Returning CIF State Meet qualifier Addi Zerrenner opened her junior cross country season at Dos Pueblos by winning Saturday?s Gaucho Invitational at the UCSB Lagoon Course.
Zerrenner, who qualified in the State Cross Country and Track and Field Championships as a sophomore covered the 2.98-mile course in 17 minutes, 58 seconds. She was nearly a minute ahead of second-place finisher Micayla Rennick of San Luis Obispo (18:50).
Sophomore Elaine McClure finished in seventh in 19:27 and senior Haley Peterson came in 10th in 20:11.
?In a nutshell, it was a great start to the season for the girls, DP coach Leslie Wiggins Roth said. ?I’m very pleased with the way they executed our race strategy and from what I saw today we have quite a few candidates for varsity positions.
?Addi looked fantastic, very relaxed and in control and she did an especially good job in her new role as captain in encouraging the girls to work together.?
On the boys side, Joshua Ernst of San Luis Obispo took first place in 15:43. Jacob Carey of Santa Ynez (16:12) edged out Eli Flesch of Beverly Hills (16:15) for the second spot.
DP?s top finisher was Nicholas Cordeniz in 10th place in 16:51. Samuel Seibel came in 12th in 17:03.
?The top boys did not race, opting to rest some minor injuries,? Roth said. ?This gave our next level a chance to step up and get some recognition.?
The Chargers next compete at the Seaside Invitational in Ventura on Friday.
