MIDDLETOWN >> So evenly matched were the Lower Lake and Middletown girls” cross country teams on Wednesday that their head-to-head battle on the 2.9-mile Diamond D Ranch course in Middletown came down to the sixth-man tiebreaker.
“We”ve got a strong team ? and every runner counts,” Middletown coach Sarah Carlisle said.
Carlisle is right. On a day when the Mustangs were without one of their top runners, Tiyanna Meese, the Lower Lake Trojans took advantage. The two teams tied with 28 points but Katelyn Farrell”s time of 28 minutes, 44 seconds for Lower Lake provided the difference as she edged out Middletown”s sixth runner.
Lower Lake had seven runners finish in the top 13 of the girls” race, led by race winner Aleia Milano, who won in 21 minutes, 22 seconds. The freshman built a big lead early and was never seriously challenged. She finished 41 seconds again of runner-up Morgan Riley of Willits in 22:03. Middletown”s Tori Roderick turned an ankle during the race but charged ahead, placing third in 22:47. Next across the finish line were Lower Lake”s Claire Alderson in 23:52 and Natalie Jekel of Middletown in 24:38.
Mariela Soto of Clear Lake claimed seventh place in 26:14, finishing behind sixth-place finisher Michelle Williams of Middletown (24:52).
“Mariela is definitely our No. 1,” Clear Lake coach Peter Stanley said.
Soto led the Cardinals to a head-to-head win over an incomplete Willits team (fewer than five runners).
Boys
Sophomore Robert Swoboda of Willits gradually pulled away from his challengers in the varsity boys” race, winning in 17:06. The lead pack also included Middletown”s Diego Munoz (17:24) and Joe Swehla (17:25) and Lower Lake”s Everardo Chavez (17:31). Middletown”s Justin Hingston rounded out the top five in 18:20.
Middletown defeated Lower Lake 18-40 in team scoring while Willits edged out Clear Lake 26-29.
“The boys did great,” Carlisle said of another strong effort by the Mustangs, who placed five runners in the top 10 and six in the top 13.
Alex Beare of Clear Lake trailed teammate Solano Dominguez early but later passed him while finishing sixth to Dominguez”s seventh. Beare clocked in at 18:34 to 18:38 for Dominguez.
Stanley said the two continue their season-long battle for No. 1 runner honors on the team.
“Alex ran a really smart race today,” Stanley said. “I ask people to run their race. If they do, they”ll pick off people one by one and that”s what Alex did today. There is good competition between Solano and Alex.”
Middletown”s Jonny Nance (18:46) and Jake Olsen (19:14) finished eighth and 10th, respectively.
JV boys
Middletown”s James Stalker and Parker Spadaro went back and forth for the lead during the combined JV boys” and girls” race, but it was Stalker who had the better finishing kick and beat his teammate 19:49 to 19:52. The two were well ahead of the pack as third-place finisher Jermey Fredericks of Lower Lake crossed the line in 21:37.
Clear Lake”s Nick Dudley (21:50) and Sereno Dominguez (27:04) rounded out the top five.
“Nick reasserted himself today after finishing behind Sereno last week (at Highland Springs),” Stanley said. “Sereno and Nick are fighting for No. 1.”
Hunter Daily of the Cardinals placed 10th in 23:56.
“He ran a strong race,” Stanely said.
Jack Shrive came in sixth for Middletown at 23:43.
In team scoring, Middletown beat Lower Lake 21-34 while Clear Lake defeated an incomplete Willits squad.
Middletown, Lower Lake and Kelseyville join Clear Lake for a four-team meet next Wednesday at the Highland Springs course, which is just south of Lakeport. Middletown will score against Clear Lake and Kelseyville will score against Lower Lake.
