Despite the Heat Some Beat Their Previous Best

79 out of 204 beat their time from before despite the heat. of course some have been trying to game the system to place high in the overall standings but quite a few just let it hang all out at every run and are unconcerned about the points race.

Some improvers this week were Gabby Lerma (photo) Of Bakersfield High who came in 26th with a time of 23:15/28:37.

Future Driller Scott Van Matre ran 25:14 but exceeded his handicap so instead of getting 36th place he was moved to 80th, His brother David (Driller 08') came in 55th with a time of 19:25/29:32.

Ahead of him was Zach Holt (Driller 09') who came in 46th in a time of 17:39/29:21. Zach is going to be runing his first marathon at San Francisco on July 26th. He is shooting for a sub three performance.

Jessica Huizar of Ridgeview came in 28th in a time of 23:59/28:49 and was followed by her coach Adam Setzer who ran 21:49/28:55 for 32nd place. The Wolf Pack's biggest supporter is Robby Baker's mother Danette and she came in 53rd in a time of 33:28/29:29.

After a cross country trip with the kids and back, Kari and Jonathan managed to improve their times. Kari cam in 44th in a time of 31:37/29:20 and Jonathan came in 50th in a time of 22:39/29:26.

Showing no mercy on friends or elders was Oscar Fuentes (East High 08' - 60th in 17:58/29:40) who chased down and passed his girlfriend Lina Nunez (CSUB - 61st - 21:31/29:41)in the last yards of the race and Andrew Ariey (Driller 09' - 75th in 17:36/29:55) elbowed his way past a former Driller Joel Cardoza (76th - 21:14/29:57) in the last yards of the race too.

After Four, Things are Heating Up

The overall winner is the one who has the lowest point total for three races. So until the fourth race, there is no true leader. But now we have one and it is Brad DeWitt (photo) with a 15th, 3rd and an 80th for a total of 98 points. His score and Van Matre's would be lower but they exceed their handicap and so they were bumped down 80th.

They violated this rule:

Sandbaggers New rule: For any Runner who reaches the 20% improvement mark on any run the following will occur:
1. Regardless of your finishing place in that run, you will be considered as if you ran a 30 minute tape time and placed accordingly.
2. Your placement in that run WILL COUNT as one of your 3 scoring races for consideration in the overall Top Ten finishing. This will be enforced each time you exceed the 20% improvement mark.
3. The race directors have full discretion to enforce the rule.

Even with this penalty they are number one and three in the standings. But probably will not improve their score because of this rule. Two that do have a chance to improve and move up the rankings are Jeri Shea and myself. We are in fourth and fifth and have two low scores and a pretty high third so we could move into the top places.

But much depends on how much handicap we have left and how fast the race is. With two races left, a lot can happen and someone with only one scoring races could come out of nowhere and take the title. Last year, son and father came in first and second overall. Peter Wykoff took the title with 30 points and his dad (Johnathan) was second with 40. Awards are given out to the top ten and last year tenth was a mere 77 points.


1 Brad DeWitt 15 3 80 98
2 Lisa Manzano 50 23 33 106
3 Scott Van Matre 9 32 80 121
4 Jeri Shea 26 99 4 129
5 Paul Anderson 5 128 14 147
6 Blayne Poon 28 68 57 153
7 Noelle Combs 68 8 130 206
8 Josh Gilbert 102 89 20 211
9 David Riel 10 42 169 221
10 Danette Baker 114 56 53 223

Male 14 and Under 5k at HATM 09 was won by Elber Fuentes

Elber (Cousin of Oscar and will be a freshman at East this fall.) ran a very good time for a 13 year old over a fairly large field of 19 athletes. In fourth, was Scrivano (his three siblings have also run cross country for the Drillers) who will be running for BHS this fall and in 6th was Van Matre who will be a future Driller following in his brother David's footsteps.

Place Bib Name Age Time Behind
Class: M 5k 14 Under - 5k Male 14 and Under 5k
1 231 FUENTES, Elber 13 18:56.5 0
2 128 SAMORA, Nathan 14 20:06.0 +1:09.5
3 78 MULLEN, Troy 14 20:17.2 +1:20.7
4 227 SCRIVANO, Kevin 14 21:10.2 +2:13.7
5 83 BARTON, Derrick 14 22:28.6 +3:32.1
6 277 VAN MATRE, Scott 13 23:27.2 +4:30.7
7 175 REEVES, Derek 14 25:00.3 +6:03.8
8 307 ROUS, Charlie 8 25:40.9 +6:44.4
9 306 ROUS, Parker 9 25:42.5 +6:46.0
10 224 NEWMAN, Thomas 14 26:03.8 +7:07.3
11 240 CASTRO, Joseph 10 26:26.5 +7:30.0
12 221 GALLAND, Alex 12 29:26.6 +10:30.1
13 294 GILBERT, Josh 13 29:38.0 +10:41.5
14 260 SCOGGINS, Austin 14 29:46.0 +10:49.5
15 49 CHIVINGTON, Jacob 9 32:59.8 +14:03.3
16 200 BEY, Ryan 11 35:17.8 +16:21.3
17 328 WAVESPACK, Jack 7 39:52.1 +20:55.6
18 86 COON, Ethan 9 46:07.7 +27:11.2
19 100 COON, Parker 12 49:01.2 +30:04.7

What are the odds?

The standing for the overall points race for the BTC summer series have been posted HERE and 105 athletes have completed at least two races. Interestingly, my son (Christopher) and I are tied for 19th place with 133 points! Of course, he is 20 minutes faster then me.

Leading the points race is Brad DeWitt with 18 points (15th & 3rd), my buddy Robert Scales is in second with 30 points (6th & 24th) followed by Scott Van Matre with 41 points (9 & 32). I predicted that both Robert and Scott would place high.

Now we will have to see if the above can get one more high finish in without exceeding their handicap.

Now We Are Cooking!

You knew it was coming and by the lower turnout for the third installment of the BTC summer series, summer has arrived. The heat and summer vacations reduced the field size (about 300) and the speed of the field too.

I decided to walk the entire way and I saw many who should of followed in my footsteps. The heat really zaps many people and plays havoc with their pacing.

Race 3 - 6/30/09

• Photos HERE.
  
• Complete Race Three Results HERE.
  
• Blog on Race 3 with Photo Links HERE.
  
• Points Race Results HERE
  
• Blog on Points Race HERE.
  

Former Driller Zach Holt ran the same time as Oscar (18:18 / 27:55). Zach is training for his first marathon this month in San Francisco and will be running for BC this fall. In 22nd, was a current Driller, Emily Shuford who ran 24:17 / 28:32. Other former or current Drillers were:

• 32nd - Scott Van Matre (26:07 / 28:57) who is David's little brother and a future Driller.
• 43rd - Joel Cardoza (21:17 / 29:15) a former Driller.
  
• 50th - Chris Anderson (21:06 / 29:33), my son who will be attending UCSB this fall.
• 131st - Sarah Baker (25:46 / 31:19) who is a two time SEYL cross country champ for the Drillers.
• 134th - David Van Matre (21:14 / 31:21) who will be leaving Cal Poly SLO for his Mormon mission this fall.
• 175th - Maggie Baker (29:06 / 32:31) who is Sarah's speedy little 11 year old sister. Their mom ran 29:43 / 33:45 because the puppy would not go any faster.
• Clocking the fastest new runner time was Andrew Ariey who ran 17:40. He plans on running for Cal Poly SLO this summer with state champ Chris Schwartz.

In 24th place was Robert Scales (40:10 / 28:38) who moved into second overall in the series.

In 34th place was senior Jessica Huizar of Ridgeview whose team won a valley xc title last fall. Other Ridgeviewers were:

• 78th - Brandon Magno (So) (20:17/30:08)
• 95th - Alex Garcia (Sr) (17:52/30:29) helped his team go undefeated in duals and won an SWYL crown in 2008.
• 119th - Robby Baker (Sr) (17:37/30:59) qualified for the state meet in xc last fall. His mom, Danette came in 56th (33:59/29:41).
  
• 171st - Tino Romero (22:56/32:21) graduated this year
  

Former Blade, Oscar Fuentes came in 16th (18:18 / 27:55) while current East High harrier Camilo Mosqueda came in 57th (19:09/29:43). Other rent Blades include:

• 117th - Santiago Lazarit (19:34/30:56)
• 129th - Lucia Garcia (25:42/31:18)
  
• 129th - Sophia Garcia (26:09/31:20)

North High sophomore Kaylee Moyer came in 61st in a time of 26:43/29:53, while her teammate Adam Ralls ran 22:32/31:44 for 158th place. A former Star and retired BPD officer Steve Humphreys came out and ran his first race in a time of 34:18. Steve a few years ago was running sub three hour marathons.

The fastest time of the night was posted by former Golden Valley and BC runner Cesar Mireles who ran 16:44/29:59 which is a very good time considering the heat and the very crowded homestretch. Another speeedster was David Bacus in 17:25/29:35 and CSUBers Eddy Lee 17:45/30:29 and Ryan Lucker 17:40/30:31.

Speaking of CSUB, former Road Runner great and wife of CSUB coach Robert Boyles, Pam Boyles came in 79th in a time of 22:21/30:15. Other CSUBers included:

• 136th - Erica Silva ran 24:14/31:21
• 222nd Renee Rugnao ran 43:42/40:08 despite missing her start time.
  
• New runner Lina Nunez ran 21:50
• New runner Judith Mata ran 24:02
  

Lastly, BTC posted the best scratch times so far and Robby Baker (Ridgeview Sr) is the fastest male (16:37) and Brooklan Rosales (former Centennial, BC and Wyoming athlete) who ran 20:56.

Best Scratch Times As of Race 3

1 Robby Baker 16:37.5
2 Cesar Mireles 16:44.0
3 Ryan Lucker 17:09.0
4 Eddy Lee 17:16.0
5 Alex Garcia 17:23.0
6 David Bacus 17:25.0
7 Curtis Kelly 17:28.0
8 Roberto Quintero 17:38.0
9 Andrew Ariey 17:40.5
10 Ismael Arzola 17:49.0

1. Brooklan Rosales 20:56.0
2. Kate Patrick 21:03.0
3. Cecilia Lopez 21:17.0
4. Ashley Barton 21:33.0
5. Lori O'Lin 21:37.0
6. Lina Nunez 21:50.0
7. Pam Boyles 22:06.0
8. Connie King 22:49.0
9. Erica Silva 22:53.0 23
10. Birinder Aujla 22:54.0