STOCKTON >> Upper Lake High School”s cross country teams captured five individual medals and two team trophies on Saturday while competing in the Pacific Tiger Invitational at the Elkhorn Country Club in Stockton.
Upper Lake”s boys and girls ran in the junior varsity small school race (two miles), each finishing third. For the boys, Matt Willard came in first at 11 minutes, 56 seconds and Arthur Wilkie (12:03) was close behind in second place. Also cracking the top 10 and winning a medal was Justin Lewis, seventh overall in 12:24.
Rounding out the boys” times were Blake Noble (13:37), Rylan Robinson (15:07), Chris Johnson (15:57) and Fernando Mendoza (16:27).
“It is amazing to see three Upper Lake runners in the top 10,” Upper Lake coach Lynda Wade said. “I”m really happy with the boys” paces of 5:58, 6:02 and 6:12,” she added of Willard, Wilkie and Lewis, respectively.
Noble had the fastest freshman pace at 6:49.
“He”s getting stronger each race. If these boys can hold these paces through a 3-mile (race) we will really have something,” Wade said.
Girls
Freshman Lyndsay Wade was the first Upper Lake finisher in the girls” race at 16:64, good for 11th place overall and a medal. Mercedes DeLosSantos also medaled with a 17th-place time of 17:26. Finishing 24th and 25th, respectively, were Cristal Nieves (19:19) and Flarissa Rahmer (19:26). Molly Sivertsen came in 28th at 19:57 and Cheyenne Callaway was 32nd at 25:03.
“This was a PR (personal best) for Lyndsay on a 2-mile course,” Wade said. “She actually prefers the 3-mile races but was very excited to earn her first personal medal.”
Added Wade, “Cristal, Flarissa and Molly were really impressive with times all under 20 minutes. Cheyenne ran a great race in her own right. I am really proud and happy for all my runners.”
Upper Lake”s runners return to action Wednesday afternoon at Rancho Cotate High School in Rohnert Park.
