With four girls in the top-ten, the Dos Pueblos girls cross country team ran away with the County Championship on Friday at Lompoc’s River Park for their second consecutive title.
None of them could beat out San Marcos’ Danielle Gemberling, however, as the senior runner shaved 30 seconds off her personal best to win the girls individual title. Laguna Blanca’s Kevin Lunn was the male champion and beat out a career best from the Royals’ Evan Bradford to do it.
Charger girls Kelly Kosmo and Erin Campbell finished in second and third. Sophie Pollack and Sarah Jamieson also went one behind the other at seventh and eighth. The DP girls’ margin of victory over second-place San Marcos was even larger than that of the powerhouse Cabrillo boys’ defeat of the field.
“I always think it’s harder to defend the title than it is to get it the first time,” said DP coach Leslie Wiggins-Roth, whose fifth runner, Emily Foster, was in 16th place with a time of 20 minutes and 27 seconds.
Gemberling’s career mark clocked in at 18:25 to beat out Kosmo by almost 40 seconds.
“I knew she was a great runner but as a sprinter,” said San Marcos coach Lawrence Stehmeier, who has been impressed by the senior track veteran’s ability to perform on the long courses.
The Dos Pueblos boys took second behind the Conquistadores, led by sophomore Sergei Sushchikh, who came in seventh. His time of 16:03 barely beat out teammate Chris Braden, who’s ninth-best time was only a second behind.
The Santa Barbara girls, buoyed by Ana Cowgill’s 17th place finish, secured a fourth-place finish. Martin Hutchinson was the top Dons boy, completing the circuit in 17:23. Santa Barbara’s Briggs Deardorff, who won the last Channel League meet, did not race.
Cate brought a boys and girls team to Lompoc, coming in 12th and 10th, respectively. Mackenzie Walsh’s fifth-place finish was the fourth fastest Cate runner ever at that venue. Her time was 19:46.
Carpinteria High only brought a boys team, which captured a ninth-place finish.
Dos Pueblos, San Marcos and Santa Barbara will have only a few days of rest before the Channel League championships on Thursday in Ventura. The Condor League championships are Wednesday at Thacher.
(Photo courtesy of Kristen Schwalenberg)
COUNTY CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS
Boys: 1) Cabrillo 46. 2) Dos Pueblos 73. 3) Righetti 79. 4) Pioneer Valley 92. 5) Santa Maria 152. 6) San Marcos 155. 7) Lompoc 160. 8) Laguna Blanca 215. 9) Carpinteria 249. 10) Santa Barbara 268. 11) Santa Ynez 334. 12) Cate 367. 12) St. Joseph 367.
Girls: Dos Pueblos 36 2) San Marcos 66. 3) Righetti 88. 4) Santa Barbara 144. 5) St. Joseph 159. 6) Santa Ynez 178. 7) Cabrillo 190. 7) Laguna Blanca 190. 9) Lompoc 213. 10) Cate 250. 11) Pioneer Valley 252.
