The Live Oak cross country teams did something different this
weekend. They traveled to Rocklin, California to compete in the
Ekiden Relays.
The Live Oak cross country teams did something different this weekend. They traveled to Rocklin, California to compete in the Ekiden Relays.
The format for this race was that five team members run varying legs over a 10-kilometer course. The distance of the legs were: 2, 1.5, 1.5, 2, and 3 kilometers, respectively. This presented the runners with a new opportunity, for instead of all starting together, at this race they would run separately, with only the final runner crossing the finish line. This also permitted many of the runners to run at distances closer to what they run in track. In so doing, the athletes were able to run faster than they normally would, since the distance of their legs was shorter. There were a dozen schools attending this inaugural event, with most coming from the Sac-Joaquin Section.
The ladies team started first, and Cobbie Jones ran the leadoff leg. Jones completed her leg in 7:23, good enough for the lead. Regina Bawdon then took over and ran 6:26 for her leg. Mattie Smith ran the next 1.5-kilometer leg. Smith ran to help out the team due to a scheduling conflict with two of the other Live Oak girls who couldn’t make this overnight trip. Smith, a sprinter in track, nevertheless ran an outstanding leg with a time of 6:42.
Lisa Herrera then took over and ran a blazing 5:29 for a 2-kilometer leg (which was shortened by the race officials to closer to 1.5 kilometers).
Cobbie Jones than came back and ran a second leg, this time of 3 kilometers in a time of 10:45. The ladies placed second overall, and all came away with smiles and medals for their efforts.
The boys ran next, and their accomplishments were just as exciting. Jonathan Kamei led off and ran 6:30 for his 2k leg, placing Live Oak in the lead. Next Orlando Lucero ran a 1.5-k leg in 4:53, as the Acorns maintained the lead. Josh Levy was the third Acorn relay member running 5:16 for his 1.5k-leg. Next up was Jesus Atanacio, who ran 6:31 for his 2k leg, which propelled Live Oak back into the battle for first.
The anchor leg was run by Billy Wong. When Wong received the exchange, Live Oak and Maria Carillo, a school from the Santa Rosa area were virtually tied for the lead. Over the ensuing three kilometers, or nearly two miles, Wong and the Maria Carillo runner battled back and forth for the lead. It came down to a sprint to the finish, and Wong was edged out by less than a half second. Although disappointed, Wong and his teammates were able to use this race as a learning experience.
A final open two-mile race followed the relay races. Varsity boys Brent Hatakeyama and Eric Matsumoto competed in the event. They competed against college, unattached, and high school runners. Hatakeyama came away with a time of 12:05, and Matsumoto was close on his heels at 12:06. Their places were sixth and seventh respectively, encouraging based on who was in the field of runners.
The Acorn boys and girls cross-country will next compete at the TCAL Championships at Toro Park near Salinas on Saturday. The first race will start at 9am, with the final one at 1:30pm.
