Cross country: Sailors take seventh at state

Tony Altobelli

The times were dropping faster than the temperatures at the CIF

Division II state cross country finals.

Despite times that met or exceeded Coach Eric Tweit’s predictions, the

Sailors took seventh place overall.

“All the girls ran well, but the team times were a lot faster than I

expected,” Tweit said. “I figured the team time we posted would be good

enough for a top-five finish.”

Senior Amber Steen, the two-time CIF Southern Section Division II

champion, placed fifth with a time of 17:50, nearly 35 seconds better

than her time last year.

“Amber ran very well, but this is a very deep division,” Tweit said.

“It was a very speedy course today.”

Five of the Sailor runners placed in the upper-half of the 202-person

field.

Freshman Lauren Paul and senior Sonya Mechkor finished 63rd and 64th,

respecitively with an identical time of 19:37. Senior Erin Freidman was

71st with a 19:42, while senior Lynn Rinek placed 99th with a 20:16.