THE OFFICIAL SITE OF
Whitney High School Athletics

In virtual textbook fashion, the Whitney High cross-country boys team rolled to the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division II championship at Willow Hills Reservoir in Folsom Saturday. In a mild upset, the Wildcats girls team chased St. Francis across the finish line for the runners-up position, out-pacing Rio Americano, 68-106. “Super impressed with both our guys and girls teams, but especially the girls because nobody expected them to be in the mix this year,” said Whitney High head coach Jerry Dodge. “And to go in and convincingly grab section runner-up ... the girls were ecstatic.” Both teams will advance to state, along with the boys teams from both Rocklin and Bella Vista. These three schools have dominated Division II cross-country the past three years. BOYS The team scores were Whitney 53, Rocklin 58 and Bella Vista 90. Almost poetically, the top runners from the Broncos, Wildcats and Thunder placed 1-2-3, respectively. Whitney’s Austin Vasquez continued his torrid climb to the top with a time of 16 minutes, 3.4 seconds for second place in the 5,000-meter event. Steamrolling right behind him were Ethan Dodge (5th, 16:22.8), Bennett Woodward (6th, 16:23.6), Ajani Salcido (13th, 17:03.9) and Jason Finta (27th, 17:24.2). Josh Tajiri (17:26.6) and Brenden Jacoby (18:17.8) filled out the squad. Rocklin’s Trevor Asbury stopped the watch at 16:13.9 for third. He was followed by Shane Burton (7th, 16:26.0), Brendan Dowling (9th, 16:46.8), Jacob Polivka (16th, 17:09.5) and Daniel McElhinney (23rd, 17:20.7). Rounding out the team was Joseph Passalacqua (17:33.5) and Albert Worsham (18:04.4). “The boys cross-country teams at Whitney and Rocklin high have dueled each other and Bella Vista three years consecutively for the Division II section crown and a berth to the California State Meet,” said Dodge. Last year the Thunder won and the year before the Broncos were the frontrunners. GIRLS Whitney’s Grace Lathrop led a team determined to make it to state, clocking in at 19:55.5 for the No. 9 spot. The next six runners all came in just seconds apart. Natalie Eppler (13th, 20:15.3), Brooke Giorgi (14th, 20:16.6, Jessica Becker (15th, 20:18.2) and Elena Collier (17th, 20:22.5) filled out the top five. Right on their heels were Grace Pierce (20:32.1) and Kirsten Ransford (20:35.0). Rocklin’s Annalise Gonzales (11th, 20:13.1) just missed qualifying for state as an individual and Pearl Burton finished 26th. Only three of the top individual runners earned a berth at state. The State Meet will be held Saturday at Woodward Park in Clovis.

THE OFFICIAL SITE OF
Whitney High School Athletics

WHITNEY BOYS WIN FIRST EVER CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIP

JIM LINSDAU

Placer Herald | 11/21/2018

PHOTO CREDIT: Whitney High School Athletics