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.
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