M’town boys place 15th at sectionals

Mustangs close out cross country season in Hayward

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HAYWARD >> Middletown High School closed out its 2024 cross country schedule in fine fashion Saturday afternoon during the North Coast Section Championships at Hayward High School.

While the Mustangs didn’t advance a runner to next week’s CIF State Championships in Fresno, the Middletown boys team, fresh off winning the North Central League I title at the Coastal Mountain Conference Championships last week in Santa Rosa, placed 15^th out of 28 teams in Division 5, its best finish ever under head coach Taylor Tiraterra.

“Best finish in years,” Tiraterra said. “Great boys team.”

In a field of 202 runners, Middletown senior Quinn Murray led the Mustangs, placing 57^th on the 3-mile course in 19 minutes, 48.6 seconds. Ben Friedland of University (San Francisco) won the race in 16:46, and it took a time of 18:08.5 to qualify for the last available at-large berth into the state meet.

Following Murray across the finish line from Middletown were Ren Ueno, 63^rd in 19:53.4; Landon Pisaro, 76^th in 20:14.7; Bryan Sanchez, 81^st in 20:16.3; Logan Ramos, 116^th in 21:41.9; Isael Haro, 124^th in 22:05.9; and Caden Gotz, 145^th in 23:30.8.

Kelseyville also had a complete team (minimum five runners) and finished 21^st.

For the Knights, Joshua Fossa led the way, finishing 94^th in 20:41.9. Jacob Parker came in 104^th in 21:03.5, Salvador Ramirez was 119^th in 21:50.4, Austin Holmes placed 144^th in 23:15.8, and Alex Fordham was 159^th in 24:11.9.

Other Kelseyville finishers were Alexander Gutierrez, 167^th in 24:33.6, and Izeah Ely, 178^th in 25:43.3.

Girls

Kelseyville had a complete team in the Division 5 girls field and finished 18^th out of 20 teams. No other Lake County team was represented.

Aylin Aguilar led the Knights with a 76^th-place finish out of a field of 142 runners, crossing the line in 25 minutes. 6.5 seconds.

Ella Mogannam of Lick Wilmerding (San Francisco) won the race in 19:11.9 while St. Helena’s Corinna Schlatter placed fourth (19:26.6) and earned an at-large berth into next weekend’s state championships in Fresno. The last available at-large berth into the state meet went to Sonoma Academy’s Elaina Bruntlett in 20:55.7.

Other Kelseyville finishers were Laney Fossa, 100^th in 26:34.7; Yuriana Montero, 103^rd in 26:57.5; Lorena Garcia-Pantaleon, 110^th in 28:21.5; Ingrid Tena, 114^th in 28:58.9; Daniella Hernandez, 124^th in 30:20.4; and Evelin Valdovinos, 133^rd in 31:46.4.