Lady Warriors second at league cross country meet

Joe Naiman

Village News Reporter

Fallbrook High School's girls placed second at the Valley League cross country championship meet Nov. 3 at Kit Carson Park, and five Warriors earned all-league recognition.

Cross country team scores are derived from the positions of a school's first five finishers; the sixth and seventh runners are not scored but can add points to opponents' scores. The Mission Hills girls had the winning score of 36 points; Fallbrook was second with 62 points; San Pasqual had the third-place total of 64 points; Ramona had 96 points; Escondido obtained 112 points for fifth, and Valley Center accumulated 124 points.

"I think it was good for the girls," said Fallbrook co-coach Ana Nabor. "I'm just excited."

The formula for the Valley League team cross country league championship gives 25% for positions at each of the two league cluster meets and the other 50% for the positions at the league championship meet. Fallbrook was second behind Mission Hills both at the first league cluster meet Sept. 30 at Kit Carson Park and at the second league cluster meet Oct. 14 at Guajome Park.

"It was kind of nice to stay consistent," said Fallbrook co-coach Ciera Holland.

In the first league cluster meet, Mission Hills accumulated 51 points and Fallbrook had 62 points. In the second league cluster, Mission Hills won with 38 points and Fallbrook's score was 45 points. "We fought hard against them," said Fallbrook junior Abby Petersen.

Petersen herself fought hard against individual runners from other schools. In the league championship meet, she placed fourth. Mission Hills senior Anne Tedrow had the winning time of 20:31.1 on the 3.05-mile course; Mission Hills junior Julia Ferreira took second at 20:39.9; San Pasqual sophomore Addison Paladino had the third-place time of 20:41.7; Petersen finished in 20:45.7, and Ramona senior Jenni Parker was fifth with a time of 21:08.1.

"It was a good race," Petersen said.

"We're proud of her," Holland said. "She gave it her all."

"She is such an incredible athlete," Nabor said. "She gives it 100%, and we are very honored to be her coaches."

"I felt like I could have done better," Petersen said. "I did good. It just wasn't my best time."

Petersen finished fourth in the first league cluster, which was also 3.05 miles, with a time of 21:03.6. Valley Center junior Natalie Allen, who did not compete in the other two league races, won the Sept. 30 race in 20:23.2. Tedrow was second; Ferreira had the third-place time of 20:59.6, and Paladino took fifth.

The Oct. 14 league cluster race was also 3.05 miles. Peterson had the winning time of 19:52.24; Tedrow was second at 19:59.78, Ferreira finished third, Paladino took fourth, and Parker placed fifth.

"She's an all-star," Nabor said of Petersen.

There are official all-league teams. The top 10 finishers in each league championship meet race receive recognition on the all-league first team while the next 10 finishers are on the all-league second team. Fourth place gave Petersen a berth on the Valley League first team.

Avery Lynas, who is also a junior, joined Petersen on the Valley League first team. Lynas placed seventh and had a time of 21:32.3.

Three Warriors were on the all-league second team. A time of 22:22.9 gave sophomore Lucia Mochel 15th place; senior Jade Boltinghouse had the 16th-place time of 22:31.8, and sophomore Cynthia Mills completed the course in 22:55.0 for the 20th and final all-league position.

Six Fallbrook girls ran at the league meet; junior Yohanna Chavez became the 40th finisher 25:46.6 after the race began.

"I'm just very proud to be a part of this team and this school. It's an honor as coaches to lead strong young ladies, athletes, to the finish line," Nabor said.