Though no runners from Turlock, Pitman, Hilmar or Hughson high schools returned from Saturday’s CIF State Cross Country Championships at Fresno’s Woodward Park with hardware, they came back with unforgettable experiences, and one with extra bragging rights.
That student-athlete would be Pitman junior Avery Carlson, who finished in the highest position of all local participants with her 43rd place time of 18 minutes, 23.1 seconds in the girls’ Division 1 contest. On top of that, the time happened to be a school record in the 5000-meter run, surpassing the only other female runner to represent the Pride at the state stage, Mavleen Mann. At the 2018 state championships, Mann posted a time of 18 minutes, 37.8 seconds.
The next quickest local runner in the race of 198 was Turlock freshman Ellison Williams, who turned in a time of 18 minutes, 54.3 seconds for 65th position. Teammate, junior Maya Day finished in 100th place with a time of 19 minutes, 19.2 seconds. Senior Aubrey Webb placed 129th for the Bulldogs with a time of 19 minutes, 40.7 seconds. Sophomore Mylie Olson (166, 20:21.3), senior Lilly Edgerton (179, 20:46.4), sophomore Gretchen Nass (187, 21:09.4) and sophomore Nayeli Solis-De La Cruz (190, 21:19) rounded out the field for THS.
In the D-1 boys race, senior Theodore Santos led the way for the ‘Dogs, placing 103rd out of 197 after crossing the finish line in 16 minutes, 13.9 seconds. Junior Larson Wejmar was 1.4 seconds and four places behind. In 123rd position was senior Logan Petty with a time of 16 minute, 22.7 seconds. Junior Gabriel Avalos (134, 16:27.9), sophomore Zayn Hamilton (159, 16:54.6), senior Kevin Amador (175, 17:09) and senior Diego Perez (192, 17:31.9) were the final Bulldogs to cross the finish line.
The meet marked the first in which both Turlock varsity teams qualified in the same year.
Runners from Hughson and Hilmar were featured in the boys Division 4 race.
Hughson senior Bobby Nieto came in 71st place in the 201-man competition, finishing the course in 16 minutes, 34 seconds. Teammate, junior Alessandro Pimentel, placed 116th with a time of 17 minutes, 8.6 seconds. Sophomore Mason Hoyle placed 136th, running in 17 minutes 29.6 seconds. Exactly one second and one place behind was freshman Juan Palos. Sophomore Carlos Nava (156, 17:53), junior Richard Stites (167, 18:07.5) and sophomore Samuel Alvarado (169, 18:09.4) were the last of the Huskies to cross the finish line.
Sandwiched between Nieto and Pimentel was Hilmar senior Jeffery Mendonca and his 88th-place time of 16 minutes, 42.3 seconds. He was the lone male representative for the Yellowjackets.
In the girls’ Division 4 competition of 201 runners, Hughson’s lone female runner, junior Sophie Benham, finished ahead of all other locals (Hilmar’s girls team), with a 54th-place time of 19 minutes, 30.2 seconds. She was just 1.2 seconds faster than the 55th-place finisher, Hilmar junior Sidney Logsdon. Logsdon was followed by Sophia Lopes in 65th with a time of 19 minutes, 38.7 seconds. Teammates Carson Dickey (125, 20:56.4), Harper Dickey (138, 21:12.1), Emily Corona (141, 21:14.7), Bridget Logsdon (147, 21:38.1) and Gianna Belerique (170, 22:32.1) wrapped up the race for the ‘Jackets.
