Talented teams descend on Fresno for the 3C2A Men's and Women's Cross Country Championships
FRESNO - “The rain in Spain falls mainly on the plain.” And probably in Fresno this weekend.
That famed song lyric from ‘My Fair Lady,’ might be the running theme of the California Community College Athletic Association Cross Country Championships at Fresno’s Woodward Park on Saturday morning, November 23.
Yep, like 2023, rain is forecasted locally before, and during, the women’s race which begins at 10 a.m. Ditto the men’s race which follows at 11 a.m. Rain is not expected to dampen the spirits of these runners because they’ve reached the ultimate goal of the season.
On the women’s side, the North and South regional winners made huge statements. Host Clovis Community College won the NorCal 50 to 116 and 117 over American River and Hartnell, two perennial powers. In fourth place, College of the Sequoias at 133, a Clovis foe from the Central Valley Conference.
It was a similar victory in the SoCal Regional. San Diego Mesa blitzed Mt. San Antonio, last year’s state champs, 54-114. Moorpark out-distanced Riverside 180-193 for third. Orange Coast and College of the Canyons were also in the mix.
NorCal individual champ, Rhiannon Walker, of Clovis leads her team and is undefeated against community college competition this year. She hopes to win a state title on her home course. An All-American in 2023, she was sixth at the state championships. Walker will be challenged by current SoCal champ Dana Ibarra Canales of Saddleback and defending state champ Alexis Noble of San Diego Mesa and Noble’s teammate, Joelle Tonne.
Meet director CJ Albertson, the Clovis Crush coach pointed out the SoCal men’s champs. “San Diego Mesa had a dominating performance with 35 points. Mt. SAC was second (93), but didn’t have their top two runners racing. San Bernardino Valley (121) and Riverside (131) will be battling for the podium along with the NorCal champions, Butte, which has a strong front three.”
Butte, led by second-place finisher Stephan Chapdelaine, beat DeAnza, 83 to 98. American River, a traditional power, like Hartnell, just missed DeAnza at 101 and Hartnell was next at 113.
“Hartnell’s Jesse Blanco (NorCal individual champ), has been running really well the second half of the season. Ian Rosen of San Diego Mesa won the SoCal championship while John Gutierrez of Allan Hancock, has had several good performances including a second-place finish at the SoCal regional,” added Albertson.
Summing up the possible race conditions Albertson was cautiously optimistic. “The course is in good condition with smooth, hard-packed dirt for most of the course. Rain could be a factor on Saturday. Light rain could make the course smoother and faster, but a forecasted hard morning rain could make the course a little muddy in sections,” he said.
Early morning Fresno area temperatures are running in the high 30s to low 40s. These are below normal. What will not be below normal are the efforts of the runners. Rain or shine or chilly air.
(Woody Wilk, CCCSIA)