CLOVERDALE — Runners battled 90-degree heat and each other Wednesday during a five-team Coastal Mountain Conference cross country meet at the 3-mile Asti Winery course south of Cloverdale.
Cloverdale scored against Lower Lake while Sonoma Academy scored Point Arena. Clear Lake also took part but had a conference bye.
Boys
Matt Wells of Cloverdale won on his home course in 19 minutes, 34 seconds, a full 23 seconds ahead of runner-up Jax Reiff of Sonoma Academy, who edged out teammates Graham Johnson (19:58) and Jacob Gaynor (19:59).
Neither Clear Lake or Lower Lake had a runner in the top 10 but the Cardinals” Brice Beare finished 12th in 21:45 and Lower Lake”s Ian Smith was 19th in 22:14.
Also for the Cardinals, Mike Bradley (21:56), Andy Garzoli (21:59) and Erik Hagberg (22:01) crossed the finish line in order at 15th, 16th and 17th.
“The best race of the day was Mike Bradley,” Clear Lake coach Peter Stanley said. “He”s our fifth man most of the time but today he was our second.”
Girls
Katy Lee of Sonoma Academy won the girls” race in 21:51, finishing well ahead of teammate Kiana Herold and Clear Lake”s Chloe Rojas, who tied for second at 24:18.
Clear Lake”s Andreina Guedez also cracked the top five, placing fifth in 24:45.
“Chloe”s tough, always has been,” Stanley said of Rojas” effort despite the hot weather that affected many in the field.
“Andreina was only 27 seconds behind her,” Stanley said. “She”s surprising and steady.”
JV boys
Sebastian Kochinke of Sonoma Academy won the junior varsity boys” race in 23:37.
Clear Lake”s top finishers were Travis Thorn, who was eighth in 23:30, and Cody Scully, 10th in 24:23.
Thorn and Scully have developed a prettygood rivalry, according to Stanley, who said the two have taken turns being Clear Lake”s fastest runner. Thorn now leads the back-and-forth season series 3-2.
Jose Estrada had Clear Lake”s third fastest time on Wednesday, placing 16th in 27:30.
“He ran a strong race,” Stanley said.
The Cardinals return home next Wednesday to host Willits, Rincon Valley Christian and St. Vincent in a CMC meet at Highland Springs beginning at 3:30 p.m.
