Warrior girls fifth in league

Fallbrook High School’s girls cross-country team placed fifth among the six schools in the Avocado League meet November 11 at Guajome Park.

“We ran well, but we were just a little bit outmatched in a pretty tough league,” said Fallbrook head coach Troy Hamlin. “The girls ran as well as they could. They were just a little bit outclassed.”

Vista won the league meet with 39 points, Carlsbad finished second with 57 points, El Camino had 63 points, and Rancho Buena Vista had 83 points. Fallbrook had 105 points to finish ahead of Oceanside.

Rancho Buena Vista junior Ellie Keene won the league meet with a time of 14:13 on the 2.42-mile course. The top Fallbrook finisher was Briana Lopez, whose time of 15:38 was a seasonal best and gave her 15th place.

Noelle Garcia had a time of 15:54 which was worth 19th place. The top ten finishers earn first-team all-league honors while the 11th through 20th finishers are given second-team all-league recognition. Thus Lopez and Garcia both earned second-team Avocado League accolades.

Senior Amy Hansen’s time of 16:02 was a season best for the course and gave her 23rd place. Leslie Grantham also had a seasonal best with a 27th-place time of 16:13. “They ran well,” Hamlin said.

Senior Alex Nygren had a personal record at the league meet, completing the course in 16:25 to finish 28th. “It’s a good way to go out in league with a lifetime PR at Guajome Park,” Hamlin said.

Nygren completed the first mile at 6:40 before beginning to gain positions. “She ran a very, very solid second half,” Hamlin said.

Lopez, Garcia, Hansen, and Grantham all had first-mile times of 6:20, and the 47-second pack between the first five runners pleased Hamlin. “They hung together,” Hamlin said.

While the top five runners from each team are scored, a school is allowed to enter 12 runners in the league meet. Fallbrook had a field of ten runners. Cassie Mulkey, a transfer from North Carolina, finished 38th in her first California league meet with a time of 16:47. “It’s a different level of running,” Hamlin said of the difference between North Carolina competition and Avocado League competition. “She gave it her all. Very strong performance. Very strong athlete.”

Carrie Jercinovich ran her first league finals and only her second varsity race. Jercinovich had a time of 17:02 to place 40th. “I thought that she ran an outstanding effort,” Hamlin said. “It just takes some experience to get used to running that type of a race.”

Jade Lawrence finished 41st at 17:11, Madison Donaghue was 49th with a time of 18:07, and senior Lauren Edwards closed out her high school cross-country career with a 55th-place time of 18:56.

“I’m proud of the whole team. They have really been an outstanding team,” said Hamlin, noting aspects of unity, support, and sportsmanship as well as competitiveness. “It’s been fun.”