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Varsity Cross Country Runners Excel In Folsom
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Mustang sophomore runners Ava Calandro (1867) and Audrey Scott (1879) competed Saturday, Sept. 10 in the Josh Ruff Invitational meet in Folsom. Photo Courtesy Of Guy Fowler

Competing in its second invitational meet of the season, the Mustang girls’ and boys’ varsity cross country teams exceled in the very competitive Josh Ruff Invitational meet in Folsom on Saturday, Sept. 10. The meet course was designed to be three miles in length; however, explained head Mustang coach, Guy Fowler, “They shortened the course due to the fires in Placer County.”

With the course reduced to two miles, the Mustang boys earned a third place finish out of 34 teams competing. Senior Dax Daley, off to a strong start this season, followed his championship at the Jaguar Invitational on Sept. 1, when he covered two miles in 10 minutes, 33 seconds, with a strong third place finish in 11 minutes, four seconds. Also running strong for the Mustangs were junior Jackson Oliveira, who finished ninth in 11:18, and senior Caleb Cavanaugh, who powered through to an 11th place finish in 11:22.

The Mustang girls finished eighth out of 24 teams and were led by a 38th place finish by sophomore Audrey Scott who covered the two miles in 15 minutes, 11 seconds. Fellow sophomore Ava Calandro finished 47th in 15:17, while senior Anna Nalder, who in track and field concentrates on the much shorter 400- and 800-meter runs, earned 65th place in 16:06.

Fowler was very positive in his assessment of both teams’ efforts.

“We ran extremely well and both teams are still not yet at full strength. We should be getting back some of our runners this week just in time for VOL #1 meet.”

The first of three Valley Oak League meets of the season was scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 14 in Ripon’s Mistlin Park. Both the girls’ and boys’ teams are the defending VOL champions.