PRE-RACE INTERVIEW WITH BRYAN FERNANDEZ
Bryan Fernandez completed one of the greatest cross country seasons in Santa Barbara County history by winning a CIF State Championship on Saturday at Fresno’s Woodward Park.
The Dos Pueblos High senior beat Saugus’ AJ Yarnell to capture the Division 2 race in a time of 15 minutes, 9 seconds. Yarnell’s time was 15:10.
Fernandez, who did not lose a race all season, is the first state cross country champion in DP history. The state meet was his 11th championship of the year. He won invitationals at Seaside, Woodbridge, Clovis and Mt. SAC, the Santa Barbara County Championship, three Channel League meets, the CIF-SS Prelims and CIF-SS Finals.
Ramona’s Forrest Riley, Canyons’ Austin Goins and Orange Glen’s Andrew Tellames filled out the top-five individuals in Division 2.
In the team competition, Dos Pueblos finished a school-best fourth place. The Chargers finished behind champion Westlake, Saugus and Redondo Union. Westlake won with a team score of 84. Dos Pueblos totaled 188.
Find complete results from the Division 2 race HERE.
Max Davis was Dos Pueblos’ second fastest runner, placing 12th overall (fifth in team individuals) with a time of 15:39. Cole Smith (69th, 16:29), John Greening (74th, 16:31), and Ben York (103rd, 16:44) also scored for the Chargers. Tyler Bradford (16:52) and Andrew McGuan (16:53) rounded out the team.
“It was an incredible effort and an even more amazing finish to a fantastic season,” said DP coach Leslie Wiggins Roth.
Addi Zerrenner battled fatigue and finished in 36th place in the Division 2 girls race. Her time was 18:58.
“She felt pretty fatigued after Southern Section finals last week and, despite her desire to will herself refreshed, her body just couldn’t perform the way she wanted it to,” Roth said of the junior. “I know that this experience has taught her a lot about herself and I know it will only make her a much stronger athlete in the future.”
