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2011 CIF State Cross Country Championships (Boys Preview)
Senior Billy Gaudreau and the St. Margaret’s Tartans boys cross country team are each one win away from completing a season-long quest to once again be the standard of excellence in Division 5.
Gaudreau seeks to win his second straight individual state title while leading the Tartans to their second straight team title at the 2011 CIF State Cross Country Championships Saturday at Woodward Park.
The all-county runner enters the meet on the heels of winning his second straight CIF-SS Division 5 title, but is eagerly anticipating the opportunity to enjoy continued team success.
“We have an incredible opportunity going into the state meet,” said Gaudreau. “All of us are excited and hopeful that we can get it done.”
St. Margaret’s has been ranked No. 1 in the state in Division 5 all season and won their second straight CIF-SS team title with an overwhelming effort. In addition to Gaudreau, senior Paul Brenneman and junior Brandon Price placed in the top five to help the Tartans defeat second place Chadwick by 91 points. St. Margaret’s also had more than a four-minute advantage in team time over Chadwick.
“This is a humble group of kids that doesn’t take any competition for granted,” said Tartans co-coach Rob Lakeman. “We didn’t lose anyone from last year, so we’re experienced and know the course. I think we will come in a little more relaxed.”
Sage Hill was fifth in the sectional finals and will also compete in Division 5.
The Division 1 final will once again have a distinct county flair to it, as the South Coast League trio of Trabuco Hills, El Toro, and Dana Hills will once again renew acquaintances on the state’s biggest stage.
The Mustangs, the county’s top ranked team all season, was fourth in the CIF-SS Division 1 final. The Chargers, who edged the Dolphins by four points to place fifth, will be led by senior Kevin Durham who was third last week in a time of 14:56 and had the fastest individual time of all county runners.
“Running at the state meet is an awesome opportunity and it will be a lot of fun,” said Durham, who was fifth in last year's meet.
Marina junior Richie Soto will be the lone individual county runner in Division 1.
A talented quartet of runners will seek to win individual titles in Division 2. Godinez junior Jose Penaloza, who finished second in the CIF-SS Division 2 final (14:57), had the county’s second fastest overall time of the day and will be the first runner in school history to compete at the state meet.
“The state meet is going to be tough, but I’m looking to getting my goal and finishing in the top five,” said Penaloza.
Tesoro senior Kyler Fisk, Esperanza senior Amar Dholakia, and Valencia senior Benji Preciado also finished in the top 10 at the CIF finals and should be in contention.
Brea Olinda, which finished third at last season’s Division 3 state final, will look to better that showing Saturday as the lone county team in the race.
Also in Division 3, San Juan Hills senior Brandon Pugh (third last year) and Buena Park junior Gilbert Solorza will be on the start line as individuals.
JSerra is the lone county team that advanced to the Division 4 state final after the Lions finished sixth at the CIF-SS Division 4 finals.
