The C.K. McClatchy cross country team participated in four memorable events on Saturday, November 16, during the San Joaquin Section finals. Each individual had to qualify for this meet during Subsections on the previous Saturday, so the team was excited to showcase their talent. However, they were up against tough competition on the hardest course of the season, Willow Hills.
Frosh-soph girls individual qualifiers Larissa Yee and Michele Wee raced from the starting line at 9:20 a.m. After conquering the 2 mile course, they each achieved personal records of 14:45 and 15:33.8 respectively. Larissa outsprinted two competitors to get 18th place and Michele got a solid 40th place.
Twenty minutes later, the frosh-soph boys team took to the starting line. The race official sounded the gun but a few seconds after the boys left the line, the gun went off again, signaling a restart. After two more tries, the race finally started smoothly, but CKM’s second runner Fletcher Lux suffered a bad shoulder wound and other scrapes from getting trampled in the first 200 meters. However, the team prevailed and finished in 5th place with a combined score of 113, completing a goal agreed upon during this summer’s cross country camp. During this race, first runner Jackson Wedel also achieved 3rd place overall.
Next was the varsity girls race. As the second place seed, the team had high hopes of qualifying for the state championship in Clovis on November 30th. But only three teams would get the chance to move on. The race began optimistically, but during the first mile, one of the top runners Louie McNatt fell on her previously injured knee. Unable to continue, she was carried off the course by Coach Warren. It was then up to her teammates to pass as many competitors from Davis and Woodcreek in order to secure their spot in state. At the finish line, the CKM varsity girls nervously awaited the results, thinking that they may come in fourth. However, when the frosh soph boys alerted that they achieved second place, cheers broke out amongst the teammates. Lead by Anna McNatt, the team had a combined score of 79 and a total time of 100:58.
Finally, the varsity boys race began at 11:00 a.m. There was tough competitors from Jesuit and Davis, but CKM solidly took third place, finishing with a San Joaquin Sections plaque and medals. In addition, sophomore Joe Wiley finished 5th, securing him an individual spot at state for the second year in a row. The varsity boys achieved a score of 122 and a combined time of 86:30. Their hard work and dedication allowed them to close out the season with a successful performance. Each of Joe’s teammates eagerly awaits his race at state.
This is a challenging season for the CKM cross country team, but Coach Watkins always says “hard work just equals more hard work.” The varsity girls team of Louie McNatt, Molly Dreher, Julia Heckey, Anna McNatt, Camille Combrink, Olivia Johnson, and Kary Soubinh can be seen alongside Joe Wiley and will continue to practice for the state meet.