Former Driller Zachary Holt Qualifies for Nationals

Men's Cross Country Win Their Sixth California Pacific Conference Championship

In only his third year of cross country running, former Driller Zachary Holt cane in 6th overall to help his team qualify for the NAIA National Championships. Holt was planning on attending Bakersfield College this fall but his plans changed.

After he finished his senior track season for BHS, he decided to train for a marathon with the Bakersfield Distance Project and began the difficult task of working as a lifeguard and training for a marathon in Bakersfield's awful summer time heat and air quality.

The marathon he picked for his first race was the San Francisco marathon in late July. I expected him to break three hours if he ran smart but as I sat at my computer that morning following the race, I could not believe the performance he was having. In the end he ran 2:45 and came in 15th overall.

Besides myself, others took notice of his great race. One in particular was the cross country coach from Holy Names who ended up signing Holt to run for his team. Zach is the first local cross country runner to qualify for a national college cross country championship in recent memory.

Redding, CA - The Hawks traveled to Simpson University, the site of this years' cross country championships. Going in to the race the Hawks were confident enough to compete, and compete they did, winning their sixth California Pacific Conference Championship.

For the Hawks it was senior Juan Gomez who won the race with a time of 27:34 at a pace of 5 minutes 22 seconds per mile. The senior has had a standout season and will lead his team to Nationals for only the third time in program history.

The Hawks placed five runners in the top 10. Those Hawks were, sophomore Adrian Luna placed 3rd with a time of 28:28 (5:44 pace), freshman Zachary Holt placed 6th with a time 29:17 (5:54 pace), and junior Juan Monje placed 7th and ran with a time of 29:37 (5:58 pace).

Nationals will be held in Vancouver, Washington on the Fort Vancouver Historical Site. Nationals begin on November 21, 2009. For more information please visit the following link for more information.

http://naia.cstv.com/genrel/2009MWXCChampionships.html

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.

Top Ten Men at Rock to Pier 09

Overall Male Winners
Place	Name	City	Bib No	Age	Overall	Time	Pace	Time Back
1	Billy Nelson	Springfield OR	785	24	1	30:20	5:03/M
2	Brian Medigovich		813	21	2	30:28	5:05/M	00:08
3	Jameson Mora		892	25	3	30:48	5:08/M	00:28
4	Ryan Lucker	Bakersfield CA	776	22	4	32:43	5:27/M	02:23
5	Johnny Sanchez	Fresno CA	647	16	5	32:48	5:28/M	02:28
6	Ernesto Rojas	Fresno CA	645	23	6	33:31	5:35/M	03:11
7	Oscar Fuentes	Bakersfield CA	497	19	7	33:53	5:39/M	03:33
8	Nick Cramer	Tucson AZ	784	24	8	33:56	5:39/M	03:36
9	Andrew Ariey	Bakersfield CA	795	18	9	34:15	5:43/M	03:55
10	Zach Holt	Bakersfield CA	380	17	10	34:17	5:43/M	03:57

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