Runners take in a ‘magical experience’

Mike Sciacca

The Laguna Beach High cross country program has returned home from

the 2003 CIF State Meet at Woodward Park in Fresno with one top 10

finish.

Earl Towner’s girls’ team placed seventh, overall, in the Division

IV meet, placed seventh, overall.

Laguna’s boys’ team placed 14th in its Division IV race.

“This was a little lower than we had hoped,” boys’ coach Dave

Brobeck said of his squad’s 14th place finish. “Nonetheless, it was

an amazing experience just getting there. My guys really stepped it

up when it came to the important races all season.

“They earned the right to be among the state’s best. We’re already

excited about next year when the nucleus of the team returns. We will

be looking to do more damage then.”

It was the first trip back to Fresno and the CIF State Meet for a

Laguna boys’ team since the 1989 squad, of which Brobeck was a

member, captured a state championship.

Laguna’s girls’ program returned to Woodward Park for the first

time since 1985, with Towner also serving as head coach.

“We have a fun time up there,” Towner said. “It’s nice to finish

among the top 10 and finishing seventh is very gratifying and a

culmination to a great season by the girls. It was a magical

experience.”

Below are the team finishes and overall race finishes for Laguna

runners in the Division IV races:

GIRLS: 1. Kat Gordon, 19:47 (18th, overall); 2. Alex Crawley,

19:54 (27th, overall); 3. Stephanie Pearson, 20:29 (48th, overall);

4. Emma Proctor, 21:07 (72nd, overall); 5. Breanna Duplisea, 21:11

(73rd, overall); 6. Carly Lojacono, 21:18 (77th, overall); 7. Lin

Louage, 22:13 (106th, overall).

*Team time was 1:42:28.

BOYS: 1. Max Mullender, 17:14 (44th, overall); 2. Sean Fuszard,

17:39 (67th, overall); 3. Ryan Hedden, 17:43 (73rd, overall); 4.

Shawn Pfendler, 17:55 (84th, overall); 5. Grant Hofmeister, 18:00

(94th, overall); 6. Marcus Claar, 18:19 (110th, overall); 7. Shane

Riehl, 18:24 (115th, overall).

*Team time was 1:28:31.