Link to live results.
More State Meet stuff here.
Friday, November 27, 2009
Off to Fresno! (woohoo!)
Link to live results.
More State Meet stuff here.
Monday, November 23, 2009
Links to (Many) NCS Photos
- Girls Division 3 Race (courtesy of Eric Graham - 146 pictures)
- Girls and Boys Division 3 Races (courtesy of Margaret Gallagher / dyestat - 163 pictures)
- All Races (courtesy Joe Hartman / dyestat - 95 images)
- All Girls Races (courtesy Dave Waco / dyestat - 56 images)
- All Boys Races (courtesy Dave Waco / dyestat - 61 images)
- Girls Race (courtesy Spencer Allen / dyestat - 77 images)
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| NCS Album - Courtesy of Don Roberts (103 photos) |
Sunday, November 22, 2009
2009 NCS: Girls Repeat as Champions, Boys 8th
The Maria Carrillo Girls defended their NCS Div III title at Hayward yesterday, while the Boys finished 8th in an extremely competitive field.
Boys: were led by Gus Greenstein's 14th place finish. Gus just missed qualifying for State as an individual (he was the fastest Empire runner at the meet that failed to qualify). As expected, the team competition was very tough, and the Pumas missed finishing 4th and a trip to State by a 45 points. As it turned out, it would have taken an ideal scenario to break into the top 4 - and that was not meant to be this Saturday. As mentioned, the Div 3 race was super competitive - had the Boys raced up in the Div 2 race they would have finished 2nd and qualified for a State berth (finished ahead of D2 2nd place Santa Rosa in composite scoring).
Overall, the Boys finished the year as the 15th fastest NCS team among the 99 teams in all of the 5 divisions. Not as high as we hoped, perhaps, but a very respectable result that everyone can be proud of.
Girls: speaking of ideal sceanrios, the girls put together a very special team performance. The expected close team contest with Campolindo and Acalanes (ranked 6th and 7th in California) did not play out as all 5 of our scorers managed finishes in the top 14. MCHS won with a score of 39 to Campo's 74 and 3rd place Acalanes' 78. Seniors Lauren Curtin (2nd place) and Cara Curtin (6th place) brought home strong performances to lead the Pumas and effectively neutralized Campo's accomplished #1 and #2 runners (MCHS 8 points to Campo's 7). The 35 points winning margin was created by the performance of our #3, 4, and 5 runners: Lauren Kraus (7th), Heidi Thiele (10th), and Brenna Thigpen (14th). These 3 runners were the fastest #3,4, and 5 of any of the 76 scoring teams in all 5 divisional races on the day. In fact, Heidi and Brenna both beat the #3 runners of all 76 teams except for one (Monte Vista in the Div I race).
Given this, it is probably not surprising that the Puma Girls were the fastest of all the 76 teams on the day, and by a fairly substantial margin (interesting to note that 3 of the top 4 NCS teams were in the Div III race). Their combined team time of 93:25 was 20 seconds faster at Hayward than last years Puma squad that went on to take 3rd at State. This is also the 7th fastest team performance for any NCS girls team in the 9 years of racing at Hayward High.
Other superlatives: Lauren Kraus was the fastest freshman girl in the Div III race, and the 2nd fastest in any of the 5 divisional races. Brenna Thigpen was the 3rd fastest frosh in the D3 race, and the 8th fastest overall. Heidi Thiele was the 3rd fastest soph girl in the D3 race, and the 10th fastest overall.
This North Coast Section title was the Puma girls' 4th in the last 6 years. The years they did not win they finished 2nd (to Campolindo each time).
NEXT: California State Championships at Clovis on Saturday, November 28th. The MCHS girls are currently ranked #3 in California in D3 behind perennial Southern Section powers Corona del Mar and Orange Lutheran. These are the same two teams that finished ahead of the Pumas at State last year.
Boys: were led by Gus Greenstein's 14th place finish. Gus just missed qualifying for State as an individual (he was the fastest Empire runner at the meet that failed to qualify). As expected, the team competition was very tough, and the Pumas missed finishing 4th and a trip to State by a 45 points. As it turned out, it would have taken an ideal scenario to break into the top 4 - and that was not meant to be this Saturday. As mentioned, the Div 3 race was super competitive - had the Boys raced up in the Div 2 race they would have finished 2nd and qualified for a State berth (finished ahead of D2 2nd place Santa Rosa in composite scoring).
Overall, the Boys finished the year as the 15th fastest NCS team among the 99 teams in all of the 5 divisions. Not as high as we hoped, perhaps, but a very respectable result that everyone can be proud of.
Girls: speaking of ideal sceanrios, the girls put together a very special team performance. The expected close team contest with Campolindo and Acalanes (ranked 6th and 7th in California) did not play out as all 5 of our scorers managed finishes in the top 14. MCHS won with a score of 39 to Campo's 74 and 3rd place Acalanes' 78. Seniors Lauren Curtin (2nd place) and Cara Curtin (6th place) brought home strong performances to lead the Pumas and effectively neutralized Campo's accomplished #1 and #2 runners (MCHS 8 points to Campo's 7). The 35 points winning margin was created by the performance of our #3, 4, and 5 runners: Lauren Kraus (7th), Heidi Thiele (10th), and Brenna Thigpen (14th). These 3 runners were the fastest #3,4, and 5 of any of the 76 scoring teams in all 5 divisional races on the day. In fact, Heidi and Brenna both beat the #3 runners of all 76 teams except for one (Monte Vista in the Div I race).
Given this, it is probably not surprising that the Puma Girls were the fastest of all the 76 teams on the day, and by a fairly substantial margin (interesting to note that 3 of the top 4 NCS teams were in the Div III race). Their combined team time of 93:25 was 20 seconds faster at Hayward than last years Puma squad that went on to take 3rd at State. This is also the 7th fastest team performance for any NCS girls team in the 9 years of racing at Hayward High.
Other superlatives: Lauren Kraus was the fastest freshman girl in the Div III race, and the 2nd fastest in any of the 5 divisional races. Brenna Thigpen was the 3rd fastest frosh in the D3 race, and the 8th fastest overall. Heidi Thiele was the 3rd fastest soph girl in the D3 race, and the 10th fastest overall.
This North Coast Section title was the Puma girls' 4th in the last 6 years. The years they did not win they finished 2nd (to Campolindo each time).
NEXT: California State Championships at Clovis on Saturday, November 28th. The MCHS girls are currently ranked #3 in California in D3 behind perennial Southern Section powers Corona del Mar and Orange Lutheran. These are the same two teams that finished ahead of the Pumas at State last year.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
A Picture of Mental Toughness
There is a story behind this picture. This is Gretel Petrie in the process of winning the 2009 NBL JV race. You might notice she is carrying quite a bit of mud and dirt with her. About two-thirds through the race, Gretel was leading but then took a hard spill coming down a slick trail. She was passed and had to pick herself up and pull herself together over the last mile, but still managed to finish strong to win.
Something to think about -- in life things won't always go the way you hoped. The question is "how you will respond when things go wrong?" Let's be ready to bounce back and finish strong!
Award Banquet Reminder - NCS Logistics Updated
Friendly reminder - reservation forms and money for December 5th end of season awards banquet are due to Kristina Gunderson by November 24th. Please turn these in to Kristina or the coaches this week (and we know there are still too many of you that have not yet done this!)
Also, please note that depature times to NCS have been moved up:
- Girls Varsity Team = leaving MCHS Saturday at 6:30AM with Ruben and Greg
- Everyone Else = leaving MCHS at 7:15AM with Michael + parent drivers
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
NCS and State Meet Logistical Details
Hello MCHS XC Varsity Parents and Athletes,
Here’s what’s going on for the next few weeks in preparation for our post-season NCS and State XC Championships!
Boys Varsity roster for post season = Gus, Daniel, James, Colin, Jesse, Austin B, Harrison (alternate = Martyn)
Girls Varsity roster for post season = Lauren C, Cara C, Lauren K, Margie, Heidi, TJ, Brynna (alternates = Gretel + Sarah T.)
Saturday, 11/14/09 = Field Trip to Hayward High School :
-Leaving MCHS 1:30PM; arrive at 3PM to run the course > take group to dinner > expect to be back at MCHS 6:30-7PM (no extra drivers needed at this time)
Saturday, 11/21/09 = NCS Championships, Hayward High School (top 4 teams qualify for State Championships):
-Leaving MCHS at 6:30AM (Girls Varsity) and 7:15AM (everyone else) note change!
-Looking for a few extra drivers to help drive MCHS XC athletes/fans not running this day = reply via e-mail to Greg if you can drive + # of passenger seats you have available)
-Looking for a few extra drivers to help drive MCHS XC athletes/fans not running this day = reply via e-mail to Greg if you can drive + # of passenger seats you have available)
NCS 11/21/09 Schedule:
DIVISION II GIRLS RACE 9:00 A.M.
>> MCHS = DIVISION III GIRLS RACE 9:35 A.M.
DIVISION II BOYS RACE 10:10 A.M.
>> MCHS = DIVISION III BOYS RACE 10:40 A.M.
DIVISION IV GIRLS RACE 11:10 A.M.
DIVISION V BOYS RACE 11:45 A.M.
DIVISION I GIRLS RACE 12:15 P.M.
DIVISION IV BOYS RACE 12:50 P.M.
DIVISION V GIRLS RACE 1:20 P.M.
DIVISION I BOYS RACE 1:55 P.M.
Friday, 11/27/08 (School Holiday ):
-Leaving MCHS at 9AM > stop for light lunch en route > arrive at Woodward Park Course in Fresno by 2PM > leave Woodward Park by 4PM > check into Hotel by 4:30PM; race Saturday AM > should return to MCHS around 5PM
-Hotel details = we are staying at the Fresno Airport Holiday Inn on November 27th. Address: 5090 E Clinton Way Fresno , CA 93727 (559) 252-3611 -Parents: We have rooms for the team, but you will need to reserve your own room if you are coming to spectate. -You can call the Holiday Inn reservations line at 1 800 HOLIDAY (800) 465-4329 -If you cannot get a room, please let Greg know since he has a few "extra" rooms reserved in his name.
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Austin Bartlett - Difference Maker
In case anyone doubts us coaches when we tell them that cross country is a team sport, read the following excerpt quoted from Jim Crowhurst's notes for the 2009 NBL Meet:
Maria Carrillo's Austin Bartlett had a double impact on the team championship. A number 6 runner on a team typically has no effect on the outcome but here it was the deciding factor for two reasons. First his placing before Piner's 5th runner bumped their score from 55 to 56 causing the tie. Then ties are broken by placing of the 6th runners on a team so again his placing (ahead of Piner's 6th runner) was the deciding factor in the league finals match.
Some might say we got lucky in this situation. I would disagree - I think this just highlights one of our team's great strengths - the depth of quality athletes in our "Group 2" that bring tremendous focus and commitment to practice every day and always compete at a very high level. I just see this as another great example of "harambee!"
Great job Austin, and great job Pumas!
Great job Austin, and great job Pumas!
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