Four Cougars toed the line at Folsom High School on Saturday, Nov. 12, competing in the Sac-Joaquin Section Meet. Five runners had qualified from the sub-section meet the week before, but varsity girl runner Lauren Rodriguez was ill and was unable to run.
However, it was a successful trip for those that did run, with some personal bests and course improvements.
“Starting things off, was sophomore Katherine Romero who raced her second time in the varsity girls division,” explained head coach Michael Bower. “She finished in 23:13 and 44th place, gaining one spot on her finish the previous week.”
It was the culmination of a season of hard work, the coach added.
“Kathy overcame some personal challenges this year and it was great to see her return to the section meet and still post a time that puts her in the mix of other runners,” Bower said. “She’s excited to dedicate fully and return to some of her freshman marks.”
In the sophomore boys race, Jake Sawyer finished in 15:15 (22nd place) and Luis Verduzco in 15:39 (28th place).
“Luis caught two spots from the previous week, and both finished the season well. It was also Jake’s second time racing at sections and a 15 second course personal record,” noted Bower.
Running for Escalon in the frosh/soph girls race was freshman Madelyn Fahey. She ran 17:21, a personal best for the distance and gained seven spots from the previous week at subsections, finishing 22nd overall.
“As a true freshman, this is a great start for someone who just a few months prior, ‘didn’t like running’,” said Bower.
And overall, with five athletes qualifying and four participating in the section meet, Bower said it was a satisfying way to wrap up the campaign.
“It was a great season. While we had a smaller group go to sections this year than prior years, it was the right group,” the coach pointed out. “These kids enjoy the sport and are ready to show up every day and do the work. I enjoy seeing their growth as they learn and continue to progress as a runner and an athlete. I am excited for what the future holds for their athletic careers.”
