Sobrato sophomore runs season-best time; Bulldogs girls take
21st
Fresno – Sobrato’s Lance Wolfsmith found the right time to peak.
After sub-par performances by his standards at the Blossom Valley Athletic League and Central Coast Section championships meets, the sophomore cross country runner had his best race of the year Saturday and took ninth in Division III at the CIF State Cross Country Championships at Woodward Park.
“It’s state, so I had to give it my all,” said Wolfsmith, who ran the 3.1-mile course in a season-best time of 15 minutes, 49 seconds.
“As a sophomore, for him to be in the top-10 is incredible,” coach and father Dave Wolfsmith said. “There’s so many good guys in the top-50.”
Lance’s game plan was to run a consistent pace in the first mile, which is very fast at this course.
“If I didn’t blow up in the first mile, I knew I’d be in good shape,” Lance said.
That provided him that extra burst at the end as he passed a couple of runners on the final stretch to earn the top-10 finish.
The Sobrato girls team, racing in the state meet for the first time, struggled to a 21st place finish, but savored the experience.
“This is really good for our young girls,” Dave Wolfsmith said of the team that had no seniors among the top-seven runners.
After preparing all season for a run at the state meet in Division IV, the team learned a few weeks ago that it would be moving to Division III and likely their state chances would be eliminated.
“When coach told us we were moved up, I was devastated,” junior Abhi Devaraj said.
But the team mustered up enough to take third at CCS and qualify for state, which proved to be the ultimate accomplishment.
“They were so mentally up for CCS,” Wolfsmith said. “Now, next year, going into Division III, the sky’s the limit.”
Devaraj was the top runner for the Bulldogs on Saturday, with her time of 20:21 being good enough for 73rd.
Freshman Kendra Higgins, who had set the pace for Sobrato through most of the season, finished 91st overall at 20:41.
Sophomores Melina Silva (21:21; 120th), Kayla Nishimatsu (22:02; 135th) and Amanda Conlan (22:40; 141th) rounded out the scoring for the Bulldogs. Junior Ashley Grose (22:41; 142nd) and sophomore Amber Masoni (23:45, 151th) also ran for Sobrato.
The girls believe the experience of reaching the state meet brings more respect to the cross country program.
“I think people start respecting up even more,” Devaraj said.
Other local finishers included Gilroy’s Kathleen Miller, who took 76th in the girls Division I race with a time of 19:40 in her first state meet experience.
“I was trying to start faster but I ended up getting caught in the pack,” Miller said. “It was a tough race but it was good for the first time.”
San Benito senior Rigo Vasquez also took 76th with a time of 16:23 in the Division I boys race.
“I had a perfect start, but there were too many people running my pace,” Vasquez said. “I’m satisfied. I still got a good time for this course.”
The ‘Balers girls team, making their first state appearance, finished 19th in the Division I girls race.
Sophomore Courtney Allen paced San Benito with a time of 20:04.
“We’re just happy to be here,” girls coach Josh Morales said. “Placing in the top-10 would’ve been nice, but it was a tough day. These are the fastest runners in the state.”
