ve never met Chris Walsh then you are definitely missing out on some great running stories and life lessons. “COACH!”

After a couple years of working at the Crime Lab, I was allowed to start coaching again so I took a job coaching at Notre Dame of San Jose since it was close to the Crime Lab. Coaching with Chrissy Malfino and the students on the team was fun but a very different experience than coaching at College Park and Campo. It was a good experience that helped prepare me for coaching at other private schools. I ended up leaving coaching for a year as my mother got sick and passed away from cancer that break year  

I next became an assistant coach for the girls team at Archbishop Mitty where I was fortunate to be a part of teams that won CCS and continually made the state championship. I met my wife, Lynn Lee (Wilson), while coaching at Mitty when she coached at Presentation HS. I eventually started coaching at Presentation HS with her and Catherine Aquino. Winning CCS in 2017 while coaching with Lynn and Catherine is probably my proudest coaching accomplishment. When I look back at that time period, it was such a joy to coach alongside them as it really felt like family. When COVID hit, Lynn and I stopped coaching as our son, Cade, was born. 

In 2022, I got the coaching itch again and Lynn gave me the go ahead to start back up. I had been coaching girls Cross Country for over decade at that point, and I really want to coach at a school that would let me coach both genders. I looked at coaching openings and Branham happened to be close to our house so I applied for the open job and got the job starting with the 2022 cross country season. 

7) You have now been coaching at Branham HS. How did you end up coaching there? What was the state of the program before you got there? What changes did you make that you feel really upgraded both cross country and track and field teams?
As I stated before, I wanted to coach both boys’ and girls’ programs at a school and Branham was a school that was close in proximity to my house making my commute home pretty quick as my son is still pretty young. 

Chris Jensen was the previous head coach and he did a fabulous job navigating the team through the COVID era. I tried to build off of what he had been doing but did make some changes to team expectations and culture. Training wise, the coaching staff of myself, Chris Franco, and Chris Clima implemented a little more structure and it seems to be paying off as the team has experienced some great success in the last few years. 

8) Aside from Chuck Woolridge, who else have been your coaching mentors and what have you learned from them?
I have been lucky to have some really great friends who happen to be coaches. Although they may not be mentors in the classical definition, Steve Nesheim, Jonathan Spiros, Chris Puppione, Joey Woolridge, Jason Oswalt, Tony Kauke, Chris Williams, John Pelster, Tim Hunter, and Eddie Salazar from the NCS have all given me or continue to give me great coaching and life advice. 

In the CCS, Sunday long runs around Lexington Dam with Chris Cozort were always interesting explorations into training philosophies. Tacos and Training Talk with Josh Small were always a post meet highlight for me. My group chat with Jorge Chen and Albert Caruana have been pure coaching gold. Zoom call round tables with Nick Alvarado and Al Berrin always sparked great discussions.

In college, Tony Sandoval and Alan Kolling gave me great guidance and formed a lot of approaches to training and coaching. 

Lastly, my wife, Lynn, is a great sounding board for me regarding balancing life and coaching. 

9) From your first year coaching to now, what are you still doing the same and what major changes have you made as a coach?
I think one of the major changes I have made from my first years coaching to now is that I stopped running with the team. From a personal fitness perspective it sucks because I am not in any great running shape but I do find that with the range of ability level I coach now, I have more time to check-in or spend with all my students than I did before. I try to bike alongside for some of the runs or workouts when I can so I still get out there on occasion. I also feel like the team bonds together better on those daily runs when no coaches are around.

Other than that, I haven’t made any major changes to training. Subtle adjustments or progression in training are done based on the group we have and how the prior season went. 

10) From looking at your cross country training program, what do you feel are the key components that enable your runners to be successful?
I don’t know if I can point to any specific training component that makes the runners I help coach more successful. I think we use the same training philosophies or elements as most other programs with the only possible difference being how much/little we may do of something and when we do it. Through the summation of these components, we have been able to achieve a lot of success.

11) What would be your advice for a new coaching just starting out? 
My advice to new coaches is always to first decide what kind of coach and team you want to be a part of. If you want to be serious with training and competing then you need to set those expectations right away. Team culture is everything when it comes to performing at a high level. You might lose student-athletes because of your expectations but those who remain will likely be committed to training and competing at a higher level. Conversely, if you want to have a team that is more relaxed or less serious about winning or training then that’s okay too. Just make sure to set expectations right away so everyone knows what they are getting into. 

Second, talk to other coaches. The old NorCal Roundtables were great places to talk with coaches about training philosophies and other aspects of coaching. Attending coaching clinics are another great way of expanding your knowledge and coaching connections.  

I am pretty loquacious, so I used to just go up and chat with coaches at meets or if we practiced at the same places. I think you can learn something from every coach as everyone has their own experiences and approaches.  

Third, try new things. You can read books about training or articles online, but most acquired knowledge comes through trial and error so don’t be afraid to test a theory. You don’t necessarily have to make drastic changes to your training plan or philosophy but if you keep getting a result you’re not happy with then you should probably change something. 

12) Anything else you would like to add?
Thanks for the opportunity to share my experience and background. We all started somewhere as coaches and I hope the people reading this are able to take something away from it that might help them in their journey. Talking with others in the coaching world really does help with learning and improving. Most coaches want to chat about that stuff so don’t be shy and go make new friends!

Thank you very much for your time, Craig! AJC

PDC Backyard Event and Summer Running Camp

A couple of events to share that will be headed by former Stanford runner coach Dena Evans. She also coaches the Peninsula Distance Club (PDC). You can find their website at this link:

https://www.peninsuladistanceclub.com/

The first event is the PDC Backyard Event, featuring Juliette and Bella Whittaker. It will take place on Monday, May 18th. Tickets can be found at this link: pdcbyb5.eventbrite.com

The second is the running camp that will take place this summer at Corte Madera from August 3-7. The registration link can be found at the camp website:

thebayarearunningcamp.com

If you have any questions regarding either event, feel free to reach out to Dena at dena.evans@gmail.com.

The Bay Area Coaches Network Monthly Meeting

Crystal Springs Uplands School will host the monthly meeting for the Bay Area Coaches Network. Started by Daniel Hicker (Menlo) and Vern Gambetta, the Bay Area Coaches Network is a free and open space for meaningful dialogue on the art and science of developing athletes. There are no presentations and no hierarchy, just performance professionals exchanging ideas, asking questions, and learning from one another, regardless of experience level.

If you know any other coaches or practitioners, please feel free to pass along the info. 

Where: Fitness Center (US) 400 Uplands Drive, Hillsborough CA

When: Thursday March 12th @ 6pm-7pm

What are your team's best school records (boys and girls)?

Fun conversation starter for all of you out there. What is your best school record for boys and girls?

I will start with the following:

Crystal Springs Uplands School
Boys: Ben Bouie 1500 3:48.65 1600 4:03.23 Mile 4:04.71 All 2025/CCS Records
Girls: Anna Salter 3200 10:22.19 2025

San Mateo 
Boys: Ralph Lee 800 1:51.50 1960
Girls: Julie Middleton 100 11.70 1982

St. Francis, SJ
Girls: Cate Joaquin 3200 10:20.97 2022

Montgomery
Boys: Mel Gray, 1967 220 20.7y converts to about 20.82 for 200 meters, and he also ran 20.9y 4 times.
Gray ran four 100 yard races of 9.4 in 1967. All equaled the National High School record and the last, at the State Meet, broke the California State Meet record. Converts to about 10.54 for 100 meters.
He placed 2nd in state long jump and had a wind legal 24-11 plus a 25-7¼ wind aided mark.
Girls: Hanne Thomsen PR’s 3200m 9:48.98, 1600m 4:35.69 and 800m 2:09.04

Davis
Boys: Sondre Guttormsen Pole Vault 18'10.25" 2018
Girls: Laurynne Chetelat 3200 9:52.51 2008

Vista del Lago
Boys: Will Greene 400 46.62 2025
Boys: Jake Grimsman HJ 7'3" 2018
Girls: Ceonna Pipion 400 54.46

Mountain View
Girls: Hannah Rutherford 400 53.70 2025
Boys: Garrett Rowe 3200 8:55.71 2009

Los Altos
Boys: Rick Brown 800 1:50.10c 1970
Girls: Lauren Soobrien 3200 10:17.17 2022

Others? I will add them to the list.

League Meet results

BCL #1 at Kezar Stadium Results
https://www.athletic.net/TrackAndField/meet/632259/results/all

NorCal Cross Country and Track and Field College Commitments

Kyle Jakary, Jesuit (SJS) Cal Poly SLO
Ani Stieg, Archie Williams (NCS) Cal Poly SLO

Jane Landon, Whitney (SJS) CBU
Ava Decleve, Scotts Valley (CCS) UCLA

Anna Salter, Crystal Springs Uplands School (CCS) Columbia University

Brenna Mannion, Vista del Lago (SJS) Cal Poly SLO

Addison Ewers, Whitney (SJS) Cal Poly SLO

Nina Souto, Whitney (SJS) Cal Poly SLO

Sydney Middleton, Redwood (NCS) Cal Poly SLO
Stephen Sziebert, Bellarmine (CCS) Columbia University
Ben Penzel, Bellarmine (CCS) Santa Clara University

Chloe Leduc, Oakland Tech (OAK) Cal Berkeley
Drake Hoferer, Jesuit (SJS) UCLA
Gretchen Yakaitis, Carondelet (NCS) UC Berkeley
Logan Letulle, Miramonte (NCS) Williams 
Brooke Lee, Archie Williams (NCS) UC Berkeley
Zoe Corder, Bella Vista (SJS) Washington State
Sophie Hutchinson, Whitney (SJS) Washington State
Lena Llamas, Buhach Colony (SJS) Wingate University
Andres Lomeli, Kimball (SJS) Cal Poly SLO
Amaya Bhardawaj, Palo Alto (CCS) Princeton University
Aidan Sharp, Menlo Atherton (CCS) University of Chicago
Micah Redding, Placer (SJS) University of Idaho 
Owen Dawson, Analy (NCS) University of Chicago
Cooper Barr, Placer (SJS) Stanford University

Adriana Ingargiola, Oak Ridge (SJS), UC Berkeley

Ella Mogannam, Lick-Wilmerding (NCS) Vanderbilt University

Lily Simon, St. Francis, MV (CCS) University of Michigan

Payton Wagner, St. Francis, MV (CCS) Loyola Marymount University

Avery Carlson, Pitman (SJS) UC San Diego

Natalie Arriaza, Patterson (SJS) Stanislaus State
Lauren Draper, St. Francis, MV (CCS) University of Chicago

Tyler Huo, St. Francis, MV (CCS) Bowdoin College

Brady Bliesner, Aptos (CCS) Chico State 

Maya Schiro, Aptos (CCS) Chico State 

Peter Kendall, Twelve Bridges (SJS) Chico State
Allie Harman, Rocklin (SJS) UC Irvine 
Avery Wolk, Davis (SJS) Brown University
Isaac Abbott, Jesuit (SJS) Duke University
Giselle Fernandez, Riverbank (SJS) Northern Arizona University
Makayla Galvan, Vacaville (SJS) Biola University
Grady Morris, Ponderosa (SJS) Chico State
Sophie Benham, Hughson (SJS) Stanislaus State
Ellie McCuskey-Hay, St. Ignatius (CCS) University of Oregon
Fernando Herrera, Alisal (CCS) Stanislaus State
Cy Lugo, Elk Grove (SJS) Montana State
Ace Rozales, Kimball (SJS) St. Mary's College
Claire Palmer, Archie Williams (NCS) Tuft University
Carina, Nottingham, Berkeley (NCS) Dartmouth University
Riley Anderson, Placer (SJS) Chico State
Maya Yatsko, Los Altos (CCS) Occidental College
Samantha Witteles, Los Altos (CCS) Dartmouth University

Xavier Surgeon, Windsor (NCS) Rhodes College
Kira Dye, Crystal Springs Uplands School (CCS) Johns Hopkins
Jessica Carvalho, Pinole Valley (NCS) Dominican University
Eila Sawhney, Woodside Priory (CCS) Claremont - Mudd Scripps
Kaitlyn Lam, Sacred Heart Cathedral (CCS) Occidental College
Soleil Warner, St. Ignatius (CCS) Harvard University
Prince Najeeb Babalola-Buchango, St. Ignatius (CCS) USC
Sebastian Taylor, Bishop O'Dowd (NCS) NYU
Cason Mitchell, Menlo Atherton (CCS) University of Miami (NEW)

If you know of other runners who have already committed and shared their information publicly, please add them to the list in the comment section below.

NorCal weekend invitationals

Skyline Invitational at Skyline HS
https://www.diablotiming.com/results/490/
Todd Tokubo photos LINK

Super 7 Invitational at De La Salle HS
https://www.diablotiming.com/results/491/

Glen Poole Invitational at Oakmont HS
https://timerhub.com/get_web_index.php?page=redcaptiming.com/2026/gpi/

Santa Cruz Coast Relays at Aptos HS
https://www.athletic.net/TrackAndField/meet/621671/results/all

And fresh from Tuesday's BCL #1 at San Francisco State
https://www.athletic.net/TrackAndField/meet/630262/results/all

Running—Not Skiing—Was Once Olympian Eileen Gu’s ‘Big Thing’ in High School

https://www.runnersworld.com/news/a70500892/eileen-gu-running-background-high-school/

High School Track Annual by Jack Shepard

I know some of you already get Jack Shepard's Track Annual, but for those of you who don't, you can get your copy in the mail. Highly recommended! Info below.

A few years ago, on ca.milesplit.com, I wrote about Jack Shepard, who is an absolute legend in our sport. He has been keeping track and field stats since 1968. You can read more about him at this LINK.

To get his annual, you can mail a check for $15 to the address below, and you will get your copy within a week.

Jack Shepard
891 South Walnut St. Apt 325
Anaheim, CA 92802