For the third consecutive season, the Oakdale High School varsity boys cross country team has won the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Championship. Their latest title was earned over the weekend at Willow Hills Reservoir in Folsom.

In the five-kilometer race, Oakdale had 26 points, second place Ponderosa 48 and Kimball 106. Jackson Oliveira placed second overall at 15:40. Omar Alsaidi placed third overall at 16:01. Mason Oliveira placed fourth at 16:08 and Ismael Dominguez placed sixth overall at 16:24. Earning top 15 finishes for Oakdale were Jacob Cavanaugh, 13th place in 16:54 and Parker Whitemyer, 15th place at 17:02. Abner Gonzalez finished 56th overall with a time of 18:30.

“We had a great grouping with our top six runners with only a minute and 22 seconds difference. That is what you like to see when you are challenging for a championship,” said Coach Guy Fowler.

Also making the trip to Folsom was the varsity girls team. The girls placed fifth as a team. Just missing the cut for state qualifying, Bradie Evans finished 14th overall at 20:24 on the five-kilometer course. Brady Wylie placed 32nd overall at 21:24. Shelby Cotner was 43rd overall at 22:15, Jordan Wylie took 49th overall in 22:30. Just outside the top 50 were a trio of Oakdale runners. Audri Scott (52nd, 22:42); Ava Calandro (56th, 23:13) and Shelby Mitchell (57th, 23:24).

“This girls team is really young, with most of the runners coming back next year,” Fowler said. “Four of the seven runners had never run in this race before and they gained a lot of experience. They now get a little time off and then they will start preparing for track and field season this spring.”

For the boys, they have this weekend off from competition but will be preparing to defend their state title. The 2023 CIF State Championship is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 25 at Fresno. Races are scheduled to begin at 12:30 p.m. at Woodward Park.