FORT BRAGG — Lower Lake”s Jeremy Parks just missed on Wednesday, losing by a foot to Fort Bragg”s Edgar Toscano in the varsity boys” race during a Coastal Mountain Conference cross country meet at the 2.9-mile Fort Bragg course.
“Most exciting cross country race I”ve ever seen in my two seasons as coach,” Lower Lake”s Andrew Carpenter said. “It was just a wonderful finish.”
Parks trailed by a good 50 yards with about a quarter-mile to go, according to Carpenter.
“He (Parks) came down that hill and lost by an eyelash,” Carpenter said. “He was determined today. He really ran a great race.”
Toscano won in 20:34 and Parks was right behind him at 20:35.
Another exciting finish, this one for ninth place, went to Joe Riggs of Lower Lake (25:13), who edged out a Fort Bragg runner by a second. As a result, the Trojans defeated Fort Bragg 27-28 in team scoring.
Aaron Sciocchetti of Fort Bragg won the girls” race in 25:43, leading the Timberwolves to a 20-36 win over Lower Lake.
For the Trojans, Elizabeth Per-kins finished third in 28:19, Agathe Martel was fifth in 29:17, and Heather Pike was eighth in 32:15.
“That”s a great time for her,” Carpenter said of Perkins” third-place time.
In other cross country action Wednesday:
Clear Lake at St. Helena
At St. Helena, Jessica Henson of Clear Lake dominated the field during the girls” race on the 3-mile St. Helena course, winning in 23 minutes, 19 seconds. Her closest pursuer was teammate Charnee Vincent at 26:26.
“When we raced on the same course back on Oct. 8, Jessica finished second in 25:56 behind Charnee”s 25:39,” Clear Lake coach Peter Stanley said.
Three weeks later on the same course, Henson sliced more than 2 ? minutes off that time.
“She was strong and ran a real even race,” Stanley said.
Eight of the top 10 runners were from Clear Lake, including Rebecca Combs, fourth in 27:05; Christy Zucher, fifth in 27:59; and Stephanie Rasmussen, sixth in 28:08.
Joni Hansen of Clear Lake ran 9 minutes and 8 seconds faster her second time around on the St. Helena course.
“That was the best race of the year for Joni,” Stanley said.
In the varsity boys” race, the first seven runners across the finish line were from Willits, led by Sam Harrison”s 19:15.
“Willits is top-notch,” Stanley said.
Erik Hagberg of Clear Lake came in eighth in 22:01, edging out teammate Josef Hoeck, ninth in 22:03. Hagberg opened up a big lead early but Hoeck nearly caught him at the end, according to Stanley.
Three weeks ago on the same course, Hoeck ran 22:35 to Hag-berg”s 23:15.
?It was a good day for us,” Stanley said. “We ran well, so I”m happy with that.”
Cloverdale at Kelseyville
At Kelseyville, Santa Rosa Christian runners Brandon Hicks and Noelle Hosler won their respective races during a four-team meet hosted by Kelseyville. St.Vincent and Cloverdale also took part.
Hicks won the varsity boys” race in 17:28 and Hosler won the girls” race in 21:36.
Sebastian Sharp had Kelseyville”s best time in the boys” race at 20:57, good for 17th place, and Moses Kuzu was 18th in 22:16.
“Moses is really coming along, really improving,” Kelseyville coach Leslie Olson said.
Sara DeGregorio had Kelseyville”s best time in the girls” race at 28:37 (14th).
“It was a beautiful day and we had a good turnout,” Olson said. “The one thing I kept hearing from the runners was that it was hot out there and there wasn”t enough shade (on the 2.8-mile course).”
