FORT BRAGG — He really is an iron man.
Three days after participating in a half Iron Man Triathlon workout, Clear Lake High cross country runner Connor Disney conquered a reconfigured and steep Bald Hill course on Wednesday in Fort Bragg, winning by a 20-second margin in the varsity boys” race at a four-team meet.
“He should have been tired,” Clear Lake coach Peter Stanley said.
A nearby logging operation forced Fort Bragg officials to alter the course setup, according to Stanley. While the length was shortened to 2.3 miles, the steepness increased, making it a more difficult run overall.
Not that Disney seemed to mind. He won in 17 minutes, 40 seconds and enjoyed a more-than-comfortable 20-second cushion – runner-up Elias Lenhardt of Fort Bragg finished in 18 flat.
Point Arena”s Josh Riboli was third overall in 18:16 and was followed across the finish line by Robert Swoboda of Willits in 18:16 and Fort Bragg”s Isaac Villalpando in 18:24.
Fort Bragg won in team scoring with 24 points to Clear Lake”s 51 and Willits” 55. Point Arena was incomplete (fewer than five runners).
“He ran a smart race,” Stanley said of Disney. “Connor is really dedicated and intense. He wants to do well.”
Vaughn Ringer was the second Clear Lake runner to cross the finish line. He was 12th overall in 19:56.
“He”s getting stronger every race,” Stanley said.
Girls
Another race, another lopsided victory for Clear Lake”s Meghan Beare in the girls” division. She not only posted the top time — 20:17 — but also finished ahead of all the junior varsity boys, including younger brother Alex Beare, who won the JV boys” race in 20:20.
A distant second in the girls” division was Amelia Wirt of Fort Bragg at 23:21 while Clear Lake”s Amelia Tejeda was fourth in 26:33.
Fort Bragg edged out Clear Lake 27-30 in team scoring.
JV boys
Alex Beare posted a 48-second victory over Griffin Bray of Point Arena in the JV boys” race.
“It was a big surprise,” Stanley said of Beare”s lopsided victory.
Clear Lake twin brothers Nate and Cord Falkenberg finished third and fourth, respectively, with times of 21:26 and 22:58.
“Nate is one of the stories of the year as far as improving from last year,” Stanley said of the sophomore. “Cord ran amazingly well. He”s never been that close to his brother before.”
Clear Lake beat Fort Bragg in team scoring 21-35.
