NorCal Cross Country and Track and Field College Commitments

Hanne Thomsen Montgomery (NCS) Stanford University
Landon Pretre Menlo (CCS) Wake Forest University
Will Hauser Menlo (CCS) Cornell University
Broen Holman Sonora (SJS) Northern Arizona University
Evie Marheineke Archbishop Mitty (CCS) UCLA
Trey Caldwell De La Salle (NCS) University of Colorado
Miles Cook Sacred Heart Cathedral (CCS) Cal Poly SLO
Andrew Burr Sacramento Country Day (SJS) Dartmouth College
Alexandra Powell Monte Vista (NCS) New Mexico
Allie Turns Monte Vista (NCS) Gonzaga
Sofia Fernandez Monte Vista (NCS) Johns Hopkins
Owen Brandeis Monte Vista (NCS) Emory
Kinga Czakjkowska Palo Alto (CCS) Cornell
Emma Gardner Tamalpais (NCS) Santa Clara University
Eli Fitchen-Young Santa Cruz (CCS) Duke University
Amrie Lacefield Montgomery (NCS) Colorado State University (NEW)
Seelah Kittelstrom Montgomery (NCS) Columbia University (NEW)
Arrin Sagiraju Dougherty Valley (NCS) UCLA
Hannah Rutherford Mountain View (CCS) Stanford University
Magnolia Hougan Berkeley (NCS) Pomona College
Jackson Hein Pleasant Valley (NS) Berkeley University
Stefan Langridge International (NCS) Carnegie Mellon
James Jenkins Miramonte (NCS) NYU
Ben Bouie Crystal Springs Uplands School (CCS) Harvard University
Sadie Sanders Montgomery (NCS) Howard University
Shrey Chettiar Bellarmine (CCS) Johns Hopkins
Tadgh Murray, De La Salle (NCS) Tufts University
George Mikhael, Granada (NCS) Trinity University
Isabel Soto, Whitney (SJS) Stanislaus University
Nate Griffin Yeh, Las Lomas (NCS) UCSD
Shea Elmore, Los Gatos (CCS) UCSD
Sabrina Zanetto, St. Francis, MV (CCS) UCSD
Kylie Hooernaert, Prospect (CCS) UCSD
Ian Sharp, Archie Williams (NCS) Pomona College
Jack Rattary, College Park (NCS) Chico State
Evan Gardner, Homestead (CCS) UCSD
Josh Griffin, Nevada Union (SJS) Cal Baptist
Jackson Stream, Vacaville (SJS) Chico State
Grace Baxter, Granite Bay (SJS) University of California, Irvine
Milani Bell, Pittsburg (NCS) Long Beach State
Xavier Biwott, Vista del Lago (SJS) Stanislaus
Owen Brandeis, Monte Vista (NCS) Emory University
Anna Carmona, Terra Linda (NCS) Chico State
Addison Clinton, Oak Ridge (NCS) University of California, Irvine
Jaliyah Davis, River City (SJS) Long Beach State 
Golda Demby, Hollister (CCS) Cal Poly University 
Alana Farve, Sheldon (SJS) Stanislaus 
Emma Gardner, Tamalpais (NCS) Santa Clara University 
Ella He, Cupertino (CCS) UNC Wilmington 
Jonathan Hupman, Merrill West (SJS) Stanislaus 
James Jenkins, Miramonte (NCS) New York University
Zoe Leach, Thomas Downey (SJS) St. Mary's College 
Sophia Lopes, Hilmar (SJS) Stanislaus 
Logan Meredith, Orland (NS) Chico 
Brielle Mosley, Silver Creek (CCS) Cal State University Fullerton 
Madeline Ross, Los Altos (CCS) Emory University 
Jonelle Scott, Soquel (CCS) Long Beach State University 
Eliot Traxler, Amador (SJS) University of CA Berkeley 
Sineth Andrabadu, Hillsdale (CCS) Davidson
Maya Eisenberg, Mt. View (CCS) Johns Hopkins University
Grace Veloza, Newark Memorial (CCS), Cal State East Bay 
Aidan Dub, California (NCS) Cal State Marcos (NEW)
Owen Anderson, McClatchy (SJS) Chico State (NEW)
Joshua Guzman, Gilroy (CCS) Chico State (NEW)

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

Central Coast Running Camp, presented by Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo

Central Coast Running Camp, presented by Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo

Are you a high school runner that's eager to elevate your training, experience a collegiate environment, and learn from some of the best in the sport? Join Cal Poly Cross Country this summer for the inaugural Central Coast Running Camp!

What is Central Coast Running Camp? Central Coast Running Camp is an immersive experience designed for high school runners entering grades 9-12 in the 2025-26 academic year. Whether you’re a seasoned competitor or just starting your running journey, this camp welcomes athletes of all ability levels. Set against the stunning backdrop of the Central Coast, you’ll have the chance to live and train like an athlete on the campus of a competitive Division 1 program.

When and Where? Camp runs from Wednesday, July 9th, to Sunday, July 13th, 2025, hosted on Cal Poly’s scenic campus in San Luis Obispo, CA.

What to Expect:

• Trusted Mentorship: Learn from and connect with Cal Poly’s cross country coaching staff and current student-athletes, gaining valuable insights into training, racing, and mental preparation.

• Elite Training Environment: Spend 5 days training on Cal Poly’s renowned running routes and facilities.

• Athletic Growth: Participate in daily runs, workshops, and discussions covering topics such as training, recovery, team culture, and more.

• Community Building: Connect with like-minded runners, forging friendships and memories to carry into your future seasons.

Why Attend? The Cal Poly coaching staff is thrilled to host this camp, designed to help athletes of all levels take the next step in their running journey. Campers will leave more prepared and excited for the cross country season ahead, equipped with new skills, motivation, and a deeper understanding of their sport. This camp offers a unique chance to experience what it’s like to be part of a highly motivated program that values relationships and growth alongside performance. Spots are limited, so register today!

All of the details and the link to register are at CentralCoastRunningCamp.com.

RIP, De La Salle/Carondelet coach John Harvey

 

Northern California Invitational Results

Sacramento Meet of Champions at American River College
https://timerhub.com/get_web_index.php?page=redcaptiming.com/2025/smoc/

NorCal F/S Championships at Dublin HS
https://diablotiming.com/results/2025-04-26/

Jesuit Twilight Relays
https://www.athletic.net/TrackAndField/meet/563240/results/all

Catching up with St. Ignatius coach, Michael Kennedy

Today, we chat with St. Ignatius jumps coach, Michael Kennedy. An alumnus of the school, Coach Kennedy has been the St. Ignatius jumps coach since 2015, leading one of the best jump programs in the section and state. His athletes have included multiple section champions (notedbelow in the interview) as well as state meet podium finishers in multiple jump events. Thisseason, St. Ignatius athletes lead the section in the boys' triple jump (Noah Gonzalez) andthe girls' long jump (Elle McCuskey-Hay, photo below), and have multiple jumpers also ranked in the top 10. During meets, you can definitely find the enthusiastic coach guiding his athletes to a new PR.

1. What was your own athletic experience? Where did you go to high school? What sports/events did you do, and what are some of your proudest achievements?

I grew up playing anything and everything – basketball, baseball, soccer, flag football, etc. As the youngest of four siblings and many older cousins, I was always the smallest, just trying to hang. Those experiences made me extremely competitive from a very young age, and it’s not a trait I’ve been able to turn off. I ended up playing football, basketball, and running track at St. Ignatius (SI). I remember going to my older brother and sister’s meets when they were at SI, so I always had an interest in following in their footsteps. Plus being the fast kid growing up, it made sense to give it a try. I sprinted my first two years at SI, running 11.11 as a sophomore and qualifying for State in the 4x1 in 2008. We got a new coach that year, and she told me I should also try long jumping over the summer. I ended up jumping 21’ 10” my third meet and qualified for the Junior Olympics. I suffered a bad ankle injury my junior football season that required two surgeries, which essentially wrecked my junior track season. But after a lot of work and rehab, I had a big senior year at SI running 10.79 and jumping 23’ 0”. I was a State Long Jump finalist in 2010 and our 4x1 also qualified for State that year running 42.31. Both sprint times were School Records for 15 years up until being broken earlier this season! I then ran collegiately at UC Irvine and was a two-year captain there, something I am very proud of. I ran 10.63 while at UCI, which was on the all-time Top 10 list when I graduated.

2. How did you get into coaching, and have you coached at other schools outside of St. Ignatius?

Like many new graduates, I moved back home after graduation in 2014 and needed to figure out what was next. I studied biology at UCI and was contemplating the Medical School route. The application process takes a full year, so I knew I’d have some time in the Spring. Long story short, I did a part-time coaching year at SI in the spring of 2015 before diving in fully in 2016. Even in 2015, I learned very quickly that seeing athletes progress and get better is an addictive feeling. I knew from those early days that I wanted to continue coaching. I haven’t coached outside of SI at this point. I’ve been fortunate to receive a couple of college inquiries over the last few years, but haven’t jumped on them yet. It’s been rewarding building something special at my alma mater while also progressing in my professional biotech career.

3. Who were your coaches during your athletic career, and what did you learn from them? Who have been your coaching mentors during your coaching career?

I’ve had many coaches over the years and have taken bits and pieces from each of them. For starters, my dad and godfather coached me most of my childhood in almost every sport I played. I’d say being the son of the coach prepares you in a more regimented way than other athletes. I think those were the first moments that shaped me from an athletic perspective. Moving into high school, I had mentors who altered my life by simply believing in me. Coach Lisa Kinimaka was the first to do so and was the one who pushed me to long jump. Her upbeat, positive nature made track fun and made us want to work hard for her. Football was another area that I grew both mentally and physically. Coaches Steve Bluford and John Regalia were adamant about attention to detail. That focus is vital in what I do on a day-to-day basis. Lastly, Coach Jeff Perkins was my coach at UCI. Seeing the organization and leadership of a D1 team was key for my understanding in how a proper team should be run. 

4. What are the qualifications for a good jumper? How do you go about selecting the athletes that might excel in any of the jump events?

Oh man, this is such a loaded question. I’ll start by saying most of the athletes I coach have never done track before. They come to SI and have an interest in track, and they go through the tryout process of finding an event. As high school coaches, we usually don’t get everything we want when it comes to the perfect athlete. Or when we do have the textbook athlete, they usually can be good at a multitude of events, and we have to figure out the exact balance. When it comes to jumping, there are a variety of ways to be successful in my eyes. There are speed jumpers, there are bouncy jumpers, and in ideal cases, there are jumpers who have both. In high school, we don’t have the luxury of only taking perfect athletes, so my job is all about maximizing what each athlete needs to be good with their specific skillset.

5. What does a typical training week look like for your athletes? What else are they doing aside from their work on the track?

It’s variable depending on a few different factors: who is the athlete, what part of the season are we in, and what meets do we have coming up? For an elite sprinter-jumper earlier in the season, we’ll be doing more sprint work, both from a base perspective but also mechanically. Similarly, all of my athletes will do more weight room work earlier in the cycle. For a pure jumper with no sprint events, bounding and plyos are a big focus early on. For all jumpers, jump drills are crucial to understanding positions and movements. Some level of our various jump drills are worked in every week for consistency. As we move toward championship season, the focus shifts to more fine-tuning and runway approach management. 

6. What are some of the biggest mistakes that you usually have to correct as a jumps coach?

Having athletes who have never done track before has its pros and cons. The major pro is that I usually don’t have horrible habits to break. But there have definitely been cases where things have to be undone and restarted. I’d say the approach is probably 90% of where problems lie. If you aren’t sprinting correctly into takeoff, it is almost impossible to be successful in any jumping event. Having a sprint background is helpful in that regard, as I can identify when things are not correct. Once the sprint mechanics and posture are sorted, the rest becomes relatively straightforward to teach and/or fix.

7. During your time at St. Ignatius, what are some of your biggest highlights and proudest accomplishments by your athletes?

I’ve been so fortunate over the years to have moments that I will never forget. As you’ll see, my jumpers have a trend of waiting until their last jumps to make things happen, which often times makes the moment unforgettable. I’m leaving out countless fond memories, but happy to name a handful of highlights. Kaela Lee was my first 18-footer and Arcadia night meet jumper. Her PR jump of 18’ 5.75” at CCS Finals in 2016 to qualify for State was my first overwhelming coaching moment. 2018 was an all-timer as SI was the first school in CCS history to win both CCS male and female long jumps in the same year. Alex Enos (25’ 0”) and Megan Ronan (19’ 6.5”) took me on the ride of a lifetime that year, placing 2nd and 5th at State respectively and shattering our school records at CCS Top 8. Megan won CCS on her final jump that year going 19’ 3” to steal the win. We also had 4 boys jump 21’8” or further that year, which will be tough to duplicate. Similarly, in 2022, we had 7 different girls jump further than 16’ 5”, which was pretty cool. That year, Kate Walsh went from 8th to 2nd on her final jump at CCS Finals PRing half a foot to qualify for State. We’ve had a female long jumper qualify for State every year since 2016, and that streak wouldn’t be alive today if it weren’t for Kate’s clutch jump. In 2023, Monroe Barnum and Mariel Rocca both broke 30-year-old School Records in the Triple Jump. Monroe qualified for State on his last jump at CCS Finals that year as well. Also in 2023, Ellie McCuskey-Hay won the CCS LJ and PR’d half a foot on her final jump at State Finals to break Megan’s school record, going 19‘ 7.25”. 15 minutes later she ran a giant 100m PR finishing 2nd at State Finals in 11.52 – it was a mind-blowing sequence of events. A year later in 2024, Suraya Newman and Noah Gonzalez broke those Triple Jump School Records again. Ellie and Suraya went 1-3 in CCS LJ for the second straight year and Noah won SI’s first CCS TJ title on his final jump, PRing by almost a foot going 46’ 11” to shatter the school record. Both Ellie and Noah went on to medal at State Finals. I also want to mention the amount of pride I had in our boys’ team winning the CCS team title last year. It was a decade’s worth of work culminating in a tight-knit team coming together to win our first team title in 30-plus years.

8. What would be your advice for other jump coaches on how they could help their athletes reach their potential?

To me, connecting with the athletes is the most important part of any coach’s job. It doesn’t matter how much knowledge a coach has; if the athlete doesn’t buy in and trust you, it is so difficult to have lasting success. Beyond that, a desire to get better is critical. Observing how other coaches work, seeing how elite athletes move, taking courses on event mastery, testing what does and doesn’t work, etc. – any and all ways to improve yourself as a coach will ultimately help your athletes. I’d also say being honest is a critical factor. Athletes can tell when you’re not being genuine. The coach is obviously the final decision maker, but the coach-athlete relationship truly is a partnership.

9. From your competitor days to now, what do you feel has changed, and what has remained a constant?

I’ll start by saying so much has changed in the last 10-15 years. I think people’s access to information and the general athlete’s temperament are entirely different than when even I was competing. Because of the increased access to information, most of my athletes follow all their favorite college and pro track athletes and ask about what they see from their posted workouts and results. It helps them catch the ‘track bug’ and get invested in the sport, which is a cool thing to see. I’d say that ability is relatively new and allows them to engage in the sport in a new way. 

The constant is that each athlete is different and it’s the coach’s job to try and find the sweet spot for each of them. This can obviously be very difficult as us coaches manage so many different personality types. But I think there’s something to be said for meeting individuals where they are while bringing them together as a unit.

10. How have you changed as a coach from your first year? What have you learned the most during that span?

I remember coming into my first SI practices in 2015 and having this D1 background and thinking I had this grand plan to implement. I learned very quickly it’s not that simple, and working with 14-18-year-olds is a whole different ballgame. Because of that, I have evolved immensely over the last decade, as each year is filled with different athletes and challenges. I tell people I feel like I could write a book just based on the experiences and stories that have arisen over the years. And I’m sure many coaches can relate. Being a coach is far more than having a set plan and sticking with it through everything. Based on my experiences over the years, I now view myself as being whatever is needed to whomever may need it at any point in time; whether it be a mentor, a teacher, a psychologist, an older brother, a cheerleader, or even an authoritative figure. But the one thing that has not changed over the years is the absolute thrill it is seeing an athlete buy in and progress and do things they didn’t think were even possible. Seeing their excitement and their confidence grow is beyond rewarding.

11. Anything else you would like to add?

I’ll just end by saying I feel very fortunate to be involved in the track community over these last 20 years as both an athlete and coach. Most of my fondest adolescent memories were sports-related, so it’s fulfilling being able to pay it forward. I appreciate all the coaches out there doing the same as well as media members like yourself that shine a light on all the work going on behind the scenes. Thank you again!

Best High School Northern California Track and Field Athletes of All-Time

Bumping this back up to the top. The list has not been updated in a few years so if you have athletes that you think deserve to be included, feel free to add them in the comment section below.

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One more bump. Please list below athletes that you feel belong on the lists below. One more trivia question. Who is the runner to the left? He didn't run in NorCal but eventually became one of the most successful coaches in state history.
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I bumped this back up to the top. As you can see, quite a list of names and will need to be updated with athletes who competed in the past few seasons. If you also see anybody that should be added from years past, please add them in the comment section below. Trivia Question. Who is the runner to the left?
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I have updated all the nominees.  Who else should be considered?  To whoever asked, I would say that more weight should given to high school performances and not what was accomplished after high school.  The list gets way too big when you start adding athletes who did "OK" in high school and then really took off in college and beyond.
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A little project before the official start of the 2013 Track and Field season.  Who are the best High School Track and Field athletes of all-time?  Who were the best boy/girl sprinters?  Hurdlers? Distance Runners?  Jumpers?  Throwers?  Can we pick the best overall for boys and girls?  I will add names as they are listed below in the comment section.  Let's see if we can get at least 10 nominees for each category.

Boys
Sprinters
Steve Lewis American HS (NCS)
Mel Gray Montgomery HS (NCS)
Rubin Williams Valley Christian HS (CCS)
Calvin Harrison North Salinas HS (CCS)
Alvin Harrison North Salinas HS (CCS)
Bill Green Cubberley HS (CCS)
Derek Shepard Lincoln HS (SF)
Jahvid Best Salesian HS (NCS)
Bob Frick San Ramon Valley HS (?)
Kenny O'Neal Skyline HS (OAK)
Eddie Hart Pittsburg HS (NCS)
Dave Masters El Cerrito HS (NCS)
Jim Hines McClymonds HS (OAK)
Ken Robinson Berkeley HS (NCS)
Stoney McCree Berkeley HS (NCS)
James Jackson Alameda HS (NCS)
Kevin Willhite Cordova HS (SJS)
Andre Ammons Skyline HS (OAK)
Jerry Bright Castlemont (OAK)
Chuck Bommarito Crestmoor HS (CCS)
John Figueroa Sunnyvalle HS (CCS)
Millard Hampton Silvercreek (CCS)
Dixon Farmer Miramonte HS (NCS)
Steve Odom Berkeley (NCS)
Joe DeDora Santa Rosa (NCS)
Lee Evans Overfelt (CCS)

Mid-Distance Runners
Rick Brown Los Altos HS (CCS)
Cole Williams Urban HS (NCS)
Kevin Griffith San Ramon Valley HS (NCS)
Gordon Johnson Piedmont HS (NCS)
Pete Richardson Berkeley HS (NCS)
James Robinson McClymonds HS (OAK)
Dan Gabor Amador Valley HS (NCS)
Aaron Richberg James Logan HS (NCS)
James Levine Golden Valley HS (SJS)
Jon Stevens Mission San Jose (NCS)
Don Bowden Lincoln HS (CCS)
Dan Aldridge Petaluma HS (NCS)
Patrick McCrystle Jesuit HS (SJS)
Jacob Evans Aptos HS (CCS)
Dale Scott El Cerrito HS (NCS)
Mike Katri Fortuna HS (NCS)
Craig Magness Santa Teresa (CCS)
Conrad Suhr Leigh HS (CCS)

Distance Runners
Michael Stember Jesuit HS (SJS)
Rich Kimball De La Salle HS (NCS)
German Fernandez Riverbank HS (SJS)
Mark Mastalir Jesuit HS (SJS)
Reggie Williams River City HS (SJS)
Roy Kissen San Ramon Valley HS (NCS)
Morgan Groth Alhambra HS (NCS)
Tom Hale Campolindo HS (NCS)
Erik Olson Novato HS (NCS)
Yung-Song Leal Arroyo HS (NCS)
Eric Mastalir Jesuit HS (SJS)
Ralph Gamez Berkeley HS (NCS)
Mike Ryan Wilcox HS (CCS)
John Johnson Skyline HS (OAK)
Tom Downs Skyline HS (OAK)
Bob Grubbs Washington HS (NCS)
Clifton West Kennedy HS (SJS)
Tim Nelson Liberty Christian HS (NS)
Jon Stevens Mission San Jose (NCS)
Calvin Gaziano Castro Valley HS (NCS)
Matt Guisto San Mateo (CCS)
Jay Marden Mision San Jose HS (NCS)
Alex Dunn San Lorenzo Valley HS (CCS)
Giliat Ghebray James Logan HS (NCS)
Yosef Ghebray James Logan HS (NCS)
Brett Gotcher Aptos HS (CCS)
Rod Berry Redwood HS (NCS)
Harold Kuphaldt Bella Vista HS (SJS)
Jason Balkman Lynbrook HS (CCS)
Rusty Knowles Vacaville HS (SJS)
Mason Myers Vacaville HS (SJS)
Paul Thomas Jesuit HS (SJS)
Kevin Blazona Casa Roble HS (SJS)
Gary Passanisi Aptos HS (CCS)
Micheil Jones Livermore HS (NCS)
Rob Wentworth Livermore HS (NCS)
Mark Conover Miramonte HS (NCS)
Adam McAboy Miramonte HS (NCS)
Mark Stillman Willow Glen (CCS)
Mitch Kingery San Carlos (CCS)
Fred Huxham Redwood (NCS)
Tom Hale Campolindo (NCS)
John Dean Berkeley (NCS)
Buck Black Pittsburgh (NCS)
Cooper Teare St. Joseph Notre Dame (NCS)
Liam Anderson Redwood (NCS)

Hurdlers
Kevin Craddock James Logan HS (NCS)
Joe Naivalu Fremont HS (CCS)
David Klech California HS (NCS)
Guy McGowan Leigh HS (CCS)
Dedy Cooper Harry Ells HS (NCS)
Robert Gaines Kennedy of Richmond HS (NCS)
Tony Hicks Serramonte HS (CCS)
Monte Corley James Logan HS (NCS)
Ron Kennedy Serramonte HS (CCS)
Jim Scannella San Ramon Valley HS (NCS)
Milt Turner Castlemont (OAK)
Don Ward St. Mary's Berkeley (NCS)
Marquis Morris De La Salle (NCS)
Ed Moody McClymonds (OAK)
Andre Phillips Silver Creek (CCS)

Horizontal Jumpers
Mel Gray Montgomery HS (NCS)
Nkosinza Balumbu James Logan HS (NCS)
Monte Upshaw Piedmont HS (NCS)
David Klech California HS (NCS)
Jim O'Sullivan Sir Francis Drake HS (NCS)
Tim Prince James Logan HS (NCS)
Kurt Durham Oakland HS (OAK)
Billy Hice Oakland HS (OAK)
Ken Frazier Mission HS (SF)
Chase Wheeler De La Salle HS (NCS)
Johnny Cleveland Soquel HS (CCS)
Kenny Duncan McClatchy HS (SJS)
Carl McCullough Sacramento HS (SJS)
Dusty Baker Del Campo HS (SJS)
Nate Moore Castro Valley HS (NCS)
Craig Conway Cupertino HS (NCS)

Vertical Jumpers
Noel Frazier California HS (NCS)
David Klech California HS (NCS)
Maurice Crumby Balboa HS (SF)
Teak Wilburn Chico HS (NS)
Jeff Novitsky Mills HS (CCS)
Jeff Rogers Overfelt HS (CCS)
Tim Prince James Logan HS (NCS)
Craig Conway Cupertino HS (CCS)
Kerry Myers Berkeley (NCS)

Vaulters
Scott Roth Granite Bay HS (SJS)
Scott Slover Leland HS (CCS)
Brent Burns Acalanes HS (NCS)
Nico Weiler Los Gatos HS (CCS)
Sondre Guttormsen Davis (SJS)

Throwers
Ralph Rose Healdsburg HS
Bruce and Steve Wilhelm Fremont HS (CCS)
Sam Cavallaro James Logan HS (NCS)
Dave Porath Atwater HS (SJS)
Chris Adams Los Altos (CCS)
Rolin Luka Ygnacio Valley (NCS)
Dennis DeSoto Santa Rosa (NCS)
Mike Lewis Lincoln (SFS)
Lucas MacKay Hughson (SJS)

Relay Teams
El Cerrito 400 relay team 1971
Berkeley 400 relay team 1981
De La Salle 400 relay team 2009
Castlemont 1600 relay team 1971
Berkeley 1600 relay team 1981
St. Mary's Berkeley 1600 relay team 1992
Castlemont 440 relay team 1970
North Salinas 1600 relay team 1993

Girls
Sprinters
Jeneba Tarmoh Mt. Pleasant HS (CCS)
Sani Roseby Monterey HS (CCS)
Ashton Purvis St. Elizabeth HS (NCS)
Angelique Smith James Logan HS (NCS)
Chizoba Okodogbe Deer Valley HS (NCS)
Lilla McMillan Tamalpais HS (NCS)
Evelyn Ashford Roesville HS (SJS)
Kathy Hammond HS?
Maria Mulder HS?
Jernae Wright James Logan HS (NCS)
Aisha Margain Berkeley HS (NCS)
Kristina Davis James Logan HS (NCS)
Sharon Ware Berkeley HS (NCS)
Carla Estes James Logan HS (NCS)
Kelli White James Logan HS (NCS)
Freida Cobbs Berkeley HS (NCS)
Tania Woods Skyline HS (OAK)

Mid-Distance Runners
Lindsay Hyatt Placer HS (SJS)
Ann Regan Camden HS (CCS)
Kathy Costello Pleasant Hill HS (NCS)
Jessica Spies Livermore HS (NCS)
Becky Spies Livermore HS (NCS)
Francie Larrieu Fremont HS (CCS)
Nicole Teter West Valley HS (NS)
Marie Mulder Encina HS (SJS)
Dominique Jackson Fairfield HS (SJS)
Marilyn Davis Miramonte HS (NCS)
Miesha Marzell Bishop O'Dowd (NCS)
Angie Milner Modesto (SJS)

Distance Runners
Julia Stamps Santa Rosa HS (NCS)
Sara Bei Montgomery HS (NCS)
Amber Trotter Ukiah HS (NCS)
Alicia Follmar Saratoga HS (CCS)
Laurie Chapman Gunderson HS (CCS)
Alejandra Barrientos San Lorenzo Valley HS (CCS)
Francie Larrieu Fremont HS (CCS)
Becky Spies Livermore HS (NCS)
Corey Shubert Del Mar HS (CCS)
Nikki Hiltz Aptos HS (CCS)
Shannon Rowbury Sacred Heart Cathedral HS (CCS)
Anna Maxwell San Lorenzo Valley HS (CCS)
Diana George Livermore HS (NCS)
Carrie Verdon Campolindo HS (NCS)
Kristen Gordon Carandolet HS (NCS)
Laurynne Chetelat Davis HS (SJS)
Cheri Williams Livermore HS (NCS)
Lindsay Allen College Park HS (NCS)
Tori Tyler Gunn HS (CCS)
Jenny Aldridge Maria Carrillo HS (NCS)
Clara Horowitz Head Royce School (NCS)
Marissa Ferrante Aptos HS (CCS)
Taylor Johnson San Lorenzo Valley HS (CCS)
Elissa Riedy Mission San Jose HS (NCS)
Alex Kosinski Oak Ridge HS (SJS)
Joni Mooney Vacaville HS (SJS)
Jacque Taylor Casa Grande HS (NCS)
Eileen Claugus Rio Americano HS (SJS)
Heike Skaden Encina HS (SJS)
Fiona O'Keeffe Davis (SJS)

Hurdlers
Thandi Stewart James Logan HS (NCS)
Vashti Thomas Mt. Pleasant HS (CCS)
Leslie Maxie Mills HS (CCS)
Natasha Neal James Logan HS (NCS)
Trinity Wilson St. Mary's Berkeley (NCS)
Talia Stewart James Logan HS (NCS)
Daje Pugh Fairfield HS (SJS)
Keri Sanchez Santa Teresa HS (CCS)
Tierra Ward James Logan HS (NCS)
Angela Harris Skyline HS (OAK)
Ryan Peters Skyline HS (OAK)

Jumpers
Wendy Brown Woodside HS (CCS)
Alitta Boyd Moreau Catholic HS (NCS)
Jernae Wright James Logan HS (NCS)
Brittany Daniels Merrill West HS (SJS)
Deontee Kaye James Logan HS (NCS)
Ke'Nyia Richardson Holy Names HS (NCS)
Ciarra Brewer James Logan HS (NCS)
Vashti Thomas Mt. Pleasant HS (CCS)
Tracey Stewart James Logan HS (NCS)
Jamesha Youngblood Hercules HS (NCS)
Ashley Lodree El Cerrito HS (NCS)
Briana Stewart James Logan HS (NCS)

Vaulters
Tori Anthony Castilleja (CCS)
Cimran Verdi Las Lomas HS (NCS)
Greta Wagner Los Gatos (CCS)
Taylor Jaques Presentation (CCS)

Throwers
Julie Dufresne Harbor HS (CCS)
Jere Summers Berkeley HS (NCS)
Suzy Powell Downey HS (SJS)
Jill Camarena Woodland HS (SJS)
Melissa Reis James Logan HS (NCS)
Chaniqua Ross Laguna Creek HS (SJS)
Kristen Heaston Ygnacio Valley HS (NCS)
Elena Bruckner Valley Christian SJ (CCS)
Hannah Chappell Oakdale (SJS)

Relay Teams
James Logan HS 400 Relay 1995, '96, '97, 2004, '06
James Logan HS 1600 Relay 2004
James Logan HS 1600 Relay 1996
Piedmont Hills HS 1600 Relay 2013, 2014
Vacaville Shuttle Hurdles Team 2014
Mt. Pleasant 400 Relay 2007
San Lorenzo Valley  DMR 20

Bob Rush's 90th birthday celebration

The following note was sent by Dave Shrock. For those of you that might not know, Bob Rush is one of the designers of the Crystal Springs course and for decades, Bob tirelessly took care of the course so that runners to this day get to race on one of the most historic courses in the United States. Please pass the following note along to others who might be interested in helping celebrate Bob's birthday.

Bob, for his 90th birthday, is planning on running (runoggn as he calls it) across the Crystal Springs XC course finish line for his 90th birthday on Wednesday, 4 June at 12:00noon.

You and everyone else are invited to this occasion, with perhaps a meal afterwards somewhere...an informal affair.

He is also looking forward to heading up to CSM who is hosting the JC State Championships on Saturday, 17 May.  

Please pass along the 4 June event details to allow those whom you think would be interested, and hope to see many of you at the course on 4 June!

Dave Shrock

SM Daily Journal Athletes of the Week

Two Woodside athletes having stellar Track and Field seasons. You can check out the article at this LINK.

NorCal Track and Field Results

CCS Top 8 Meet results
https://www.athletic.net/TrackAndField/meet/572917/results

Videos: https://www.youtube.com/@dutchessofmilpitas/videos

Photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/malcolmslaney/collections/72157723711416289/

Viking Classic results

https://redwoodempirerunning.com/2025-girls-viking-classic/

https://redwoodempirerunning.com/2025-boys-viking-classic/

https://www.athletic.net/TrackAndField/meet/571012/results/all

Granada Distance and Sprint Carnival 
https://diablotiming.com/results/2025-04-19/

Halden Invitational
https://www.athletic.net/TrackAndField/meet/568960/results

Also, Mt. SAC Invitational results for any NorCal teams that competed there this weekend

TBA

Most impressive performances this past weekend?

Viking Classic preview

Thanks to Jim Crowhurst, here is a preview for tomorrow's Viking Classic at Montgomery HS. The featured race will be the girls' 800 that will include Montgomery's Hanne Thomsen, Cardinal Newman's Ashlin Mallon and Technology's Josie Hill.

You can find the preview at this LINK.

Arcadia Invitational Results

https://rt.trackscoreboard.com/meets/41125/events

As always, the Arcadia Invitational does not disappoint. Most memorable moments for me were the boys 400 relay, CA record 40.00, boys 800, huge negative split for 1:47.66, Jane Hedegren's national record in the 2 mile and Owen Powell's win against a stellar field in the 3200.

What was your lasting moment?

Stanford Invitational

Results
https://rt.trackscoreboard.com/meets/4425/events

Photos
https://www.flickr.com/photos/malcolmslaney/collections/72157723674888301/

Second-generation competitors for Redwood Empire
https://redwoodempirerunning.com/mother-daughter-prep-800-meter-record/

First impression from two day meet? Most impressive results? Surprises?

West Coast XC podcast and Stanford Invitational preview

 

 

Stanford Invitational Preview

I will post a Stanford Invitational preview by Friday. In the meantime, please feel free to chime into what events you are most looking forward to watching and/or participating in? What is the most loaded event? What meet records are in danger?
https://gostanford.com/news/2017/08/08/stanford-invitational-records

For now, here are all the accepted individuals and teams:
https://www.rtspt.com/events/stanford/invite25/hs_accepted.htm

Here is the final meet schedule (Updated!)
https://gostanford.com/documents/20b54ed6-4b1d-415f-a15e-5d7de200e46d.pdf

Norcal Invitational Results

Lynbrook Invitational results
https://lynbrooksports.prepcaltrack.com/ATHLETICS/TRACK/2025/lyn-inv.htm

Bay Area Relays results
https://ca.milesplit.com/meets/638335-bay-area-relays-2025/results

52nd Avis Kelley Invitational results
https://ca.milesplit.com/meets/654305-52nd-avis-kelley-invitational-2025/results

Thunder Invitational
https://timerhub.com/get_web_index.php?page=redcaptiming.com/2025/thunder/

Stanford Invitational High School accepted entries posted

https://www.rtspt.com/events/stanford/invite25/hs_accepted.htm

Most competitive race/event? 

Dublin Distance Fiesta Photos

You can find more photos at the link below.

https://santacruzjohnleephotography.pixieset.com/20250322dublindistancefiesta/

Dublin Distance Fiesta Review

Results: https://diablotiming.com/results/2025-03-21/results.htm

Photos thanks to West Coast XC: https://www.westcoastxc.com/photos-1

What was the most impressive performance? Biggest surprise? Who had the best kick in a sombrero race? 

Dublin Distance Fiesta Meet Preview

The 2025 Dublin Distance Fiesta (DDF) is taking place one week later than normal and it's bigger and more robust than ever before. In total, over two almost full days, diehard fans will witness a record-setting number of distance heats. In 2024, two near WORLD RECORDS were established as 333 girls dipped under the 6 minute mark in the 1600 while 567 boys dipped under the 5 minute mark in the same event.

This season, the DDF will be held on the fourth weekend of March (normally the third), and this will be the largest one to date. For comparison check out this year's numbers compared with last year.

Year	Schools	Student-Athletes	Entries	Heats
2024	196	3,775	5,519	212
2025	225	4,047	5,863	226

According to meet director and Dublin coach Chris Williams, the DDF will once again be the largest distance-only meet in the United States based on the total number of entries. As shared in a previous post, Coach Williams needs your prayers as he battles cancer. Your prayers are always appreciated and if you can kindly donate at this LINK to support him and his family, it will be greatly appreciated.

OK, now a bit of history regarding this meet for those of you attending the soon-to-be-world-famous Dublin Distance Fiesta (RIP Peter Brewer) for the first time. The meet has been held at Dublin HS since 2009 with the lone exception being the 2020 season when it was not held. Before 2009, the meet was held at Skyline HS (one year), Cal Berkeley (one year), and then multiple years at the original location, Piedmont HS. 

* * *

Aside from super fast competitive fields, the Dublin Distance Fiesta is known for its incredible efficiency. You can check this out in action, thanks to longtime Jesuit coach Walt Lange (over 50 years at Jesuit), in the following video. More on Coach Lange and his impressive team below.

Let's take a closer look at the "Sombrero" races

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Girls 4 x 800 

Meet Record - Campolindo - 9:31.93 ('24)

The defending champion Campolindo girls will be back to repeat as champions. This will be the first big meet for their team after multiple league meets. They will be challenged by Bay School, Menlo Atherton, Crystal Springs Uplands, and Branson.

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Boys 4 x 800 

Meet Record - Davis - 7:57.18 ('24)

The goal here for most teams is to break 8 minutes and if that happens, the meet record will be in danger. The Davis boys won last year and established the new standard for the meet. Host Dublin should be in the mix and are very capable of getting under the 8 minute mark. They will be challenged by Carlmont, St. Ignatius and Menlo Atherton.

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Girls 1600 

Meet Record - Riley Chamberlain (Del Oro/SJ) - 4:46.34 ('22)

For those of you interested in more DDF history, here is a bit more regarding this event. In 2015, Sonora's Cassi Land lowered the 1600 record at the DDF to 5:06.01. A year later, Miramonte's Hannah Fishlow lowered the record to 5:02.79. The first runner to lower the record under 5 minutes was Redwood's Gillian Wagner in 2017 as she raced to a 4:55.35 victory. That time held up until 2021 when Albany's Sophia Nordenholz ran 4:53.26 in the 3rd DDF that season (that's right, 3rd, thanks to COVID). In 2022, Del Oro senior Riley Chamberlain outran Montgomery's talented freshman Hanne Thomsen to set the new standard at 4:46.34. Chamberlain is now competing at BYU and was a key cog on their NCAA championship cross country team.

This Saturday, Thomsen, now a senior headed to Stanford University, will bypass this event focusing her efforts on the 800 and 3200. That leaves the field wide open with multiple runners capable of winning this event. 

The fastest personal best time belongs to Eleanor Raker of Galena, Nevada (Jason Bean/RGJ photo), who ran 4:51.81 and won last year's race in 4:54.26. Crystal Springs Uplands junior Anna Salter ran 4:53.63 at last year's CCS Top 8 meet. Other contenders include Norah Feldt of Davis (4:56.10),  Ani Stieg of Archie Williams (4:58.30 mile at St. Francis Invitational), Brenna Manion of Vista del Lago (4:57.07 at 2024 Sac MOC), Montgomery's Amrie Lacefield (4:57.44) and Ella Mogannam of Lick Wilmdering (4:58.12). A couple of wild cards are Lilly Montilla of Las Lomas and Monte Vista freshman Ava Padilla. 

Boys 1600

Meet Record - Ajani Salcido (Jesuit/SJ) 4:09.95 ('21)

If you are looking for the most competitive race of the meet, look no further than the boys' 1600m. For many years, the record at this meet was held by Novato's Erik Olson who ran 4:17.28 in 2009. In 2021, that record was smashed as Jesuit's Ajani Salcido and Amador Valley's John Lester dueled over three laps before Salcido pulled away to win in the still-standing meet record at 4:09.95.

The fastest personal record in the field belongs to Crystal Springs Uplands senior Benjamin Bouie (Tina Pretre photo above with Landon Pretre at St. Francis Invitational). He ran 4:06.92 to win last year's CCS final breaking a 50 year old record for the section championship meet. Many of the top contenders are all very familiar with each other since they are all seniors hailing from schools in the Central Coast Section. Los Gatos senior Aydon Stefanopoulos has the 2nd fastest entry time at 4:08.01. Miles Cook of Sacred Heart Cathedral just ran 4:10.01 in the mile at Nike Indoor Nationals. Eli Fitchen-Young of Santa Cruz (4:11.16) and Landon Pretre of Menlo (4:12.61) now hold the two fastest time on the Crystal Springs cross country course. There will also be four Jesuit runners (Drake Hoferer, Kyle Jakary, Matthew Ogilvie and Navin Kadel) in the field following their NXN qualifying season in the fall.

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Girls 800

Meet Record - Alyssa Brewer (California/NC) 2:08.99 ('18)

This race should be a duel between seniors Kylie Hoornaert of Prospect (2:08.48)and Hanne Thomsen of Montgomery (2:12.47). Hoornaert was the CCS champion last year and qualified for the state final where she finished in 7th place. Thomsen will be looking to sharpen her speed in her third best distance race. Senior Sabrina Zanetto of St. Francis, MV (2:10.35) has the 2nd fastest personal best in the field which she accomplished winning the CCS final as a sophomore. Monte Vista freshman Ava Padilla won the Dan Gabor Invitational 800 a few weeks ago with a season best time of 2:17.69. Los Altos junior Lily Symon ran her best time of 2:13. 88 finishing in 4th place at last year's CCS final. 

Boys 800

Meet Record - Yutaka Roberts (El Camino/CC) 1:52.34 ('22)

The meet record will be within striking distance with a couple of runners capable of dipping under that mark. Pleasant Valley senior Jackson Hein (DeAnna Turner/CAMileSplit photo) was a state finalist last year where he finished in 5th place with a new best time of 1:51.61. Jesuit sophomore Lucas Alberts has already opened up the season with a lifetime best time of 1:52.58 set while winning the Bronco Roundup Distance Carnival. Those two will be at the front looking to control the race and besting the field with a potential new meet record. A couple of other contenders include Carmel's Mack Aldi who has a best of 1:54.16 and was a state meet qualifier in 2024. Shadow Ridge, NV senior Justin Rawe has a best of 1:54.65 and an equally impressive mark in the 1600 at 4:13.50. Nevada Union senior Josh Griffin ran 1:54.18 last year and seems to be working his way back to fitness heading into this weekend.

Girls 3200

Meet Record - Hanne Thomsen (Montgomery/NC) 10:14.46 ('22)

Montgomery senior Hanne Thomsen is the class of this field and will win going away provided she races here. She is one of the most successful distance runners in California history with multiple state championships and a best of 9:55.31 in this event. 

Galena, NV senior Eleanor Raker will be doubling back from the 1600 and looking to keep Thomsen in sight. Thomsen's teammates, Seelah Kittlestrom and Amrie Lacefield were quite a trio in Cross Country the past few seasons and will be looking to potentially sweep this event. 

Boys 3200

Meet Record - Matt Strangio (Jesuit/SJ) 8:47.97 ('19)

This used to be the main event for many years at past DDF meets. This year's race might not have the same depth as previous years but it's going to be another hotly contested race. Leading the way is De La Salle senior Trey Caldwell (photo above of Trey breaking the long standing Crystal Springs course record courtesy of Sean Laughlin) who has the fastest best at 8:53.69 set at last year's state final. Sonora senior Broen Holman will be making his season debut and has a best of 8:54.21. Santa Cruz senior Eli Fitchen-Young has a best of 8:57.13 and is coming off his best cross country season to date. Los Gatos senior Aydon Stefanopoulos and Dougherty Valley senior Arrin Sagiriju are the other sub 9 minute 3200 runners in the field. Jesuit junior Isaac Abbott will also be in the mix and his dad Scott will be announcing each race over the two day event.

Girls Distance Medley Relay

Meet Record - Santa Cruz (CC) - 12:07.58 ('18)

This race will feature some of the top distance programs in Northern California. The Campolindo girls, one of the top Division III cross country programs will be looking to make a statement here. St. Francis, MV, a Division II 2nd place finisher can match talent with most of the top programs in the state. The Whitney girls finished just 3 points behind St. Francis at the cross country state finals and will be another strong team here. The Bay School in San Francisco has dropped some fast relay times in the past few seasons and should not overlooked here.

Because of COVID, this relay was not contested in 2021 and obviously in 2020 when the meet was not held at all. Here are the winning teams over the past few years.

2024 SF University 12:48.02
2023 Campolindo 12:36.04
2022 Tamalpais 12:34.83

2019 St. Francis, Sacramento 12:22.61

2018 Santa Cruz HS 12:07.58 (meet record)

2017 San Ramon Valley HS 12:23.41

2016 Monte Vista HS 12:16.21

2015 Bella Vista HS 12:14.03

2014 Las Lomas HS 12:31.29

Boys Distance Medley Relay

Meet Record - Davis (SJ) - 10:23.93 ('16)

This is always a tough event to predict as many of the fastest teams will include runners doubling back from the just concluded 3200m and other race distances. Based on their depth, the Jesuit team (photo above courtesy of Jesuit HS) should be favored and could put together two contending teams in this field. Their main competition should be a familiar one in the Bellarmine boys. Their coach, Patrick McCrystle, actually ran at Jesuit HS in his HS days and always puts together competitive relay teams. Other contenders include Foothill, St. Francis, MV and potentially two Mountain View teams who had top finishes at the just concluded St. Francis Invitational.

MEET PROGRAM LINK

Lastly, a shout-out to West Coast XC, who will be covering the meet. Here is an interview with Coach Williams regarding the Dublin Distance Fiesta which you can find HERE.