Catching up with Santa Cruz's Brennan Lynch...

Today we chat with the 2nd place finisher in the Division IV race from this past Saturday's CA state meet, Santa Cruz's Brennan Lynch. He shot out of the gate fast this year with an impressive victory at the Earlybird Invitational over Cody Schmidt of Redondo Union. He followed that with outstanding efforts during the rest of the invitational season and league finals. At the CCS meet in Toro Park, Brennan finished in 2nd place behind eventual state champion, Tyre Johnson of Palma.

1) How did you get started in running cross country?
My dad was always a runner, and he suggested to give cross country a shot. So I tried it out and it soon became a part of me.

2) When did you first realize that this can be a good sport for you?
I realized running was suited for me by just being in a running atmosphere.

3) When you first got started in the sport, what runners did you consider as role models (on your team or not).
My dad, My coach Greg Brock and Steve Prefontaine

4) Before this season, what did you consider your best accomplishment in xc?
Before this XC season start my best accomplishment from last year's XC season was placing 7th in state.

5) Tell us a little about your summer training and what you did differently this year than previous summers?
The main difference of this summers training from previous summers was an increase in mileage and quality.

6) What were some of your goals going into the season?
My main goal going into this cross country season was to have a lot of big PRs. I also always had placing in the top three at state in the back of my mind.

7) What was your plan going into state meet race?
My goals for state were to run smart and strong with a plan and to let the results take care of themselves.

8) How did the race unfold and where were you through the first mile? 2nd mile? 3rd mile?
The leader (Tyre) took it out in 4:40 and many followed. I tried to hold back and not go to crazy. I found myself in tenth place @ 4:52. Over the next mile I move up a few places to eigth, 15 seconds behind the leader. Between mile 2 and 3.1 I passed several others and found myself in a pack of four chasing the leader who was 10 sec. ahead. With 200 meters to go I outkicked the pack and came in 2nd, four seconds back. My time was 15:36, a 35 sec. PR from last year.

9) Favorite race? Favorite course? Favorite competitor(s)?
My favorite course is Crystal Springs. I love racing against people who are not afraid to push the pace and are competitive.

10) Looking ahead to track and field, what do you consider your best distance in track? Who are going to be your biggest challengers in terms of making the state meet in track?
I'm not sure what event I will be focusing on in track. Probably the 1600 or 3200. CCS is filled with tons of talent and I'm sure I will have many challengers. So we will have to see how it plays out.

11) What would be your best advice to a young runner who wants to take their runner to the next level?
Be dedicated, work hard, be comfortable with being uncomfortable and follow your highest aspirations.

12) Anything else you would like to add.
thank you!

Thank you very much Brennan! AJC

State Meet Leader Mile Splits

State Meet Splits
November 29, 2008
Timing By Keith Conning, Announcer
e-mail: [ mailto:conning@aol.com ]conning@aol.com
web site: theconningtower@blogspot.com



Division I Boys Race 8:32 a.m.
Distance Time Leader Grade School Section
1 mile 4:45.6 James Cameron SR Mission Viejo SS
2.1 miles 10:23.2 (5:37.6) Tyler Valdes SR Dana Hills SS
3.1 miles 15:05 (4:41) Tyler Valdes SR Dana Hills SS

Division II Boys Race 8:59 a.m.
1 mile 4:45.2 Garrett Seawell SR Woodcreek SJS
2.1 miles 10:24.8 (5:39.6) Wyatt Landrum SR Liberty NCS
3.1 miles 15:00.9 (4:36.1) Elias Gedyon SO Loyola SS

Division I Girls Race 10:29 a.m.
1 mile 5:37.3 Group of runners
2.1 miles 12:00.6 (6:23.3) Alex Dunne SR San Clemente SDS
3.1 miles 17:26.9 (5:26.3) Alex Dunne SR San Clemente SDS

Division II Girls Race 10:06 a.m.
1 mile 5:35.4 Jacque Taylor JR Casa Grande NCS
2.1 miles 12:05.7 (6:30.3) Jacque Taylor JR Casa Grande NCS
3.1 miles 17:33.5 (5:27.8) Kaylin Mahoney SO Saugus SS

Division III Boys Race 10:42 a.m.
1 mile 4:40.0 Eric Olson JR Novato NCS
2.1 miles No time
3.1 miles 15:08 Mac Fleet SR University City SDS

Division IV Girls Race 11:10 a.m.
1 mile 5:36.2 Camille Chapas FR Harvard Westlake SS
2.1 miles 12:16.8 (6:40.6) Sabrina Lopez SR Sacred Heart of Jesus SS
3.1 miles 18:09 (5:52) Sabrina Lopez SR Sacred Heart of Jesus SS

Division V Boys Race 11:45 a.m.
1 mile 4:59.7 Steven Iglehart SR Branson NCS
2.1 miles 10:55.0 (5:55.3) Steven Iglehart SR Branson NCS
3.1 miles 15:46 (4:51) Jake Jeanson SR Woodcrest Christian SS

Division III Girls Race 12:16 p.m.
1 mile 5:30.6 Hannah Valenzuela SO Apple Valley SS
2.1 miles 12:06.3 (6:35.8) Melanie Poweis JR Corona Del Mar SS
3.1 miles 17:35 (5:28) Sammy Silva SR Our Lady of Peace SDS

Division IV Boys Race 12:51 p.m.
1 mile 4:42.6 Tyre Johnson SR Palma CCS
2.1 miles 10:24.6 (5:42.0) Tyre Johnson SR Palma CCS
3.1 miles 15:32 (5:07)Tyre Johnson SR Palma CCS

Division V Girls Race 1:21 p.m.
1 mile 5:16.1 Jordan Hasay SR Mission Prep, SLO CS
2.1 miles 11:43.9 (6:27.8) Jordan Hasay SR Mission Prep, SLO CS
3.1 miles 17:17.8 (5:33.9) Jordan Hasay SR Mission Prep, SLO CS

Keith Conning
The Conning Tower
[ http://www.theconningtower.blogspot.com/ ]www.theconningtower.blogspot.com

Newspaper Coverage for Northern California State Meet Participants...

Johnston wins CIF cross country title (The Californian) NEW

Mountain View runners among best in Fresno (San Jose Mercury News)

George paces Livermore's best cross country day (Inside Bay Area)

Cross-country: Bay Area runners satisfied with seconds (SF Chronicle)

Prep cross country: Iglehart second, MA girls third as Marin runners come up big at state championships (Marin IJ)

Area runners fare well at State (Modesto Bee)

Ruegg runs Valley record in state meet (Napa Valley Register)

MacDonald, Redwood Christian are in seventh heaven at state meet (Inside Bay Area)

Santa Cruz's Lynch second at state cross country meet (San Jose Mercury News)

Casa's Taylor finishes third in Fresno (Press Democrat)
Casa Grande's Jacque Taylor finishes third in state cross country (same story, different picture)

For Maxwell, this meet tastes better (Inside Bay Area)

Liberty's Wyatt Landrum finishes 4th at CIF cross-country meet (Berryessa Sun)

Alvarez finishes 27th overall at state championships (Manteca Bulletin)
If you have any other links to stories that cover Northern California teams, please send them to albertjcaruana@gmail.com

Top 20 NorCal Teams based on Team Time...

GIRLS
1  Livermore(NCS)         (18:57.07  94:45.35)
2  Mountain View(CCS)     (19:01.96  95:09.82)
3  Oak Ridge (SJS)        (19:05.76  95:28.80)
4  Carlmont (CCS)         (19:09.45  95:47.29)
5  Maria Carrillo (NCS)   (19:13.06  96:05.34)
6  Carondelet (NCS)       (19:19.47  96:37.38)
7  Davis Sr. (SJS)        (19:27.34  97:16.74)
8  College Park (NCS)     (19:29.40  97:27.02)
9  Folsom (SJS)           (19:30.58  97:32.94)
10 Gunn (CCS)             (19:32.26  97:41.33)
11 Campolindo (NCS)       (19:32.99  97:44.95)
12 Woodcreek (SJS         (19:33.44  97:47.24)
13  Aptos (CCS)           (19:35.35  97:56.79)
14  Gilroy (CCS)          (19:36.34  98:01.74)
15  St. Ignatius (CCS)    (19:36.90  98:04.54)
16  Castro Valley (NCS)   (19:40.42  98:22.12)
17  Casa Grande (NCS)     (19:40.49  98:22.45)
18  St. Mary's (NCS)      (19:41.66  98:28.30)
19  Ponderosa (SJS)       (19:44.08  98:40.40)
20  Galt (SJS)            (19:49.21  99:06.07)

BOYS
1  Mountain View (CCS)    (15:55.02  79:35.13)
2  Campolindo (NCS)       (15:56.67  79:43.39)
3  Petaluma (NCS)         (15:58.21  79:51.06)
4  Willow Glen (CCS)      (16:12.80  81:04.03)
5  Davis Sr. (SJS)        (16:13.23  81:06.19)
6  Palo Alto (CCS)        (16:14.91  81:14.56)
7  Amador Valley (NCS)    (16:15.59  81:17.97)
8  De La Salle 9NCS)      (16:21.88  81:49.40)
9  Aptos (CCS)            (16:21.92  81:49.61)
10 Jesuit (SJS)           (16:23.14  81:55.72)
11 College Park (NCS)     (16:26.59  82:12.96)
12 Bellarmine (CCS)       (16:26.90  82:14.53)
13 Del Campo (SJS)        (16:27.27  82:16.37)
14 Carlmont (CCS)         (16:32.81  82:44.06)
15 St. Ignatius (CCS)     (16:33.36  82:46.84)
16 Gunn (CCS)             (16:33.63  82:48.19)
17 Fairfield (SJS)        (16:35.10  82:55.51)
18 Acalanes (NCS)         (16:38.54  83:12.72)
19 SF Univ Hs (NCS)       (16:39.59  83:17.95)
20 Santa Rosa (NCS)       (16:39.68  83:18.42)
*Podium teams in Red

All NorCal Girls under 19 minutes...

Runners in red finished in the top 10 in their division.

6  585 NCS Jacque Taylor        JR Casa Grande              17:40  5:42
10  240 CCS Jennifer Bergman    SR Valley Christian         17:46  5:43
13   39 CCS Justine Fedronic    SR Carlmont                 17:50  5:45 
17 1309 SJS Maria Malone        SR Folsom                   17:55  5:46 
20  681 NCS Diana George        SR Livermore                18:01  5:48
21   38 CCS Jessie Petersen     SO Carlmont                 18:01  5:48
34  576 NCS Heather Cerney      JR Carondelet               18:12  5:52
38  719 NCS Isabel Andrade      JR Petaluma                 18:15  5:53
40  560 NCS Colleen Lillig      JR California               18:16  5:53
45 1198 SJS Sarah Tusting       SR Benicia                  18:19  5:54
47  562 NCS Carrie Verdon       FR Campolindo               18:19  5:54
57  154 CCS Mary Reynolds       SR Mountain View            18:26  5:56
58  602 NCS Alycia Cridebring   JR College Park             18:26  5:56
60  862 NS  Tiffany Heflin      SO Lassen                   18:27  5:57
62 1328 SJS Brooke Holt         SO Granite Bay              18:27  5:57
65  699 NCS Theresa Devine      JR Marin Catholic           18:28  5:57
66  542 NCS Rachel Mitchell     SR American                 18:28  5:57
67  557 NCS Damajeria Dubose    SR Bishop O'dowd            18:28  5:57
72  222 CCS Rachel Hinds        SO St. Ignatius             18:31  5:58
74 1386 SJS Nicole Mendoza      SR St. Francis (sac)        18:33  5:58
76 1320 SJS Lauren Petersen     SR Galt                     18:35  5:59
78   12 CCS Marissa Ferrante    JR Aptos                    18:35  5:59
80  907 NS  Michelle Johnson    SR West Valley              18:36  6:00
82  225 CCS Katy Daly           SR St. Ignatius             18:37  6:00
88  581 NCS Kellie Houser       SR Carondelet               18:38  6:00
91   92 CCS Kathleen Miller     SR Gilroy                   18:40  6:01
92  130 CCS Stephanie Barnett   SR Leland                   18:40  6:01
94 1348 SJS Hayley Scott        JR Oak Ridge                18:40  6:01
100  156 CCS Alex Westbrook     SR Mountain View            18:44  6:02
102  684 NCS Lauren Curtin      JR Maria Carrillo           18:47  6:03
106  677 NCS Natalie Dimits     FR Livermore                18:48  6:03
111 1396 SJS Stephanie Romo     SO Woodcreek                18:51  6:04
113  682 NCS Abigail Gregg      SR Livermore                18:51  6:04
116  136 CCS Rachel Stump       SR Los Gatos                18:52  6:05
121 1393 SJS Courtney Crosta    JR Woodcreek                18:55  6:06
125  718 NCS Francesca Honey    FR Petaluma                 18:56  6:06
126  706 NCS Julie Nacouzi      SO Montgomery               18:56  6:06
127  906 NS  Corissa Storms     SO West Valley              18:56  6:06
135  203 CCS Coutrney Allen     SR San Benito               18:59  6:07

Also finished top 10 in state:
147  695 NCS Lucy McCullough    SO Marin Academy            19:02  6:08 
274  833 NS  Morgan Schell      SO Durham                   19:34  6:18 
307  744 NCS Holland Reynolds   FR San Francisco Univ Hs    19:42  6:21

All NorCal Boys under 16 minutes...

Runners in red finished in the top 10 in their division.

2  159 CCS Garrett Rowe         JR Mountain View          15:03  4:51 
7  668 NCS Wyatt Landrum        SR Liberty                15:12  4:54 
12  180 CCS Phil MacQuitty      JR Palo Alto              15:14  4:54 
15  600 NCS Nathanael Litwiller SR Clayton Valley         15:15  4:55
19 1256 SJS Matt Petersen       SR Davis Sr.              15:17  4:56 
20  717 NCS Erik Olson          JR Novato                 15:17  4:56 
32 1264 SJS Dan Mitchell        SR Del Campo              15:27  4:59
37  770 NCS Rory McLeod         SR Santa Rosa             15:30  5:00
40  724 NCS Sterling Lockert    SR Petaluma               15:31  5:00 
43  177 CCS Tyre Johnson        SR Palma                  15:32  5:00 
49 1340 SJS Chris Haworth       SR Kennedy (sac)          15:34  5:01
52 1405 SJS Garrett Seawell     SR Woodcreek              15:35  5:01
55  246 CCS Nohe Lema           SR Willow Glen            15:36  5:02
57  212 CCS Brennan Lynch       SR Santa Cruz             15:36  5:02 
58  250 CCS Daniel Filipcik     SR Woodside               15:37  5:02
60  790 NCS Dan Milechman       SO Tamalpais              15:37  5:02 
61 1323 SJS Roberto Rosas       JR Grace Davis            15:37  5:02
63   19 CCS Mitch Moriarty      JR Aptos                  15:38  5:02
64  161 CCS Parker Schuh        SO Mountain View          15:38  5:02
68 1345 SJS Kurt Ruegg          JR Napa                   15:40  5:03
70   23 CCS Rylan Hunt          SR Aptos                  15:41  5:03
71  574 NCS Robert Pulford      SR Campolindo             15:41  5:03
72  543 NCS Danny Thomas        JR Arroyo                 15:42  5:03
79  230 CCS Peter Birsinger     SR St. Ignatius           15:45  5:04
80  782 NCS Dan Maxwell         JR St. Mary's College Hs  15:45  5:04
81 1353 SJS Amjed Aboukhadijeh  JR Oak Ridge              15:46  5:05
82  572 NCS Ross Geiger         SR Campolindo             15:46  5:05
85 1298 SJS Jared Lester        JR Fairfield              15:47  5:05
88  705 NCS Mike Roderick       SR Monte Vista            15:48  5:05
96  609 NCS Jeff Bickert        SO College Park           15:51  5:06
102  559 NCS Steven Iglehart    SR Branson                15:53  5:07 
106  851 NS  Domenic D'Acquisto SO Enterprise             15:55  5:08
109  798 NCS Ben Rich           JR Washington             15:55  5:08
111  725 NCS Devin Lockert      SR Petaluma               15:56  5:08
114    2 CCS Lance Wolfsmith    SR Ann Sobrato            15:56  5:08
117  573 NCS Colby Pines        SR Campolindo             15:57  5:08
123  642 NCS Drew Callen        SR Granada                15:59  5:09
124 1331 SJS Adam Kelly-Strong  JR Jesuit                 15:59  5:09
126  105 CCS Paul Summers       JR Gunn                   15:59  5:09

Also making top 10 in state:
191  737 NCS Josh MacDonald     JR Redwood Christian      16:11  5:13 
203  755 NCS Weishen Mead       SR San Francisco Univ Hs  16:13  5:14 

Final batch of newspaper articles pre State Meet...

Liberty High's Landrum runs for more than food now (Contra Costa Times)

Petaluma boys found their missing link -- a wolverine (Press Democrat)

Teamwork at its best (San Mate Daily Journal)

Daily Review Athlete's of the Week (Contra Costa Times)

Area runners headed for state cross country championships (The Union)

Vikings runner ready for state meet (Recordnet.com)

Woodward Park Course Maps

Northern California Rankings Pre-State Meet...

Boys ...........................................................Girls
1) Mt. View CCS........................................1) Mt. View CCS
2) Campolindo NCS..................................2) Livermore NCS
3) Petaluma NCS......................................3) St. Ignatius CCS
4) Davis Sr. SJS........................................4) Maria Carrillo NCS
5) Aptos CCS.............................................5) Gunn CCS
6) Carlmont CCS.......................................6) Woodcreek SJS
7) College Park NCS.................................7) Oak Ridge SJS
8) Amador Valley NCS.............................8) Carondelet NCS
9) Bellarmine CCS.....................................9) Castro Valley NCS
10) Woodcreek SJS................................10) St. Mary's Berkeley NCS

Honorable Mention (10 teams in alphabetical order)
Castro Valley NCS........................................Aptos CCS
De La Salle NCS..........................................Campolindo NCS
Del Campo SJS...........................................College Park NCS
El Camino SJS..................................................Carlmont CCS
Gunn CCS........................................Davis Sr. SJS
Las Lomas NCS......................................Del Oro SJS
Palo Alto CCS.............................................Los Gatos CCS
Salinas CCS.................................................Monte Vista NCS
St. Ignatius CCS..........................................Ponderosa SJS
Willow Glen CCS.........................................St. Francis, Mt. View CCS

Boys' Individuals
1) Wyatt Landrum (12) Liberty NCS
2) Matt Peterson (12) Davis SJS
3) Garrett Seawell (12) Woodcreek SJS
4) Garrett Rowe (11) Mt. View CCS
5) Nohe Lema (12) Willow Glen CCS
6) Sterling Lockert (12) Petaluma NCS
7) Ian Myjer (11) Mt. View CCS
8) Robert Pulford (12) Campolindo NCS
9) Nathanael Litwiller (12) Clayton Valley NCS
10) Tyre Johnson (12) Palma CCS

On the bubble:
Steven Iglehart (12) Branson NCS
Brennan Lynch (12) Santa Cruz CCS,
Mike Roderick (12) Monte Vista NCS
Philip MacQuitty (11) Palo Alto CCS
Chris Haworth (12) Kennedy SJS
Erik Olson (11) Novato NCS

Girls' Individual
1) Jennifer Bergman (12) Valley Christian, SJ CCS
2) Jacque Taylor (11) Casa Grande NCS
3) Justine Fedronic (12) Carlmont CCS
4) Katy Daly (12) St. Ignatius CCS
5) Heather Cerney (11) Carondelet NCS
6) Colleen Lillig (11) California NCS
7) Rachel Hinds (10) St. Ignatius CCS
8) Stephanie Barnett (12) Leland CCS
9) Diana George (12) Livermore NCS
10) Isabel Andrade (11) Petaluma NCS

On the bubble:
Alycia Cridebring (11) College Park NCS
Damajeria DuBose (12) Bishop O'Dowd NCS
Marrissa Ferrante (11) Aptos CCS
Brooke Holt (10) Granite Bay SJS
Maria Malone (12) Folsom SJS
Jessie Petterson (10) Carlmont CCS
Mary Reynolds (12) Mt. View CCS

Feel free to comment on the above rankings. I thought it would be interesting to rank the teams and individuals before Saturday's state meet. I based the rankings off the performances at the section meets (CCS, SJS, NCS, NS, OAK and SF). If you feel, like I left runners and/or teams off the list, please let me know. We can compare this list to what actually happens at the state meet following this Saturday.

Best of luck to all Northern California teams and athletes.

Northern California Newspaper Coverage...

Liberty-Brentwood's gutty cross country champ (SF Chronicle)

Thunder runners prepare for state meet (Placer Herald)

Runners St. Francis, Weiss, King make state prep cross country meets (Sonoma News)

Carrillo's 'other' team does pretty well at NCS, too (Press Democrat)

SF Chronicle Athletes of the Week (Jacque Taylor and many more NCS runners)

Prep athletes of the week: Fortuna's Johnson and Ozard (Times Standard)

Around the horn (Berryessa Sun)

Time to give thanks, sports fans (Gilroy Dispatch)

More to come in the next couple of days as newspapers do their state meet previews. If you have any links, forward them to me at albertjcaruana@gmail.com and I will add them to this list.