Runners get peek at NorCal Regional with competitive Toro Park Invitational

In the women's 3-mile race, the Crush had Rhiannon Walker assert herself early along with Roselyn Olivo of Hartnell as the pair had a 10-second lead prior to entering the hill loop. They were chased by College of San Mateo freshman Ericka Dorn. When Walker re-emerged from the hills, her lead had grown to over 30 seconds. The team battle had Clovis easily out front with a pack of five all in the top 20 and separated by no more than 20 seconds entering the last 1,000 meters.

 

Walker would break the tape at the finish in 18:33, an excellent performance for early October, and moved her into the top 10 all-time at Toro Park. Olivo would hold on for second in 19:26 with Dorn chasing back in 19:33, setting up an exciting Coast Conference Championship on Dorn's home course at Crystal Springs. Joselin Joya Camacho of De Anza was the next closest woman in 19:48 leading another six women under the 20-minute mark. It appears it could take sub 20-minute time to earn top-14 all-region next month. Clovis easily took the team title with 51 points, Hartnell was second with 88 points and American River College was third with 95 points, but had College of the Sequoias (104) and Diablo Valley College (107) chasing. The top three teams could see some reshuffling in the championship in a month.

 

Top 14 men's and women's finishers (Courtesy Hartnell College Athletics)

 

Butte College Stephan Chapdelaine asserted himself in the men's race early, along with teammate Mark Velazquez-Patino, as the pair towed the field through the first 1.65-mile split. They were followed by newcomer Vidal Luna of Madera College, Dylan Baptista of Chabot College, and Jesse Blanco of Hartnell College. Team scores before the hills had American River College leading with 74 points, with three runners in the top 12 overall led by freshman Cyrus Justiniani. Butte College was showing the Roadrunners have their strongest team in years as they sat second with 92 points.

 

Host Hartnell College was third with 97 points. When the field exited the hills with the final 1.6-mile loop remaining, Chapdelaine held a five-second advantage over Blanco, who had moved up three spots. Luna held steady in third for Madera. American River still led with 81 points but Hartnell had pushed ahead of Butte and was now second with 92 points. Butte was still within striking distance with 95 points. Over the last loop of the course, Chapdelaine would extend his lead and cross the line in 20:33 over the 4-mile course. That is the 15th-best mark in course history and one of the best by a freshman. Blanco would hold on for second in 20:42 and be the only other runner under 21 minutes. Vidal Luna represented new program Madera in third at 21:02, potentially giving them an all-region runner in its first year as a program.

 

Recent 14:53 5,000-meter performer Jacob Christopher was fourth in 21:05. The American River Beavers would hold their team advantage the whole four miles and take the victory with 79 points. Butte's squad was just five points behind with 84 points. Host Hartnell was third with 100 points. The 2024 Northern California Championship should see very close battles for the individual title as well as the top three teams on Nov. 8.