I like to give shout out once in a while to some runners who wouldn't get noticed otherwise. And one great thing about the state meet is that even as closely as I follow California racing, both track and XC, there always seems to be one or more runners do really well (under 15:45) that makes me say, "I have never even seen that name before!". It is also usually because they are not in the southern section, and aren't running many (if any) races that are speed rated by Tully.
Last year, it was Henry Braun and Olaf Dietz. Also Miles Jones had a limited number of XC results, and the Oakland qualifier was not rated, so he also appeared out of nowhere to me.
This year's winner is Cain Evans of Carlsbad, SD. He finished in 15:34. Huh?? Who the ef is that?? Well, he is a senior, but this was his first year of XC. Last year was his first year of HS track, and he only ran the 800m and 4X400 relay. He did manage a PR 1:59, but as a junior that doesn't catch attention. The only big race XC he ran was Mt. Carmel, and he finished 25th. And now 15:34 at states! Congrats big time.
Other notables that weren't notable to me before.
Skarbinksi, Isan SO College Prep 15:43.7
A really good time for a Soph regardless, but considering his 5K Freshman PR was 17:01, and his track season PRs 4:51/11:10, that is quite a progression. He was almost running last years mile PR over Woodward Park 5 months later.
Robert Ward, Granite Bay SR, and David Raigoza, Moorpark JR. Very similar advancement.
They ran 16:40/16:41 at Woodward last year respectively. Had 4:38/10:12 and 4:54/10:05 track PRs.
This year 15:39/15:43. Didn't see that coming at all. In fact I don't ever remember seeing the names before. Well done, that's a big jump.
One other runner who ran 16:41 at Woodward last year, and similar track PRs 4:37/9:50, but was a freshman last year.
Alijah Murillo SO Branham *15:14.7*
I had seen his results before, and I did notice his big performance in the section finals, but 15:14 as a soph?! That was a big surprise.
Congrats to these guys for putting in the work for big gains. Hopefully these runners can carry their much improved XC abilities over to track.