MIDDLETOWN — While the primary goal is to nail down North Central League I championships in the varsity boys and girls divisions on Monday at the Coastal Mountain Conference Championships in Willits, the undefeated Middletown High School cross country teams will be looking to sweeten the pot at the Brooktrails course.
The CMC Championships bring together the Redwood Empire’s top small school runners, which includes not only the best the NCL I has to offer, but top runners out of the powerful NCL II, including former Kelseyville standout Andre Williams of Sonoma Academy.
Both Middletown teams go into the meet undefeated in dual meet action in the NCL I. If they take first on Monday, they’ll secure undisputed championships. If the one-loss Fort Bragg teams manage to finish first to Middletown’s second, the schools will share the league titles.
Middletown coach Don Cobb has set the bar a bit higher for his girls team, which he feels could push a strong Rincon Valley Christian team for the best score of the day.
“I think we can win it,” Cobb said.
It might be a bit tougher for the Middletown boys led by Isaac Rascon to topple RVC’s squad, which is led by the likes of Brady English, Isaac Methum, Zach Passalagna and Simon Peterson.
Williams, who spent his freshman and sophomore seasons running for Kelseyville before transferring to Sonoma Academy, is clearly the class of the field in the varsity boys division.
In the girls field, both Middletown and Rincon Valley Christian have talented and deep squads loaded with underclassmen. Brooklyn Huffman, Grace Southern, Erica Kinsel, Giana Tyrrell and Mariela Martin del Campo lead the Mustangs while Vivian Marseglia, Allie Methum, Brooke Cregan, Josie Wade and Elizabeth Chambers power the Eagles.
Coming off their regular-season finale on Wednesday at home against Clear Lake, Kelseyville and Fort Bragg, the Mustangs will train lightly on Friday in preparation for the CMC Championships on Monday.
“We’re going to do some light speed (workouts), then give them two days rest,” Cobb said.
Action on Monday in Willits begins at 1 p.m. with the junior varsity boys race. The girls follow at 1:45 p.m. and the varsity boys at 2:30 p.m.
Looking ahead on the schedule, the North Coast Section Championships take place on Nov. 17 in Hayward where Middletown’s runners will be looking to earn a spot in the CIF State Championships on Nov. 24 in Fresno, either as individuals or as a team. Monday’s meet in Willits will be a mini-preview of the Division V sectional field as Middletown’s runners will see many of the same NCL II runners in Hayward along with several other talented runners from throughout the Bay Area’s small school ranks.
