 | | | Cassidy Haskell Photos Gint Federas | | | | | | Making their first appearance at CIF State meet since 2005, the Miramonte girls team placed fifth in the D4 race at Woodward Park in Fresno on Nov. 26.
"It's been a long time coming," said head coach Brian Henderson whose team reached the State meet by winning the NCS D4 race.
"It was very satisfying and they worked their butts off," Henderson added. "It was just a very rewarding experience for them because we got done and there was just nothing but smiles and it was very cool."
Sophomore Cassidy Haskell set the tone for the Mats, running in eighth place at State while senior Hannah Fishlow (16th place) was the team's second finisher. A week earlier, Haskell coasted to an NCS win by 20 seconds.
"We knew Cassidy was going to be upfront," Henderson said. "I would have been surprised if she wouldn't have won (NCS) because there was not really anyone in that race who I think was capable of lasting the whole way with her.
At NCS, it was all about the pack for the Mats, as the top five runners - Haskell, senior Rosie Cruz, Fishlow, senior Emily Freel and senior Madison Alvarado - all placed in the top 26.
"Our four and five (runners) have really been the key all year as the team part comes into play," Henderson said. "Emily was kind of like the MVP of the day because she ran way out of her head."
The Campo girls team, which finished in sixth place in the D3 State race, arrived in Fresno fresh off its fourth consecutive NCS title.
Frontrunnering juniors Isabella Chao and Hannah Ruane turned in dominant performances on both the State and NCS stages. The duo finished sixth and ninth, respectively, at State and third and fourth at NCS.
"We've really relied on our top two girls earning low points and they didn't disappoint," head coach Chuck Woolridge said after NCS. "Hannah and Isabella ran at the front and they hung on for third and fourth place finishes behind two national-caliber athletes."
As was the case at State, the Cougars' top five finishers were all juniors at Hayward. After the NCS race, Woolridge offered praise for the squad's third and fourth runners - Jenna Miles and Jessie Foxworthy, while noting that No. 5 runner Savannah Hilton "really showed heart" to hold on for a 35th place finish.
"They did their part and got those low numbers and then we got a huge performance from Jenna Miles who finished ninth and Jessie Foxworthy who finished 19th," Woolridge said. "So, to put those two girls up in the top 20 that was a little bit unexpected."
Like the Cougars, the Dons rans in the D3 race at NCS, finishing in 18th place as a team. Senior Imani Boggan ran in 80th place, setting the pace for an Acalanes team that only had five runners in the field. Afterward, co-head coach Michael Maloney praised Boggan for her race-day performances and her leadership qualities.
"She really is more of a track standout and essentially did cross country for conditioning - track's a very different sport," Maloney said. "And consistently she was the top varisty runner for the girls this season and she was so great to have around.
"So, for someone who this isn't even her sport, she performed very well."
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Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA