Even minus one of their top runners, Mustangs top field at Asti course
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ASTI >> The depth of the Middletown High School boys cross country team came in handy Wednesday after as the Mustangs, minus one of their top runners, still managed to land their fastest five runners in the top 15 and easily win a North Central League I meet on the 2.9-mile Asti modified sheep course just south of Cloverdale.
Middletown finished with 46 points to beat out Fort Bragg (59), Willits (70), St. Helena (77), Lower Lake (135) and Kelseyville (139). All other schools were incomplete (fewer than five runners).
“It was a struggle of a meet for us overall,” Middletown head coach Taylor Tiraterra said. “Ren Ueno is nursing a soccer injury and is out indefinitely, and Pita Cabrera was pulled from racing as she was too ill to run. She should be fine for next week.”
Boys
Even minus Ueno, the Mustangs turned in a strong showing. While Fort Bragg’s Walker Aycock (18 minutes, 20 seconds) and Johann Garcia (18:24) dominated the boys field, Middletown’s strength in numbers won the day on the team side.
Leading the Mustangs were Isael Haro, third in 19:47, and Tucker West, fourth in 20:00. Gabe Aispuro also managed a top-10 finish in the 55-run field, placing 10th in 21:26. Gerardo Rodriguez was 14th overall in 22:06 while teammate Ethan Silva was right behind in 15th place at 22:07.
Other top-10 finishers were St. Helena’s Charlie Watson (fifth in 20:16), Ravil Ramirez (sixth in 20:59) and Lucas Zuniga (seventh in 21:16). Jace Pindell of Kelseyville came in eighth in 21:23, and Nick Cramer of Willits was ninth in 21:24.
Other top finishes by Lake County boys had Lower Lake’s Daniel Zamora 16th in 22:17, Middletown’s Kai Sooy 18th in 22:19 and Lower Lake’s Emiliana Rivero 20th in 22:32. Maverick Watson of Kelseyville was 23rd in 22:57 while Ryker King of Upper Lake was 26th in 24:14.
Girls
Cloverdale’s fastest five runners finished in the top eight of the girls race as the Eagles finished with 23 points to 49 for Willits, 75 for Middletown and 79 for Kelseyville. All other teams were incomplete.
Malia McGrath of Cloverdale won individual honors in 23:56, nearly a minute ahead of runner-up Amara Willner of Willits (24:54). Frida Diaz of Cloverdale (26:06), Ruby Davies of St. Helena (26:23) and Liz Silva of Cloverdale (27:28) rounded out the top five.
Lake County’s top finisher, Charlie Hill of Middletown, ran an extra half mile after getting lost on the course and still cracked the top 10 with a ninth-place finish of 28:50.
Clear Lake’s Madison Max finished 12th overall in 30:59 and Kelseyville’s Aylin Aguilar was 15th in 32:07. Another Kelseyville runner, Aubrey Wiser, was 16th overall in 32:47, and Middletown’s Nick Lopez was 17th in 33:25.
Shayla McGrath of Lower Lake claimed 19th place in 36:15.
Schedule
Clear Lake hosts the NCL I teams next Wednesday at the Highland Springs course south of Lakeport. Action begins at 3:30 p.m.
