The high school cross-country season officially got under way
for the Greyhounds last Friday at the annual Rancho Cotate
Invitational meet held in Rohnert Park.
The meet, contested on a relatively flat, 2.75-mile course under
nearly ideal racing conditions, led to some very fast times. In
all, some 15 schools were represented, including five in the Sonoma
County League, showcasing many of the area¹s best runners. Races
were held for both JV and varsity boys and girls.
Healdsburg sent a total of nine runners to the starting line,
led by emerging junior talent Sarah Sumpter, who turned in a
tremendous second-place effort in a speedy 16:43. Sumpter¹s time
was the 11th fastest ever recorded for a female on the course. Only
Casa Grande freshman phenom Jacque Taylor was faster on Friday,
winning the varsity girl¹s race in 16:22. Her time represented the
seventh fastest time ever for a female.
³Sarah trained hard all summer, beginning with the Fitch
Mountain Footrace and also did well in the Kenwood 10K on July 4,²
said Healdsburg coach John Linker, who is assisted by Mike Ephram.
³She loves to run and is really motivated this year.²
The ³Running Dogs² had two starters in the varsity boy¹s race,
junior Vojta Ripa, who finished in 16:19 to grab a top 30 spot, and
fellow junior Kelson Wann, who finished in 18:17. Other Healdsburg
finishers in the JV races were: sophomore Cassidy Reich (20:23),
sophomore Ross Quacchia (30th-18:34) and freshmen Ryan Harrell
(32nd-18:40), Kyle O¹Reilly (41st-19:11), Ryan Powers (62nd-19:56)
and Collin Hart (74th- 20:44).
Hounds looking for more runners
The Healdsburg cross-country team has only 12 kids on the
current roster, but hopes to get at least 10 more in the coming
weeks. Any potential HHS athletes interested in coming out for the
cross-country team are strongly encouraged to do so.
³The late start to the school year has hurt us a little in terms
of numbers, so we¹re taking a wait and see approach right now,²
said Linker. ³With only one senior, we¹ll probably have a very
young, rebuilding team, but the kids that have come out are all
great and working hard.²
Scheduling notes: The Hoot Owl Winery will serve as the team¹s
home course again this season, with home league meets scheduled for
Oct. 11 (vs. Casa Grande/El Molino), and on Oct. 25 (vs.
Sonoma/Analy). Next up for the cross-country team this month is the
Viking Invitational meet at Spring Lake in Santa Rosa on Saturday,
Sept. 16, followed by the Stanford Invitational meet in Palo Alto
on Sept. 30.
