Windsor favored to capture first-ever title at cross country finals
The Windsor High School cross country team is on the verge of a first-ever league championship this week, thanks in large part to a clean varsity sweep in the regular-season finale against Analy on Oct. 31.
Windsor (5-0) easily defeated the Tigers on their 2.75-mile home Ragle Ranch Regional Park course, with the boys posting a 21-34 win, while the girls logged a 22-34 team victory.
This Friday, Nov. 9, the Jaguars can secure the North Bay League Redwood Division championship when they toe the starting line at the league finals on the classic 3.01-mile Spring Lake course in Santa Rosa. The first race is set for 2 p.m.
“Right now we’re one point ahead of Analy in both varsity boys and girls, but the winner of the league finals will get five points and three points for second place so Analy could still win,” Jag’s coach Pete Stefanisko reported. “The team will be ready no matter what to try and take the first league championship in school history.”
Senior star Lucas Chung will be among the favorites to capture an individual title at the NBL finals, as evidenced by a great effort at the Oct. 31 meet with Analy. Chung led from start to finish in posting a time of 14 minutes flat, a school record and the second-fastest time ever recorded on the course. On Saturday, Chung broke the WHS record at the Hoka Postals National 2-Mile Invitational race on the Montgomery High School track, posting a time of 9:31.96.
Other top finishers versus Analy were talented freshman Dustin Smith, who out-kicked Analy’s Alec Dierke to take second in 14:56, Hunter Larson (fourth place, 14:49), Landon McAlister (15:41) and freshman Valentino Bugica (16:40).
Leading the way for the varsity girls was freshman phenom Lilja Chung, who battled painful shin splints to win in a sizzling 17:43. Chung is considered doubtful to compete at the league finals.
Rounding out the top five varsity girl’s finishers were Erin O’Mara (third place, 18:31), Nataleigh Johnson (fourth place, 18:35), Ava Smith (sixth place, 19:47) and Jayda Pignataro (20:30).
