Madera South High’s boys cross country team wants more

Madera South High’s boys cross country team, its expectations soaring while winning five consecutive Central Section titles in three divisions, left Saturday’s CIF State Championships at Woodward Park with mixed feelings.

The Stallions finished seventh in Division I, matching their state ranking by PrepCalTrack.com.

But they expected more.

“Obviously, we need to do something to get a little better,” coach Rich Parris said. “We’ll continue to work hard and shoot for the podium (top three). But I’m proud of them. We came into the season not even being in position for the top 10.”

Madera South was leading in team points at the mile mark of the 3.1-mile course. But the Stallions finished with 202 points and an average of 15 minutes, 57 seconds for their first five runners as favored Arcadia of the Southern Section ran away with 53 points and a 15:24 average.

Madera South was led by senior Uriel Cabanas (28th, 15:41) and junior David Garcia (30th, personal-best 15:43).

Senior Jose Herrera, nine days after capturing the section D-I gold at 15:37, was 36th at 15:48.

“I’m not happy,” he said softly. “I don’t know what happened. I felt in good shape and had run well in big races this season. But we all have bad races once in a while. I’ll really work harder to get faster in the future.”

Challenging season for Buchanan’s Brazeal

Buchanan’s Cody Brazeal, a year after placing 10th in the D-I race with a personal-record 15:27, finished 20th at 15:39.

But he left pleased, having battled a foot injury all season. The pain reduced him to two running workouts in the past two weeks as he concentrated on biking and swimming.

“It’s nothing short of a miracle to do what I just did,” said the senior and section 1,600-meter record-holder in track and field. “I think the best idea now is to shut it down, take a solid chunk of rest and then ease back into it.”

Also …

• Exeter delivered the section’s best tandem of the day in girls D-IV with senior Yesenia Silva (fifth, 18:32) and sophomore Sarah Reid (24th, 19:22) as the Monarchs placed 10th as a team. JSerra-San Juan Capistrano won its third straight title in the division.

 

• San Lorenzo Valley-Felton’s Anna Maxwell, in one of the most determined finishes seen in the 26-year history of the state meet at Woodward Park, was escorted without contact by coaches Brian Weaver of Buchanan and Rob Brenner of Clovis while taking about 5 minutes to walk the final 200 yards of the girls D-IV race. One of the division’s favorites, she finished 195th in 25:01 before laying on a trainer’s table for more than 30 minutes while overcome with exhaustion.

 

 

• Saugus-Santa Clarita won D-II girls for a state unprecedented seventh consecutive team championship.

 

 

• University-San Francisco won girls D-V, extending its state record with a 10th team title.

 

By Andy Boogaard