Petaluma’s state cross country team top sports story of 2007

The town known for chickens and arm wrestling can now add cross country to its ever growing list of claims to fame. Following their 2nd straight sweep at the SCL final, the Petaluma boys also won their 2nd straight NCS Division II title and then accomplished much more at the state meet. After their 5th place finish in the previous season ('06), the majority of the team returned this year to finish 2nd behind one of the top teams in the nation, Loyola. The following week, the team traveled north to the Nike Team Nationals in Portland, Oregon (picture of team above courtesy of Bill Yungert following their race) and in the tough conditions finished an impressive fourth in the open race.

With all those accomplishments, the Petaluma Argus Courier recognized the boys' cross country team as their top sports story of 2007.

•http://www1.arguscourier.com/article/20071226/COLUMNISTS03/370719857

Will Petaluma be known as the cross country capital of the world anytime soon???

2007 All NorCal XC Teams - Boys & Girls

You can find the complete list at the link below.

Please make note that any of the listed team members can receive their certificate from the committee members provided they email Hank Lawson their mail address. You can reach Hank at the following email address:

2007 All NorCal XC Teams - Boys & Girls <---link to team members

All NorCal History

MUST HAVE running books for your library

If you are a true student of the sport of running, here are my picks for books that you must have in your own personal library so that you can have them at your disposal at any time.

I also included the last book I just finished reading, Pistol, an incredibly detailed look at the life of "Pistol" Pete Maravich, one of the greatest basketball players ever who's life ended much to early at the age of 40.




Of course there are other books that could be included so if you have a must read of your own, please add it in the comments section below.

Merry Xmas everybody!

Kenya vs. Ethiopia

In baseball, you have the Giants vs. Dodgers, the Yankees vs. the Red Sox, the Cardinals vs. the Cubs and many other bitter rivals. In basketball, it used to be the Celtics vs. the Lakers (ah the greatness that was the 80s basketball). In football, you have the Patriots vs. every other team trying to knock off the wanna be Niners :D. In distance running, there is only one true rivalry and that is Kenya vs. Ethiopia. In this documentary I found on my friend and yours, youtube.com, here is a historic look at this great rivalry. When you list the top runners in the history of distance running, many come from these two countries and that list includes Abebe Bikila, Kip Keino, Mamo Walde, Miruts Yifter, Henry Rono, Paul Tergat, Haïlé Gebresélassié, and the most dominant current runner, Kenenisa Bekele.

•Kenya vs. Ethiopia (Part 1 of 5)
•Kenya vs. Ethiopia (Part 2 of 5)
•Kenya vs. Ethiopia (Part 3 of 5)
•Kenya vs. Ethiopia (Part 4 of 5)•Kenya vs. Ethiopia (Part 5 of 5)

What other great rivalries are there or have been in distance running?

More All-League Teams in the San Mateo Daily News

The two links below have the all league members for the West Bay Athletic League (WBAL) and the Peninsula Athletic League (PAL).
•All-League girls teams for fall sports 2007
•All-League boys teams for fall sports 2007

Christmas In Hollis - Run-D.M.C. (HQ Audio)

An old school classic from one of the best rap groups ever as we head toward December 25th.

NBL and SCL All League XC Teams

From the Press Democrat
•All-league cross country teams (NBL & SCL)

The SM Daily Journal's Runners of the Year

Justine Fedronic of Carlmont and Gambileg Bor of Jefferson

•Just try to keep up (Fedronic)

•"Bor"ing his way to the top (Bor)

All Marin Cross Country Runners of the Year

•All-Marin: Lucy McCullough / Girls cross country runner of the year (MA 9th grader)

•All-Marin: Erik Olson / Boys cross country runner of the year (Novato 10th grader)

All CCS - 2007

Courtesy of Hank Lawson's website Lynbrooksports.com.

You can find the link to all the team members which includes the All CCS team, 2nd team, honorable mention, MVP and 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th grade runners of the year.

All CCS - 2007<---Link to team members

All NorCal Team will be posted next.