Cross Country Schedule & Results (2024)

Date		Meet	Location	Time	Result
Sept. 9th	Mon.	26th Annual Time Trial	Tilden Park, Berkeley	4:30 pm	Results
Sept. 14th	Sat.	Ed Sias Invitational	Hidden Valley Park, Martinez	9:00 am	Results
Sept. 20th	Fri.	Woodbridge Invitational (Varsity Only)	Great Park Sports Complex, Irvine, CA	9:00 pm	Results (Boys) Results (Girls)
Sept. 21st	Sat.	Farmer Invitational	Hayward High School	9:00 am	Results
Oct. 5th	Sat.	Artichoke Invitational	Half Moon Bay High School	8:00 am	Results
Oct. 9th	Wed.	Albany, De Anza, Salesian, Pinole Valley	Point Pinole Regional Park	4:00 pm	Results
Oct.11th	Fri.	Clovis Invitational (Varsity Only)	Woodward Park, Clovis, CA	8:00 am	Results
Oct. 19th	Sat.	Mariner Invitational	Hayward High School	9:00 am	Results
Oct. 23rd	Wed.	Mid-Season Mania - 3200m Invitational (Varsity Only)	Campolindo High School	5:00 pm	Results
Oct. 24th	Thurs.	Vallejo, Jesse Bethel, SPSV, Hercules	Point Pinole Regional Park	4:00 pm	Results
Oct. 30th	Wed.	El Cerrito, Kennedy, John Swett	Point Pinole Regional Park	4:00 pm	Results
Nov. 4th	Mon.	2nd Team Time Trial	Tilden Park, Berkeley	4:00 pm	Results
Nov. 7th	Thurs.	TCAL League Finals	Point Pinole Regional Park	1:30 pm	Results
Nov. 23rd	Sat.	NCS Meet of Champions (Varsity Only)	Hayward High School	TBA	Results
Nov. 30th	Sat.	CIF State Championships (Varsity Only)	Woodward Park, Clovis, CA	TBA	Results

  

  **Dates highlighted in RED denote a TCAL League event **

Cross Country Season Highlight Video!

December 14th, 2023

 

Panthers Take On Nation’s Best @ California State Championships

November 25th, 2023

Clovis, CA – Having consistently produced national champions, national record holders, and future Olympians… each year the California State Cross Country Championships are widely regarded as the nation’s premier cross country event.  The meet is run on the famed Woodward Park course in Clovis (Fresno) and, in short, is a dazzling marvel of elite talent, exuberant spectators and a multitude of media outlets.  So it was, in this backdrop, that the Saint Mary’s team arrived… ready to compete.

For the girl’s team, having competed in last year’s state finals made the meet’s atmosphere only somewhat new.  Still, the competition was substantial and the racing impressively fast.  Senior Annika Punz, no stranger to fast races and pressure situations, once again led the Panthers pack… getting out fast and finishing 34^th among the 195 runners.  After finishing 6^th at the North Coast Section Championships, Annika improved her position at state by finishing 5^th among all NCS runners.

Teammate Jing Li-Chou, running in her second state championship, was the team’s 2^nd finisher at 20:01, while freshman Sabrina Jackson moved from 109^th place at the first mile mark up to 88^th by the finish.  She ran a PR 20:20.  Alexa Lawson, Madi Potter, Lia Sullivan and freshman Uma Vela all ran within :03 seconds of each other… finishing in 20:40, 20:40, 20:42 and 20:43 respectively.  The team ended up 12^th in the field of 24.

Madi Potter, Lia Sullivan, Sabrina Jackson, Uma Vela, Annika Punz, Alexa Lawson, Jing Li-Chou

“All in all, we had a solid day,” said coach Mohun after it was done.  “Our girl’s really came together in the last part of the season and I think we really surprised some people.  Annika will be a big loss next season, but I’m hopeful that this group will come together in the summer and establish a solid foundation that will bring us back here ready to compete.”

For the boy’s, this state meet experience was brand new.  Not a single member of the team had ever competed at state and only two of the seven runners had ever even been on the Woodward Park course!  Still, the team – whose NCS run a week earlier had been sub-par for this group – ran like their #5 state ranking reflected.  Courageous, tough, smart and competitive, the team ran the fastest team time in school history and beat 7 of the 9 section champions in the field.  Their 6^th place finish was the highest team finish since 2008. 

Leading the way for the Panthers, in his last high school cross country race, was senior Collin Kopchik. After a 5:00 start over the first mile, he picked off 14 runners over the next 2.1 miles and finished 37^th in 16:19.  His time is one of the 6 fastest in school history at the state meet.  Teammate Javin Schmitt, whose meteoric rise of the course of the past year has been “the key” to the team’s success according to head coach Jeff Rogers, also ran a great race.  After a 5:01 first mile, Javin proceeded to run down 18 very talented runners and finished just one spot behind Collin in 38^th.  Javin’s time was 16:22. 

Shane Doherty, Kai Valle, Javin Schmitt, Jacob Demissie, Brandon Bosio, Collin Kopchik, Tucker Presnell

Junior Jacob Demissie who, like Javin, has shown remarkable improvement from last year also ran very well.  Running in 84^th place after one mile, Jacob amazingly and quite courageously passed 30 runners in just the 2^nd mile… moving all the way up to 54^th before finally finishing 50^th in the field of 201 runners.  His time, 16:28, also places him on the school’s all-time Woodward Park list.  Sophomore Tucker Presnell passed 29 runners in the 2^nd mile before ending up 59^th overall at 16:34.  Junior Kai Valle (77^th) ran 16:52 to finish the scoring, with fellow junior Brandon Bosio (17:32) and sophomore Shane Doherty (17:48) running 6^th and 7^th for the Panthers.

Overall, these 2023 Panthers had a great season… both winning TCAL titles, earning state qualifying places at the NCS Championships, and then a pair of impressive efforts in the nation’s most competitive scholastic race.  Congratulations to all the Saint Mary’s runners, coaches and their families!

 

On To State!

November 18^th, 2023

Hayward, CA – Because the Saint Mary’s boy’s and/or girl’s cross teams have made an impressive 25 state meet appearances over the past 25 years, it is no surprise that most seasons have the varsity runners and coaches setting the season-ending state meet as one of the team’s goals.  On Saturday, despite heavy rain, mud, and a slew of ultra-competitive Division IV teams, the Panthers booked their tickets for yet another state championship run. 

The boy’s team entered the meet ranked #2 in the NCS, having performed spectacularly at their TCAL championship meet after having run very well for most of the season.  However, the stress of the rain, slop and mud would test the groups meddle and desire like they haven’t been tested all season.

 

“While it’s true the conditions are the same for everyone, not everyone is effected in the same way,” said a relieved coach Jeff Rogers after the race.  “Some of our guys were able to handle the unsettled footing and stress of the course pretty well, but some have running styles that were really disrupted.  We’re fortunate that our group is so talented and deep that we were able to squeak by.”

Indeed, the boy’s team grabbed… by a single point… the final state meet qualifying spot – edging Bishop O’Dowd 102-103.  Junior Javin Schmitt’s courageous run over the last ½ mile was one of the key moments for the Panthers, according to assistant Ben Turman.

 

“Javin was running slightly behind a pack of four runners with ½ mile to go.  We needed him to catch and pass at least three of those guys, which he did.  He was one of our saviors today.”

Sophomore Tucker Presnell also had a huge race for the Panthers, finishing 2^nd on the team and 14^th overall.  Junior Kai Valle was 16^th overall, with Jacob Demissie and Collin Kopchik rounding out the scoring.   Sophomore Shane Doherty and junior Brandon Bosio ran at #6 and #7 for the state-bound Panthers.

The girls squad – despite being the defending NCS Champions – entered the meet having had  their share of ups and downs this season.  Transfers, injuries, slow starts, and new faces presented exceptional challenges and created some doubt in the minds of some Northern California prognosticators.  But, after an impressive TCAL run and having the luxury of undeniable talent and deep championship DNA, the team was seemingly on the rise and ready to go.  Saturday proved this to be true.

Led by 1^st team All-North Coast Section selection Annika Punz, the Panthers ran their best race of the season in finishing 2^nd and will be heading to Clovis next week. 

“Annika has led us physically and emotionally all year,” said a very happy coach Mohun.  “Her willingness to embrace the conditions today inspired our entire team, especially some of our newer runners.  She was big for us today.”

 

Annika’s 6^th place finish overall earned her an individual medal, while juniors Jing Li-Chou (14^th) and Alexa Lawson (17^th) ran solidly in support.  Freshman Sabrina Jackson, whose talent and promise has been on display all year, ran #4 for the team… while Lia Sullivan’s gritty race was just :04 behind Sabrina and the state meet-clinching place.  Freshman Uma Vela was just :04 behind Lia, while Madi Potter’s :11 gap behind Uma made the Panthers team the fastest 7 in the race. 

Overall, it was a proud day for the Panther harriers.  Having shown up on summer evenings and Saturday mornings while enduring imposing hills, oppressive heat and annoying rain – the teams earned their place amongst California’s best: The State Championships.  Congratulations to all the runners, their coaches and their families!

 

Click here to see all the pictures from the meet!

 

Panthers Too Much For TCAL Foes; Sweep All Five Races @ League Championships

November 2, 2023

 

Richmond, CA –  On Thursday, the Saint Mary’s cross country teams – boasting depth, talent and an insatiable desire to win, accomplished a league championship first: a sweep of all 5 contested races.  Led by individual winners Annika Punz (varsity girls), Joaquin Tarango (JV boys) and a bevy of first and second team all-league award winners, the Panthers literally ran away with five league championship banners.

 

The Varsity Boys - running an inspired, gutsy race – scored a razor thin win against the 2021 California State Champion and 2022 North Coast Section Champion Albany Cougars.  The single point victory was the Panthers first varsity boys league championship in seven years.

 

“The guys were incredible today,” said boys coach Jeff Rogers after the race. “We were down a couple points midway through the race, but our guys were so focused and so determined to win this championship. They somehow found a way to pass a few people and grind out the win. Coach Turman and I are really proud of their effort, but not surprised. These guys have run that way all year long.”

 

 

Senior Collin Kopchik was the day’s fastest - running the 3.0 mile loop in 15:43, a lifetime best for him on the rolling, challenging Point Pinole course.  Teammate Javin Schmitt was close behind, moving and passing runners in the last mile before finishing in 15:52.  Fellow junior Jacob Demissie joined Collin and Javin as a 1^st team all-league selection, finishing 7^th overall at 16:09.  Kai Valle, Tucker Presnell, Brandon Bosio and Shane Doherty were all named 2^nd team All-TCAL.

 

Senior Annika Punz, the 2022 TCAL runner-up, cemented herself as this year’s fastest runner with a convincing win in her last race at Point Pinole. Taking the lead early, Annika tore through the familiar three mile course in 18:49, a Point Pinole PR for her.  Jing Li-Chou was the runner-up, also racing to a course PR in 19:09.  Juniors Alexa Lawson (5^th overall) and Lia Sullivan (6^th)… along with freshman Sabrina Jackson (7^th) joined Annika and Jing as 1^st team all-leaguers.  Teammates Madi Potter and Uma Vela both earned 2^nd team honors.

 

 

Both the F/S and JV boys chalked up wins on Thursday - each team defeating league rival Albany in close contests. The frosh-soph boys placed four runners in the top five, led by sophomores Adrian Hall and Ian Kopchik to secure their win.  Similarly, the JV boys – behind race winner Joaquin Tarango, 3rd place finisher Daniel McAndrew-Kvaerno and 4^th placer Luke Bradley – scored a narrow 6 point win.  Both races resulted in several all-league award winners, among them: Simon Murphy, Djali de Chalus, Shea Turon, Finley Basler, Bear Souza, Gabriel Cabral, Nico Echeverria and Jagger Gullov-Singh. 

 

 

The Panthers JV girls team, who have won every single TCAL league championship race ever contested, continued their dominance with an 18 point win over Albany.  Charlotte Graham (2^nd overall), freshman Reva Schmitt (3^rd), and Lilah Nemerson-Hoover(6^th) led the way… each coming away with first team awards.  Katherine Scannell, Natalie Andress, Sierra Maris, Naomi Fogleman, and Ella Pollard all ran onto the 2^nd team. 

 

Overall, it was a spectacularly successful, joyous day for the Panther runners as well as their coaches and families.  Congratulations to all the cross country teams for their league championship performances!

 

Clean Sweep Shows Off Panthers Depth @ TCAL Finale

October 26^th, 2023

Richmond, CA – Running in the final TCAL regular season meet of the year, with just one week before the TCAL Championships, the Panther cross country teams are looking strong and in prime form.  Hosting league foes Hercules, SPSV and Vallejo, the Panthers made quick work of all three teams on their way to runaway victories.

Both junior varsity races were Panther victories, with the girls dominating from the front with explosive talent while the boys utilized their depth and fortitude to seal the victory.

Freshman Sabrina Jackson ran an incredibly fast time on the rolling 2.0 Point Pinole course to highlight the girls win.  Sabrina’s time of 12:46 was, according to several coaches, the fastest time by a JV girl in recent memory.  Following Sabrina was fellow 9^th grader Uma Vela, whose inaugural cross country season has been nothing short of impressive. Lilah Nemerson-Hoover, Reva Schmitt and Katherine Scannell comprised the scoring five for the Panthers… although runs by Ella Pollard, Siena Silberman, senior Maeve Urban, Kamryn Levy and Constance St. Clair all resulted in lifetime bests according to JV girls coach Ariana Corwin.

“I was really proud of the girls today,” said an exuberant coach Corwin after the race.  “Their times were significantly faster than their last race.  They really went after it today.”

The JV boys, equally impressive in talent and grit, had to overcome a strong 2-3-4 finish by rival De Anza to rally for their victory.  Nico Echeverria, Isaac Porter and Finlay Basler led the victors, followed by Mika Mazin, Malcolm Urban and Nico PIlara.  Together, their scant :25 second gap and clustered finish was enough to secure the win. 

The next Panther trio - Andrew Bosio, Lucien Wingate, Jagger Gullov-Singh – ran very well according to coach Sutphin… as did Zach Potter, Eliott Ragot and Eddie Rau.  Overall, the Panthers JV teams posted nearly 20 PR’s (personal bests) as they head into next week’s championships.

Both boy’s and girl’s varsity teams also posted convincing wins; the girls running un-opposed while the boy’s had 10 of the first 12 finishers on their way to victory.  Leading the way were juniors Jing Li-Chou and Alexa Lawson for the girls and sophomores Adrian Hall and Ian Kopchik.. as well as freshman Djali de Chalus and junior Luke Bradley for the boys. 

Next up for the Panthers will be the TCAL League Championships on Thursday, November 2^nd at Point Pinole. First race is at 1:45 pm… with the awards ceremony beginning at 4:20 pm. 

 

Collin Kopchik’s Big Win Leads Panthers @ Mariner Invitational

October 21^st, 2023

Hayward, CA – The Mariner Invitational is widely considered to be the final invitational as well as the final tune-up of the cross country season. After it, teams advance into the postseason, hoping to find the magic peak at their league and section championship races. With teams from all over the greater Bay Area – 88 in total -  the races were fast and the competition was fierce.

Per usual for this 2023 season, the Panthers cross country runners did not waiver and did not back down. Highlighted by senior Collin Kopchik‘s individual win in his last weekend invitational as a Saint Mary’s Panther, the cross country squad scored team wins, posted lots of lifetime bests, and took home plenty of hardware at the 40^th annual Mariner Invitational ay Hayward High School on Saturday. 

“Collin, along with all of his teammates, was outstanding today,” noted boy’s coach Jeff Rogers afterwards. “He and Javin went right to the front, took the lead around the mile mark, and never relinquished it. They both paced each other really well. Jacob, Tucker and Kai did the same thing just a few seconds back.  That kind of great pack running is hard to beat.” 

Indeed, the #5 state ranked team made quick work of all comers on Saturday, outscoring 2^nd place Tamalpais by a whopping 50 points!  After Collin (15:37), Javin (15:40) was 2^nd overall, with Jacob 6^th (16:00), Tucker 8^th (16:05) and Kai 10^th (16:11).  The :34 second gap between runners 1 – 5 is simply “outstanding” according to coach Rogers.

 

Junior Jing Li-Chou was the fastest girl Panther of the day, outpacing most of the other 250 runners in the field to place ninth overall in a lifetime best 18:50. 

“I’m not surprised by Jing’s performance today,” said her coach - Denis Mohun.  “Her practice sessions have been going really well and her desire to run fast oozes out of her when we talk. At this rate, don’t be surprised if she goes even faster next month at NCS.”

Senior Annika Punz was 2^nd (12^th overall), followed by Alexa Lawson, Maddie Potter and Lia Sullivan for the varsity runner-ups.  

The Frosh-Soph boys also benefited from great pack running at Mariner. The team finished fourth overall in a stacked, talented field of teams. Sophomore Ian Kopchik was the fastest on the team, running a lifetime best 17:21 while placing 17^th overall. Freshman Djali de Chalus, whose inaugural season has been nothing short of spectacular, was the Panthers second runner. His time, 17:23, was over 40 seconds faster than what he ran on the same course just a month ago! Sophomores Adrian Hall, and Simon Murphy placed third and fourth for the team, with sophomore Shea Turon and freshmen Isaac Porter and Finley Bassler rounding out the scoring for coach Sutphin’s talented squad.

Freshman Uma Vela had one of the more eye-opening races for the Panthers on Saturday, finishing 7^th overall in the girl’s frosh-soph race with a massive PR over the 3.0 mile course.  Her time, 20:33, was 1:30 faster than she had ever run for 3 miles! Coach Mohun called her performance “stunning” and suggested that her days on frosh-soph maybe over.  “With runs like that, varsity level races seem to be calling,” said the gleaming coach.    Fellow freshmen teammate, Sabrina Jackson also took home an individual medal, running 21:13 to place 14^th.

 

Panthers Take 3 of 4 @ Second TCAL League Cluster Meet

October 12^th, 2023

Richmond, CA – The Saint Mary’s cross country continued their stellar 2023 campaign with 3 convincing wins and a very tight, very close loss at their 2^nd of 3 TCAL cluster meets at Point Pinole Regional Park on Thursday. 

Making the loudest statements were both the JV boys and JV girls teams.  The JV Boys – fresh off impressive wins at the annual Artichoke Invitational – once again ran to victory on the rolling 2.0 mile Point Pinole course.  Sophomore Adrian Hall was the team’s top, finishing 3^rd overall in 11:23.  Djali de Chalus continued his fine freshman campaign with a PR 11:29, which was good for 4^th.  A pair of sophomores – Ian Kopchik and Simon Murphy – finished 5^th and 6^th respectively while junior Bear Souza completed the scoring for the victors.  The final team score showed the Panthers winning by 13 points.  According to veteran coach Craig Sutphin, other top performances were run by Finlay Basler, Shea Turon, Isaac Porter and Dash Sanchez Jackson. 

Meanwhile, the JV Girls – who have never lost a TCAL meet – once again flexed their competitive muscles with their near 30 point win.  Sophomore Charlotte Graham was the overall winner… followed by senior Lilah Nemerson Hoover’s massive 14:40 PR and freshman Reva Schmitt’s 15:00 lifetime best.  Freshman Kamryn Levy and sophomores Naomi Fogleman and Ella Pollard also ran big races for the Panthers. 

For the varsity, the girl’s team once again showed that their hallmark talent and sheer determination is too much for their league rivals to overcome as they won by a whopping 18 points.  Senior Annika Punz led the way, with juniors Jing Li-Chous and Alexa Lawson in hot pursuit. 

Next up for the Panthers will be the Mariner Invitational on October 21^st, hosted by Moreau Catholic but run on the vaunted Hayward High School course.

Boy’s Complete 3 Team Sweep @ Artichoke Invitational

October 7^th, 2023

Half Moon Bay, CA – On Saturday, the Panthers coaching staff decided to  the by-pass the prestigious varsity-only Clovis Invitational in favor of the annual, fan favorite Artichoke Invitational.  The decision was made in order to allow a few dozen of the near 70 member team to compete and experience the always tough and entertaining meet in Half Moon Bay.  Featuring a narrow bottleneck start, a few loops around the fan-lined school, hay bails that act as de facto steeplechase barriers, and the legendarily daunting “Cougar Hill”… the meet is a great way to introduce all Panther runners to a challenging, competitive, unforgettable meet.  Not surprisingly, the groups that competed this year took full advantage of their opportunities and came home with loads of individual medals, personal bests, team plaques, and many, many great memories

Junior Javin Schmitt, whose diligence, determination and team leadership have vaulted him to the upper tier of TCAL and NCS runners, led the way with an impressive win in the Varsity Boy’s race.  Javin’s 12:20 over the 2.3 miles is a mere :07 slower than all-state and school record holder Mateo Malko-Allen’s junior year time at Artichoke and a wopping 1:44 PR on the course.  Right behind Javin was fellow junior Jacob Demissie, who ran a spectacular race to finish 3^rd at 12:33.  Jacob’s time, like Javin, was more than 1:30 faster than a year ago!  Kai Valle, Collin Kopchik and Brandon Bosio rounded out the scoring for the winners.

The frosh-soph boys, led by 2^nd place finisher Shane Doherty (13:20), also won their race – outdueling Mills (Millbrae) High School 48-57.  Following Shane were medalists Djali de Chalus (13:59), sophomore up and comer Simon Murphy (14:05), Ian Kopchik (14:25), and Adrian Hall (14:29). 

Not to be outdone, the JV Boys had 3 runners place in the top 4 and won their race by more than 30 points over runner-up Washington (SF).  Junior Joaquin Tarango (14:25) was the first Panther across the line, followed by senior Daniel McAndrew-Kvaerno and junior Bear Souza (14:28).  The trio’s :03 second gap was super impressive and right in line with the pre-race plan according to varsity coach Ben Turman. 

The varsity girls team faced Archie Williams (San Anselmo) - the top ranked team in the NCS division 4 rankings – at Artichoke and after a spirited duel fell just a tad short.  Senior Annike Punz was the fastest Panther of the day, finishing in 15:29.  She was followed by junior Jing Li-Chou (15:34) who was 5^th overall… while Alexa Lawson was 9^th at 15:54.  Juniors Lia Sullivan and Maddie Potter completed the scoring for the Panthers – running a mere :09 seconds apart.

 

Other notable performers were sophomore Charlotte Graham (6^th overall – JV Girls), freshman Sabrina Jackson (8^th – JV Girls).

Panthers Roll Past All Comers @ TCAL Opener

September 27, 2023

Richmond, CA – After competing at three straight Saturday invitational races to open the year, the Panthers cross country teams finally opened their 2023 TCAL season with an out-of-the-ordinary Wednesday contest against league rivals El Cerrito, De Anza, and John Swett at Point Pinole Regional Park. This year’s opener, much like 2022 and most of the past ten seasons before that, showcased the Panthers depth, talent and speed as both JV and Varsity teams completely dominated their races en route to massive victories.

The JV boys – led by head coach Craig Sutphin and volunteer assistant Danilo Garcia ('06) – may have exemplified the Panthers dominance the best by placing 6 runners in the top 7, 12 in the top 15, and 17 in the top 21 in their trifecta of wins.  Sophomores Ian Kopchik and Adrian Hall were the days best, running the 2.0 mile course in a sizzling 11:36 and 11:41 respectively.  Ian and Adrian were followed by a quartet of Panthers – junior Bear Souza, sophomore Simon Murphy, freshman Djali de Chalus, and sophomore Shea Turon.  The gap between Bear and Shea was only :17 seconds.

The JV girls, who in the history of the TCAL have won every single team championship, flexed their historic running muscles by scoring 6 of the top 7 places in their trio of wins.  Freshman Sabrina Jackson and sophomore Charlotte Graham ran together for about 1.99 of the 2.0 mile race before Sabrina won the final sprint.  She beat Charlotte by .6 seconds – 14:40.0 to 14:40.6!  Freshman Reva Schmitt continued her fine freshman campaign with a 3^rd place finish, while sophomore Siena Silberman, freshman Kamryn Levy, and sophomore Naomi Fogelman finished 5^th, 6^th and 7^th overall.

Both varsity teams also rolled to convincing wins.  The boys team ran in a tight bunch and cruised to a comfortable 17:03 finish… with junior Kai Valle credited with the team’s top place.  The team’s top 6 runners were :02 apart. 

The girls varsity, meanwhile, scored the top 4 places and 7 of the top 8 in their race.  Annika Punz, Alexa Lawson, Lia Sullivan and Maddie Potter led the way… with Sierra Maris, Lilah Nemerson-Hoover and Katherine Scannell next for the reigning TCAL champions.

The Panthers next meet is on Saturday, October 7^th in Half Moon Bay at the Artichoke Invitational. 

 

Wins, PR’s, and Gritty Efforts Continue @ Eye Opener Invitational

September 23^rd, 2023

Alexa Lawson Sprints To The Finish

Petaluma, CA – The first race at Saturday’s Eye Opener Invitational was the 8:30 am freshmen boy’s race which required the Panther harriers to rise early and get their bodies moving over the mostly flat 3.0 mile course at Shollenberger Park in Petaluma.  Fortunately, the early race schedules seemed to energize and motivate the young, hungry Panther squads. 

Djali de Chalus Leads The Freshmen Pack

“Super early start times are not normally what we hope for,” said a smiling head JV Girls coach Ariana Corwin after the races.  “But considering how fast everyone ran today, maybe we should re-think what we’re hoping for.”

 

Indeed, Coach Corwin was right on target in pointing out how fast the Panthers ran.  Juniors Javin Schmitt, Jacob Demissie, Jing Li-Chou and Alexa Lawson... as well as senior Collin Kopchik all ran fast enough to earn themselves lifetime bests and Top 10 times of the day.  Javin, Jing and Collin finished 2^nd overall in their respective class races, while Alexa was 3^rd and Jacob 6^th. 

Sophomore Shane Doherty

Sophomores Tucker Presnell (2^nd), and Shane Doherty (4^th) had top 10 finishes… as did freshmen Djali de Chalus (2^nd), Uma Vela (5^th) and Sabrina Jackson (6^th).  Kai Valle and Lia Sullivan both  finished 10^th in their junior class races.

Sophomore Charlotte Graham's Big Finish

For the boy’s, big PR’s were run by senior Daniel McAndrew-Kvaerno (17:33), junior Gabriel Cabral (18:18),  sophomores Simon Murphy (17:58)  and Shea Turon (18:00), and freshman Bruno Middleton (19:18). 

Top 10 Performers Jing Li-Chou, Alexa Lawson, Jacob Demissie, Javin Schmitt, Collin Kopchik

For the girl’s, lifetime bests by senior Lilah Nemerson-Hoover and freshman Reva Schmitt were pointed out by Coach Corwin.

"Freshman Squad" - Dash Sanchez Jackson, Bruno Middleton, Malcolm Urban, Suleimon Johnson-Redfern, Andrew Bosio, Djali de Chalus (front)

Next up for the Panthers is their TCAL league opener on Wednesday at Point Pinole Regional Park against El Cerrito, De Anza, John Swett and JF Kennedy (Richmond).  First race is at 4:00 pm.

 

Fast Times at Hayward High!

September 16^th, 2023

Hayward, CA – Highlighted by historically fast times from senior Collin Kopchik and junior Javin Schmitt, the Saint Mary’s cross country teams ran, grinded, and fought their way to a trio of team plaques and a bevy of individual medals at the 20^th annual Farmer Invitational on Saturday at Hayward High School.

Grabbing the headlines were the varsity boys team, whose spirited, gutsy performance earned them the top performance by any North Coast Section team and a 2^nd place finish overall.  The aforementioned Collin and Javin, both individual medalists, finished 8^th and 9^th respectively while climbing all the way to #7 and #8 on the school’s all-time 3 mile list.  Collin ran 15:40 with Javin just a second back at 15:41.

 

“Those guys set the tone for the entire team,” noted long-time coach Jeff Rogers.  “Their aggressiveness and competitiveness was contagious and energized the whole team.  All teams need tone-setters and those two did it for us today.”

Fellow junior Jacob Demissie, also sporting a shiny medal around his neck after the race, also cemented his name on the school’s all-time list with his huge 16:02 PR.  Jacob finished 20^th overall.  After Jacob, just :08 seconds separated the next three Panthers: sophomore Tucker Presnell, junior Kai Valle, and sophomore Shane Doherty.  Both Tucker and Shane ran more than a minute faster than they did in 2022.  Junior Brandon Bosio also ran faster than he ever had for 3 miles, finishing in 16:50.

 

The varsity girls, still running without their best seven, still managed a respectable 6^th place finish in the varsity race.  Once again, senior Annika Punz was the team’s top finisher, placing 3^rd  in 18:53. 

“Annika’s really went for it today,” assessed coach Mohun afterwards.  “She was side by side with the eventual winner for the first half of the race.  We love the attitude and aggressiveness, but it may have been a bit too much.  We’ll work on her pacing and strategy and I expect she’ll go even faster the next time we run at Hayward.”

Teammate Jing Li-Chou also ran really well, placing 12^th overall and earning her a top 20 placing on the school’s all-time list.  Her time, 19:16, was almost a minute faster than she ran at the North Coast Section Championships in 2022.

Underclassmen and newcomers also shined bright in the non-varsity races on Saturday, led by top 10 placers Adrian Hall (6^th place – 17:39) and Ian Kopchik (8^th – 17:45) in the JV Boys race, freshmen Djali de Chalus (2^nd – 18:11), Finlay Basler (6^th – 18:54), and Nico Pilara (8^th – 19:19) in the freshman boys race, and junior Maddie Potter (3^rd – 22:13), freshman Sabrina Jackson (6^th – 22:24), and freshman Uma Vela (7^th – 22:26) in the JV Girls race.

Overall, the Panther teams finished 2^nd overall in the boys varsity, boys junior varsity and girls junior varsity race and 3^rd overall in the freshman boys race.  Congratulations to all the runners and coaches on a great meet!

 

“Who Are Those Guys?”

Varsity Boys Make Strong Statement @ Ed Sias

September 9, 2023

Boys Varsity @ Ed Sias: Daniel McAndrew-Kvaerno, Luke Bradley, Kai Valle, Javin Schmitt, Jacob Demissie, Brandon Bosio, Collin Kopchik

Martinez, CA –  The annual Ed Sias Invitational, hosted by cross country powerhouse Campolindo High School,  routinely features some of the top ranked teams in the state.  Teams from all over Northern California come to Hidden Valley Park to open their season against other top talent and assess how their summer training has gone.  This year, the varsity boys race featured three division 3 teams ranked in the top 10 in California and three others ranked in the top 10 in division 4.  The Panthers -  talented, hungry, hard-working but un-ranked – were not on the radar of any of the pre-meet analysts or prognosticators.  So, after a stunning performance that saw them out-run the #5 and #9 division 4 teams… and only being out-pointed by 2 ranked division 3 teams… some in the crowd were heard asking: “Who Are Those Guys?”

Senior Collin Kopchik

Senior Annika Punz

Leading the way for the Panthers was senior Collin Kopchik (10:50) and juniors Javin Schmitt (10:53) and Jacob Demissie (11:11).  Collin finished 10^th overall, earning him both an individual medal as well as some Ed Sias swag.  Javin, 11^th overall, finished just out of the medals but his time was more than 2:00 faster than his time a year ago.  Javin’s improvement is indicative of what the entire team has been able to accomplish in the past year.

2nd Place Finisher Tucker Presnell

Asked about their performance after the race, coach Rogers said “Yeah, the guys have really improved a lot.  Coach Ben has offered them an opportunity to run pretty much year round and they’ve responded.  Today was a small peak into the rewards they’ll get from their hard work and dedication.”  Juniors Kai Valle (11:35) and Brandon Bosio (11:36) finished the scoring for the back pack winning crew!

(l to r) Isaac Porter, Malcolm Urban, Nico Pilara

Not to be outdone, the Junior Varsity Boys also placed 3^rd overall and had the highest placing individual of the day in 2^nd place finisher Tucker Presnell.  Tucker, whose 1:45 improvement from last year was one of the day’s best, ran 11:20 to pace the Panthers.  Fellow sophomore Shane Doherty was next in 11:44, followed by surging sophomore Ian Kopchik (11:59).  Junior Joaquin Tarango and sophomore Shea Turon capped the scoring for the medal-winning Panthers.

Freshman Sabrina Jackson

The freshman boys, led by 6^th place & medal winner Djali de Chalus, also ran a solid race according to coach Sutphin.  Coach was most pleased by the scant :06 second gap that Nico Pilara, Issac Porter and Malcolm Urban were able to maintain.  “Incredible” is how coach Sutphin described it.

Jing Li-Chou

The varsity girls, running shorthanded and without their expected top 5, still got impressive performances from several runners.  Per usual, senior Annika Punz led the way with her 9^th place finish overall.  Her time, 13:08, was nearly :20 faster than last year… a year in which she was 1^st team All North Coast Section!  Junior Jing Li-Chou also PR’d by nearly :30 seconds, but it was senior Lilah Nemerson-Hoover’s 1:30 second improvement that coach Mohun mentioned 1^st after the race.

Boys JV: Shea Turon, Nico Echeverria, Shane Doherty, Joaquin Tarngo, Bear Souza, Tucker Presnell, Ian Kopchik

Next up for the Panthers is the Farmer Invitational on Saturday at Hayward High School.  First race is at 9:00 am.

 

All-Time Lists Re-Written After “Scary Fast” Team Time Trial  

September 5^th, 2023

Berkeley, CA –Because team championships and individual medals are won in November and not at the beginning of the school year, veteran cross country coaches understand how to modulate early season performances, no matter how fast or slow they maybe.  However, after Tuesdays blistering team time trial, it was hard for any of the coaches to keep their smiles and expectations muted. 

 

“Both teams ran scary fast today,” said longtime JV Boys head coach Craig Sutphin after the race.  “We knew we had some talented runners and we figured that after a summer of running they would come out fast… but we didn’t think they’d go THAT fast.”

Indeed, the all-time class records as well as the overall all-time list needs a bevy of updates after today’s race.  Ten runners ran themselves onto their class all-time top 10 list, including four runners who now rank among the top 10 Panthers to ever run the time trial – now in it’s 25^th year. 

Seniors Collin Kopchik (10:15) and Annika Punz (12:10) were the day’s fastest boy and girl, each running their course PR’s on the rolling 2.0 mile course.  Collin’s time makes him the 5^th fastest Panther ever while Annika’s renders her the 6^th fastest.  A pair of 11^th graders, Javin Schmitt and Alexa Lawson, also earned “Top 10 All-Time” status by running 10:22 and 12:27 respectively.  Javin is now the 9^th and Alexa the 7^th fastest ever.  Teammates and fellow juniors Jacob Demissie and Jing Li-Chou also ran well enough to rank amongst the top 10 juniors in school history.

The sophomore class also shined very bright on Tuesday, led by Tucker Presnell (10:41) and Shane Doherty (10:46).  Both cemented their place on the all-time sophomore list – Tucker now at #3 and Shane at #5.  Another pair of 10^th graders – Ian Kopchik (11:42) and newcomer Shea Turon (12:01) were both awarded big praise from the coaching staff for their strong runs.

Finally, the freshman class made a strong statement about it’s talent and desire to become the next batch of great Panther runners.  Freshman Djali de Chalus was the fastest of the group after gutting out a tough 12:02.  That time earned him the #7 spot on the freshman all-time list as well as added respect from his upper-class teammates.  Classmate Finley Basler also had a strong outing, running 12:23 for the #10 slot on the 9^th grade list.  Sabrina Jackson, whose sister Sofia (‘23) ranks among the best Panther runners ever, carried on the Jackson legacy with a fine 15:31 effort that earned her a spot on the all-time frosh list.  Sabrina was also the fastest freshman girl of the day.

Next up for the Panthers is the season opening race at the Ed Sias Invitational on Saturday at Hidden Valley Park in Martinez. 

 

2023 Panthers Enter Season Highly Touted and Hungry!

August 11^th, 2023

Senior All-NCS Returner: Annika Punz

Both the defending NCS Champion girls and pre-season #4 NCS ranked boys cross country teams recently finalized their schedule for the 2023 season.  The coaching staff has the Panthers slated for a full season of competitive racing in preparation for runs at league, section and state prizes.  With a core group of key contributors back from last year's squads, both Panthers teams seemed primed for great seasons.

 

 "I am very optimistic about the upcoming season," said girl’s varsity head coach Denis Mohun, whose girls rolled through TCAL opponents quite impressively in 2022.  "Even though we graduated some great runners, we bring back a strong returning cast from last year's championship team. I expect the newcomers to varsity to fit right in and make an immediate impact."

 

Headlining this year’s crew will be senior Annika Punz.  After a very productive summer, look for the 2022 NCS medalist to add even more hardware to her already impressive collection.   Juniors Alexa Lawson, Jing Li-Chou and Lia Sullivan figure to provide the Panthers with a very solid 2-3-4 punch, while fellow junior Madison Potter will be making her all-important move to the varsity squad.  Add to that the expected contributions from sophomore Sierra Maris and Charlotte Graham as well as junior Aoife Shen … and the result is enough firepower to make the Panthers the heavy favorite to repeat as TCAL champions as well as the pre-season #2 ranked Division IV team in the North Coast Section.

 

“The boys squad is a group that is eager to establish themselves as one of the Division IV elites,” says coach Jeff Rogers.  “We return 7 of our top 8 runners from a year ago plus add some guys who are young, talented and hungry. Add to that the productive summer we’ve had and there seems to be no good reason why we shouldn’t be

challenging for championship hardware this season.”  

 

Among the returners, senior Collin Kopchik, juniors Javin Schmitt and Jacob Demissie, and sophomore Tucker Presnell seem to have emerged from the summer in the best shape.   Look for all of them to make a run at all-league honors.  Kai Valle is the fastest returner on paper, while Brandon Bosio and Luke Bradley’s experience and determination suggest those two could go well this year.  Add to the fray the TCAL junior varsity 1600 and 3200 meter track titles sophomore Shane Doherty won this past spring along with the up-and-coming talent of sophomore Adrian Hall and Ian Kopchik and this team’s pre-season NCS ranking begins to make sense.

 

The Panthers will begin the 2023 season with their 25^th annual time trial at Tilden Park on Tuesday, September 5^th.   After a Saturday in Hidden Valley Park at the Ed Sias Invitational on September 9^th, the teams travels to Hayward for their inaugural 3 mile race of the season at the Farmer Invitational.  The TCAL season opens on Wednesday, September 27^th at Point Pinole Regional Park before heading to the annual Artichoke Invitational in Half Moon Bay on Saturday, October 7^th.   The final invitational will be back at Hayward High School (site of the NCS Championships) on October 21^st for the Mariner Invitational before league, NCS and state championship races in November.   

Kai Valle, Gabriel Cabral, Javin Schmitt, Jacob Demissie, Joaquin Tarango, Brandon Bosio, Luke Bradley

As usual, the runners themselves, along with most cross country prognosticators, expect the Panthers to figure prominently in these final three meets.   Good luck to all the runners in this 2023 season!

Cross Country Schedule & Results (2023)

Date		Meet	Location	Time	Result
Sept. 5th	Tues.	25th Annual Time Trial	Tilden Park, Berkeley	4:30 pm	Full Results
Sept. 9th	Sat.	Ed Sias Invitational	Hidden Valley Park, Martinez	9:00 am	Full Results
Sept. 16th	Sat.	Farmer Invitational	Hayward High School	8:30 am	Full Results
Sept. 23rd	Sat.	Eye Opener Invitational	Shollenberger Park, Petaluma	8:00 am	Full Results
Sept. 27th	Wed.	El Cerrito, John Swett, J.F. Kennedy, Richmond, De Anza	Point Pinole Regional Park	4:00 pm	Full Results
Oct. 7th	Sat.	Artichoke Invitational	Half Moon Bay High School	8:00 am	Full Results
Oct. 12th	Thurs.	Albany, Salesian, Pinole Valley	Point Pinole Regional Park	4:00 pm	Full Results
Oct. 21st	Sat.	Mariner Invitational	Hayward High School	9:00 am	Full Results
Oct. 25th	Wed.	Mid-Season Mania - 3200m Invitational	Campolindo High School	5:00 pm	Full Results
Oct. 26th	Thurs.	Vallejo, Jesse Bethel, SPSV, Hercules	Point Pinole Regional Park	4:00 pm	Full Results
Oct. 30th	Mon.	2nd Team Time Trial	Tilden Park, Berkeley	4:00 pm	Full Results
Nov. 2nd	Thurs.	TCAL League Finals	Point Pinole Regional Park	1:30 pm	Full Results
Nov. 18th	Sat.	NCS Meet of Champions (Varsity Only)	Hayward High School	TBA	Full Results
Nov. 25th	Sat.	CIF State Championships (Varsity Only)	Woodward Park, Clovis, CA	TBA	Full Results

  

  **Dates highlighted in RED denote a TCAL League event **

Cross Country Schedule & Results (2022)

Date		Meet	Location	Time	Result
Sept. 7th	Wed.	24th Annual Time Trial	Tilden Park, Berkeley	4:30 pm	Full Results
Sept. 10th	Sat.	Ed Sias Invitational	Hidden Valley Park, Martinez	9:00 am	Full Results
Sept. 16th	Fri	Woodbridge Invitational (Varsity Only)	Great Park, Irvine, CA	8:00 pm	Full Results
Sept. 29th	Thurs.	El Cerrito, John Swett, J.F. Kennedy, Richmond	Kennedy Grove, El Sobrante	4:00 pm	Full Results
Oct. 1st	Sat.	Artichoke Invitational	Half Moon Bay High School	8:00 am	Full Results
Oct. 8th	Sat.	Clovis Invitational (Varsity Only)	Woodward Park, Clovis, CA	TBA	Full Results
Oct. 13th	Thurs.	Albany, Salesian, Pinole Valley	Point Pinole Regional Park	4:00 pm	Full Results
Oct. 15th	Sat.	Mariner Invitational	Hayward High School	9:00 am	Full Results
Oct. 27th	Thurs.	Vallejo, Jesse Bethel, SPSV, Hercules	Point Pinole Regional Park	4:00 pm	Full Results
Nov. 3rd	Thurs.	2nd Team Time Trial	Tilden Park, Berkeley	4:00 pm	Full Results
Nov. 10th	Thurs.	TCAL League Finals	Point Pinole Regional Park	1:30 pm	Full Results
Nov. 19th	Sat.	NCS Meet of Champions (Varsity Only)	Hayward High School	TBA	Full Results
Nov. 26th	Sat.	CIF State Championships (Varsity Only)	Woodward Park, Clovis, CA	TBA	Full Results

  

  **Dates highlighted in RED denote a TCAL League event **

Watch the Cross Country Season Highlight Video!

December 14th, 2021

Girls Finish Season @ California State Championships!

November 27^th, 2021

Clovis, CA – The girl’s cross country team completed their 2021 season by finishing 11^th at the California State Championships on Saturday.  Led once again by sophomore Milan Jackson, the Panthers battled and overcame tough competition and a bit of illness to just miss out on a top 10 finish.  Freshman Khaya Jackson and sophomore Annika Punz finished 2^nd and 3^rd for the Panthers respectively, both running “really, really good races” according to coach Denis Mohun.  Junior Sofia Jackson, freshman Alexa Lawson, junior Leiah Goode, and senior Mallory Boell comprised the rest of this amazing girl’s team. 

Also competing on Saturday was junior Mateo Malko-Allen, who finished 43^rd overall with a time of 16:21.  All the Panther runners, except for senior Mallory Boell, will return next year in what looks to be a very promising season.  Congratulations to the entire cross country team and coaches for a great season!   

Girl’s Team, Mateo Malko-Allen Run Big @ NCS. Next Up: State Championships!

November 20^th, 2021

Hayward, CA – For the first time since 2014, the girl’s cross country team is headed to the California State Championships after a spirited, tough, gritty run at the North Coast Section Championships. 

Hosted by Hayward High School and spanning the entire north coast of California, the meet features the section’s top division 4 teams… north from Arcata and south to Fremont.  With nearly 200 runners in the race, only the top 3 teams advance to state.  Still, despite the competition and high pressure stakes, the girl’s team placed 2^nd, just a few points ahead of 3^rd place Acalanes and only a few points behind eventual winner Miramonte.  Their total team time was the 2^nd fastest in school history and bodes very well for a team that next year returns the top 6 runners from this year’s squad.

Nicknamed the “Jackson 3”, sophomore Milan Jackson, junior Sofia Jackson, and freshman Khaya Jackson all placed in the top 10 individually and led the way for the Panthers. Afterwards, a smiling coach Denis Mohun was certainly pleased with their runs.  “Those three all ran much faster than they did a month ago on this same course. Today, they all ran under 19 minutes and really set the tone for our team.  We needed those performances today.” 

Junior Leiah Goode ran her PR 19:40 to place 4^th, while sophomore Annika Punz was 5^th (PR, 19:42) and freshman Alexa Lawson was 6^th (19:43).  Senior Mallory Boell, who coach Mohun calls the team’s “spiritual and emotional leader” rounded out the state-bound squad, running 20:48.

 

For the boy’s, the race was equally as competitive and tough.  Overall, the team ran well, placing 6^th overall… outrunning perennial powers Miramonte, Marin Catholic and Moreau Catholic.  Junior Mateo Malko-Allen was the lone Panther of the day to win an individual medal,(awarded to the top 7 runners in each race), placing 6^th overall. 

 

“Mateo did not have his best race today,” noted coach Jeff Rogers, “but he gutted it out and earned his spot into the state meet.  He represented Saint Mary’s very well today.”

Senior Ryan Painter (17:03), running his final NCS Championship race, finished 2^nd on the team, while junior Adrian Licea (17:19) was 3^rd for the Panthers.  Fellow junior Jurgis Vass was next (17:44), followed by sophomore Charlie Higley (18:02) and senior Simon Moss (18:05).

 

Next up is the California State Championships next Saturday, November 27^th at Woodward Park in Clovis (Fresno).  Good luck to the girl’s team and to Mateo!    

More Championships for Panther Harriers @ TCAL Finals!

November 10^th, 2021

 

Richmond, CA – It has been said that familiarity breeds apathy and that apathy adds up, in the long run, to cowardice.  Luckily, these ancient proverbs couldn’t have been farther from reality at the TCAL Cross Country Championships on Wednesday at Point Pinole Regional Park.  Running on their very familiar home course, the Panthers were anything but cowardly as they captured 3 of the 5 team races along with placing dozens of runners on the all-league list.

 

The show-stealers were certainly the varsity girl’s squad.  Coming into the meet ranked #5 in the state and #1 in the North Coast Section, the defending TCAL Champions were anything but apathetic.  Led by what has become known as “The Jackson 3”, sophomore Milan Jackson, junior Sofia Jackson, and freshman Khaya Jackson were the top 3 finishers for the victors. 

 

“All of our girls ran solid races today,” said reigning TCAL coach of the year Denis Mohun.  “The tone for our race is usually set by our leaders and they did a good job today of focusing our team and taking care of business.  It would have been easy to come into the race today over confident and lackadaisical.  Luckily, our leaders were focused and their tenacity when racing spreads to everyone on the team.  As a coach, I’m lucky in this way.”

 

Milan’s PR 18:39, 3^rd place overall finish was followed by Sofia (4^th - 19:35), Khaya (5^th -19:36) , Alexa Lawson (6^th - 19:51) and Leaih Goode (PR 19:56).  The girls team scored a mere 25 points, which more than doubled the score of runner-up Albany.  Sophomore Annika Punz and senior Mallory Boell also ran fine races according to Coach Mohun.

 

The JV girls, coached by former Panther standout Ariana Corwin, also extended their TCAL Championship streak to 8 with a resounding win.  The girls won 7 of the top 8 places and 9 of the top 11 in a muscle flex that is becoming all too commonplace. 

 

“Our girls are not only talented but SO competitive,” commented coach Corwin afterwards.  “It’s no wonder they do so well.  Their willing to run hard and they really want to win.  It makes my job pretty easy!”

 

Freshman Jing Li-Chou was the JV Girls champion, followed by teammates Aoife Shen and Hailey Vines, who finished 2^nd and 3^rd respectively.  Juniors Cally McIntyre, Honey Rose Smith and Olivia Tarango… along with freshmen Lia Sullivan and Maddie Potter also were heralded by Coach Corwin. 

 

On the boy’s side, the frosh-soph boys avenged an early season loss to Albany when they won their championship race against the arch rival Cougars.  Sophomore Charlie Higley was the day’s fastest, running a 2.0 mile PR of 11.17 to win.  Fellow 10^th grader Darragh Westover was 2^nd (11:25), while a bevy of freshmen (Brandon Bosio, Luke Bradley, Kai Valle, Jacob Demissie, and Gabriel Cabral), joined forces to secure the victory for the Panthers. 

 

“I thought we ran great today,” said former Panther great and current Saint Mary’s teacher/coach Rob Riccardi.  “Our team improved by more than 5 minutes in just the past 6 weeks… and that’s not counting the guys didn’t score today but still ran really well.  It’s that type of growth and improvement that makes us winning even that much more special.  I’m happy.”

 

Finally, the varsity boy’s, up against the state’s #2 ranked Albany boys, put up a courageous battle before finally succumbing  19-38.  Junior Mateo Malko-Allen placed 2^nd overall with a Point Pinole PR of 15:36.  Senior captain Ryan Painter ran his way onto the TCAL 2^nd team all-league squad, placing 9^th overall.   Sophomore Colin Kopchik and junior Vale Johnson Vigeant also scored course PR’s.

 

Both Panther varsity teams advance to the North Coast Section Championships on Saturday, November 20^th at Hayward High School. 

State Ranked #5 Girls Finish 12-0 in TCAL League; Boys Now 11-1

November 4^th, 2021

Richmond, CA – The girls cross country team, who have won every TCAL Championship since the league was formed in 2013, ran their league record to 12-0 with easy wins over El Cerrito and John Swett on Thursday.  The girl’s dominance comes as no surprise considering the team is currently ranked #1 in the North Coast Section (Division 4) and #5 in California.  They go into next week’s TCAL Championship meet as the heavy favorites to once again repeat as champions.  The junior varsity girls, who have also won every league championship ever contested, will also enter the meet as considerable favorites.

The boy’s teams, both JV and Varsity, finished the regular season 11-1 after defeating the aforementioned teams.  They were led by varsity winner Mateo Malko-Allen and JV winner Charlie Higley.  Senior Ryan Painter and junior Jurgis Vass ran strong varsity races as did freshman Brandon Bosio and sophomore Darragh Westover in the JV race.  They, along with several of their teammates, will have all-league aspirations at next week’s championships.

Huge Medal Haul for Runners @ Mariner Invitational!

October 16^th, 2021

Hayward, CA – On Saturday, the cross country team sent 4 teams and 26 runners to the 38^th annual Phil Wilder/Mariner Invitational, hosted by Moreau Catholic High School.  Because the race is run on the famed Hayward High School course, site of the North Coast Section Championships next month, it attracts many of the top teams from area, all wanting to preview the facility and assess their teams strength on the rolling 3.0 mile course.  Consequently, one can expect the competition to be fierce and the times to be fast in the mid-October showdown of top caliber teams.  And, as expected, the competition was top-flight and the Panthers, along with many others, did run scorching fast times while bringing home a bevy of hard-earned medals.

The varsity boys opened the meet with a spirited 4^th place finish in their race.  Mateo Malko-Allen, himself not a stranger to fast times, ran the fastest time of his young life - and the fastest time by a Panther in more than a decade – when he placed 3^rd overall in 15:23.  Only former Brown University star Matt Duffy and former Claremont McKenna runner Dan Maxwell have ever run faster at Hayward, according to longtime coach Jeff Rogers. 

“Mateo competed very well today,” assessed coach Rogers.  “He ran in the 2^nd spot for most of the race and really executed the race plan we talked about beforehand.  Both he and I were quite happy afterwards.”

Senior captain Ryan Painter, no stranger to races at Hayward High, started aggressively and hung on to finish :30 faster than he ever has - a PR 16:41, which also earned him a medal.

Adrian Licea, who seems to get faster and faster every week, also medaled by running a satisfying but agonizing PR 17:01.  The 17:00 barrier, one every varsity boy high school runner is aware of, remains elusive for the fast charging junior.  Fellow junior Jurgis Vass and senior Simon Moss also ran the fastest races of their lives, each flirting with the 17:00 barrier ½ through the race before falling back a bit and finishing in 17:23 and 17:25 respectively. 

The girls, who earlier this week were named the state’s #5 ranked division 4 team after their huge Clovis performance, were once again facing several larger, state ranked teams as well as several of the top large school teams from the Central Coast Section… and once again the Panthers came to run.  Junior Sofia Jackson led the way this week for the Panthers, running a PR 19:12 while earning herself a medal.  Khaya Jackson, Milan Jackson and Alexa Lawson all ran in the mid-19:00’s to follow Sofia, while Leiah Goode moved up from her 6^th spot a week ago to place 5^th and close the scoring for the Panthers.  Leaih’s time of 19:52 was also a lifetime best.

The junior varsity girls team – Jing Li-Chou, Hailey Vines, Tatiana Wilson, Lia Sullivan, Cally McIntyre, and Georgia Rogers – easily won their small school (division 3-5) race.  The team of 6 spent much of the race running with and against each other, exchanging leads and positions frequently, before finally finishing in the order listed above.  All of the runners medaled despite this being, for most of them, their first ever 3 mile race!

Finally, the junior varsity boys also made a valiant effort at a team win before finally falling just a few points short and finishing second.  Sophomore Collin Kopchik and Charlie Higley were the front runners, placing 3^rd and 7^th respectively – in 17:36 and 17:45.  Sophomore Darragh Westover placed 3^rd  (18:34) and collected himself a medal, while freshmen Brandon Bosio (19:23), Luke Bradley (19:24), Gabriel Cabral (19:37), and Jacob Demissie (19:57) all ran solid races in their ever trip to Hayward.

 

The Panthers won’t be racing officially again until Thursday, November 4^th when they host El Cerrito and John Swett at Point Pinole Regional Park.

Panthers Run to Victory @ SPSV

October 14^th, 2021

Vallejo, CA – All four Panther cross country teams – junior varsity and varsity – scored resounding wins in their 2^nd of 3 TCAL Cluster meets on Thursday at St. Patrick-St. Vincent High School.  The JV Boys team swept the likes of SPSV, Jesse Bethel (Vallejo), and Hercules to run their league record to 7-1.  The team, running an unorthodox 2.0 mile course, was led by sophomore Darragh Westover (12:47) and freshman Brandon Bosio (12:58), who finished 2^nd and 3^rd overall.  Freshmen Luke Bradley (13:07), Kai Valle (13:07) and Gabriel Cabral (13:14) completed the scoring for the victorious Panthers.

The JV Girls followed suit, with freshmen Sorcha Shen, Aoife Shen, Tatiana Wilson and Lia Sullivan combining with senior Hailey Vines and juniors Cally McIntyre and Georgia Rogers to sweep the first 7 places. 

Both varsity teams – boys & girls – ran to convincing wins as well.  The boys had the top 5 placers while the girls had the top 6 as both squads recorded perfect 15 point totals. 

Next up for the Panthers is the Mariner Invitational on Saturday, October 16^th at Hayward High School – site of the 2021 NCS Championship meet. 

Girls Send Message to State Division 4 @ Clovis: "We’re Good"

October 9^th, 2021

Clovis, CA – After spending most of the 2021 season flying under the radar – un-ranked and un-noticed - the girl’s Varsity Cross Country team stepped onto one of California’s big cross country stages on Saturday, taking on 7 state ranked teams at the prestigious Clovis Invitational. Running with the ferocity and determination they’ve shown all year long, the Panthers nearly scored the shocker of the meet in nearly winning their small schools varsity race.  Leading half way through the race, the Panthers faded a bit but still managed to hang onto 3^rd place overall, just a few points from second and a mile away from what the pre-meet predictions had scored them. 

“Well, I guess we’re no longer a secret,” beamed head coach Denis Mohun afterwards.  “We hadn’t run our full team together until today.  We like the freshman and sophomore to run in their grade level at the beginning of the season so our team hasn’t been complete until today’s races so it was hard for the analysts to know how good we are.  I guess they do now,” coach said with a wry smile.

Sophomore Milan Jackson once again led the way, placing 8^th overall on the famed Woodward Park course.  Her 19:17 on the rolling 3.1 mile course was a personal best in that it was the only time she’s ever run a 5k.  In fact, for most of the girls and boys this was their first ever 3.1 mile race! 

The dynamic freshmen duo of Alexa Lawson and Khaya Jackson had “great races” according to Coach Mohun, finishing 20^th and 26^th (out of 176 runners) to place 2^nd and 3^rd on the team.  Teammate Annika Punz, who Coach Mohun calls the most improved runner on the team, was 3 places behind Khaya.. finishing 29^th in 20:15.  Sofia Jackson (20:25), Leiah Goode (PR – 20:57), and Mallory Boell (PR – 22:01) rounded out the scoring and placing for the soon-to-be state ranked girl’s team. 

The boy’s race was equally as competitive as the girl’s race - with 6 state ranked teams in the field of 24 teams and 170 runners.  The boy’s, again like the girl’s, went out fast and hungry and were 3^rd after the first mile.  However, the pre-race exuberance quickly turned to fatigue as the boys faded to 8^th.  Still, they managed to outpace and outrun several highly regarded teams while scoring some big individual PR’s. 

Junior Mateo Malko-Allen finished 5^th overall in 16:07, which was more than 1:30 faster than his 2019 race.  Senior Ryan Painter also had a solid race, placing 36^th in his personal best 17:19.  Junior Adrian Licea, “steadily rounding into shape,” according to Coach Rogers, had his best race of the year – running 17:56 to break the 18:00 barrier for the first time this year.  Sophomore Charlie Higley (18:08), senior Simon Moss (18:18), and junior Vale Johnson Vigeant (18:43)– all making their first appearance on the Woodward Park course – completed the Panthers squad at Clovis.   

Next up for the Panthers is their 2^nd TCAL Cluster Meet, on Thursday, October 14^th, at St. Patrick-St. Vincent (SPSV).  First race is at 4:00.     

Fast Runners Show The Way to Half Moon Bay

October 2^nd, 2021

Half Moon Bay, CA - The Panthers Cross Country teams came away from the 50^th annual Artichoke Invitational, hosted by Half Moon May High School, with a horde of personal bests, individual medals, a victorious team plaque, and plenty of smiling faces.  But, according to girl’s assistant coach Ariana Corwin, what may have been the biggest result from the always-popular invitational is “the confidence that so many of the runners seem to be running with.  I don’t think I’ve seen our team compete as fiercely as they did today.  I mean, they were getting out with the leaders and battling for medals and team titles.  It was awesome.”

Indeed, the times and results themselves substantiate Coach Corwin’s astute observations.  Four teams entered: 12 medalists, 1 overall team win, 3 second place team finishes, and 100% of the runners captures personal bests.  Incredible!

The Panthers grouped their squads by grade on Saturday – having the freshman and sophomores run in the frosh-soph race while the juniors and seniors competed in the varsity division.  The highlight of the day was the team victory in the frosh-soph girls race.  Despite racing without their top runner Milan Jackson (out with a minor hip injury), the Panthers more than made up for her loss with an impressive array of talent and determination. 

Freshmen Khaya Jackson and Alexa Lawson, fast becoming two of the top 9^th graders in the East Bay, ran together and amongst the leaders for most of the race before finally finishing 2^nd and 4^th overall.  Teammate Annika Punz, also competing in her first ever cross country season, continues to excite and impress the coaching staff with her efforts, this time finishing 6^th in 15:35.  Freshmen sisters Aoife and Sorcha Shen are also raising eyebrows with their continued success, each earning an Artichoke Invitational medal by finishing 9^th and 12^th respectively.  Tatiana Wilson and Lia Sullivan, also freshmen who are brand new to the sport, cemented the victory with their prize-winning 16^th and 17^th place finishes.

In the varsity girls race, the Panthers finished in the runner-up spot, a scant 5 point ahead of third place Soquel High School (Santa Cruz).  Sofia Jackson, who in 2019 ran 17:16 on the course, ran 1:41 faster this time around, finishing in 15:35, to place 2^nd overall.   

“Sofia is such a force on our team,” said head coach Denis Mohun after the race. “She’s such a competitor who puts it all out there when she runs.  She sets a great example for all of our runners on how to grind and dig deep.  She earned her medal today.”

Fellow junior Leiah Goode had her best race of the season as well, running a tough, courageous final ½ mile to move all the way to 3^rd place overall.  She too ran more than 1:00 faster than she did in 2019.  Senior Mallory Boell placed third on the team and 17^th overall with her 1:20 PR, while juniors Cally McIntyre and Georgia Rogers also ran close to a minute faster than they ever have at Artichoke to close out the scoring.  Junior Olivia Tarango was the 6^th runner for the Panthers.

The boy’s races, like the girls, were divided up by grade.  In the varsity race, super junior Mateo Malko-Allen – seeking to celebrate his 17^th birthday with an Artichoke Invitational win – fell (literally) just short of that goal.  Leading the 2.33 mile race the entire time and with just 300 meters to go, Mateo tripped while jumping over the hay bails – crashing to the ground, surrendering the lead, and having to settle for the runner-up spot.  After the meet, and still flashing his usual glowing smile, Mateo pondered whether or not the steeplechase is part of his future? 

After Mateo, the varsity boys squad was what coach Jeff Rogers called “the best they’ve been all season.”  Senior Ryan Painter ran his lifetime best by a full minute that earned him an individual medal; fellow senior Simon Moss – competing for the first time at Artichoke – grabbed one of the last medals handed out in his race; while juniors Jurgis Vass, Adrian Licea and Vale Johnson Vigeant packed well together and finished a mere :05 apart.  Both Jurgis and Vale ran about 1:40 faster than 2 years ago.

The frosh-soph boys race also featured a pair of medalists: Charlie Higley and Colin Kopchik.  Both sophomores were running their first ever Artichoke, including the vaunted Cougar Hill and it’s crushing ascent.  Both runners as well as their entire team, fortunately, survived the dread and were able to finish 4^th and 6^th overall. 

In fact, their times were the 3^rd and 4^th fastest times on the team.  Fellow 10^th grader Darragh Westover and freshman Brandon Bosio ran well together… as did first timers Gabriel Cabral and Jacob Demissie.  The group’s collective effort got them a runner-up team finish, just 2 points ahead of host Half Moon Bay high school. 

Up next for the Panthers is the Clovis Invitational in Clovis, CA on Saturday, October 9^th.  The meet features most of the top teams from around the Golden State.  Only the Panthers top 7 boys and girls varsity squads will travel to the meet.  

Girl’s Teams Dominate 1^st TCAL Meet; Open Season 5-0

September 30^th, 2021

Richmond, CA – The Saint Mary’s Cross Country Teams opened their 2021 TCAL season on Thursday, running at Point Pinole Regional Park against league rivals Albany, De Anza, Salesian, Pinole Valley and Richmond.  The 5-way meet was the first of 3 league cluster meets that bring together multiple teams to a single competition.  On Thursday, the other teams were no match for the powerful girls squad, which is quickly emerging as one of the top teams in the North Coast Section.

Led by fast-rising sophomore Milan Jackson, junior co-captain Sofia Jackson, and a multitude of young, talented upstarts, the Panthers have the look of section contender.  “Today was our first 3 mile race of the season,” said veteran head coach Denis Mohun.  “For some of our runners, it was the first time they’ve ever raced for 3 miles.  Given that, I thought we ran pretty well.  However, I think this team has a lot more than we showed today.” 

The aforementioned Milan Jackson was the first Panther across the finish line, covering the rolling three mile course in 19:42.  Sofia Jackson was next in 20:02, followed by freshman Khaya Jackson (20:12), sophomore Annika Punz (21:00) and freshman Alexa Lawson (21:05).  Junior Leiah Goode (21:21) and senior co-captain Mallor Boell (21:40) made up the top 7 for the victorious Panthers. 

Earlier, the junior varsity girls completely dominated their race, grabbing 9 of the top 10 places (including the top 6) to cruise to an easy shut out victory.  Senior Hailey Vines, a newcomer to cross country, won the race, followed by three freshmen: Tatiana Wilson, Jing Li-Chou, and Lia Sullivan, and a pair of juniors: Cally McIntyre and Georgia Rogers. 

On the boy’s side, both varisty and junior varsity teams won 4 of their 5 races but both lost to powerful Albany teams.  In the varsity race, junior Mateo Malko-Allen (16:12) was the top Panther, followed by seniors Ryan Painter (17:11) and Simon Moss (17:51), sophomore Charlie Higley (18:05), and juniors Adrian Licea (18:25) and Vale Johnson Vigeant (18:28).  

In the junior varsity race, junior Jurgis Vass – normally a varsity runner who was, instead, running the shorter 2 mile race on this day - led the way for the Panthers, followed by freshman Brandon Bosio and sophomore Darragh Westover.  Ninth graders Gabriel Cabral and Luke Bradley completed the scoring for the JV team, many of whom were running their first race of the season.

Next up for the Panthers is the annual Artichoke Invitational on Saturday, October 2^nd in Half Moon Bay.  The Panthers have 25+ runners entered into the always popular 2.3 mile race.  Good luck to the Panthers this weekend!  

Player Profile: Ryan Painter

by Sydney Scott

September 28th, 2021

This week, I caught up with Varsity Cross Country Captain Ryan Painter. Ryan has run both cross country and track since he entered Saint Mary’s 4 years ago.  As a track athlete in the spring, he runs the 800 and 1600 but in the fall it’s nothing but 2 and 3 mile cross country races.  Ryan recently finished 12^th at the Viking Invitational with a personal best 11:04 on a two mile course. When not running, Ryan plays piano and enjoys mountain biking and surfing. He enjoys studying math and history and thinks he’ll pursue one of those areas once in college. 

 

Q: How did you get into your sport?   

A: I ran track in 8th grade and freshman year I ran cross country and I’ve been doing it since. I initially enjoyed both of them and have gotten more attached to them as time as gone on.   
 
Q: What do you like best about Cross Country at Saint Mary’s?
A: I’d say the comradery and everyone working together and pushing each other to improve. I love the team culture as we support each other and work hard together every practice. 

Q: What has been the highlight of your Saint Mary’s running career thus far?
A: Our race in Clovis in 2019.  The whole team drove out and it was a lot of fun.  Everyone raced well and we got a chance to compete on the state meet course against some of the best teams in the state.  But mostly, it was really fun to just spend time with the team. 

Q: Do you have a favorite story you could share about one of the coaches or your teammates?
My favorite story so far has been when we ran the Taco Bell Run at the end of last year.  The Taco Bell Run has each person run an all out mile after eating Taco Bell tacos.  As runners, our diet is usually pretty good so to have to eat fast food and then run as hard as we can is… let’s say… challenging.  Some guys had the tacos go down and then back up.  When people hear the stories, they think it’s pretty disgusting.  But somehow, it’s kind of fun.  It definitely is something you never forget.

 

Q: Do you have a pre-meet meal or ritual?
A: I eat pasta before every race and drink a lot of water the day of.

Q: What advice would you give to a new player/teammate?
A: If you’re new to running, don’t get discouraged after just a few weeks.  Running is hard and it takes a LOT of running to get good.  It gets easier as you build a base and before you know it you can do things you would have thought you could do.  I never would have thought I could run under 5 minutes for a mile or have a chance to run 3 miles in under 17:00 but I can.  Believe in yourself and trust the coaches' workouts because it's helping you improve. 

 

Q: Any hopes/goals that you have for yourself and for your team this season?

A: For myself to break 17 for the 3 mile and for the team to be competitive in TCAL and the NCS.

Girl’s Win F/S Girls Race @ Viking Opener

September 18^th, 2021

Santa Rosa, CA - Both the Girls and Boys Cross Country teams utilized their depth, talent and determination to win two of the six races they were entered in at the Viking Invitational at Spring Lake Park in Santa Rosa on Saturday.  Along with the team victories, both squads featured individual champions and award winners as well as a slew of personal bests recorded.

The girl’s frosh-soph team began the day by placing 4 runners in the top 11 to secure a dominant team victory.  Sophomore Milan Jackson led the way with a PR 12:18 over the rolling 2.0 mile course, placing 3^rd in her race while running the 5^th fastest time of the day.  Freshmen teammates Alexa Lawson and Khaya Jackson were in hot pursuit, placing 6^th and 8^th individually.. while sophomore Annika Punz placed 11^th.  All of those times were also personal bests.

Junior Sofia Jackson opened her 2021 campaign with a solid 6^th place finish in the junior-senior race.  Her 12:59 was her fastest ever over a 2.0 mile distance.  Teammate and fellow 11^th grader Leiah Goode placed 18^th at 13:38, followed by senior co-captain Mallory Boell (14:07) and a pair of juniors – Georgia Rogers (15:29) and Cally MacIntyre (15:33).

Another trio of freshmen, running in the Open Race against a mix of runners from all grades, ran themselves into a first place tie with perennial power Maria Carrillo.  Aoife Shen, donning a Saint Mary’s uniform for the very first time, ran away from the field to win in 13:56.  Her sister, Sorcha, placed 7^th (14:44) while Lia Sullivan ran the best race of her young career to place 3^rd at 14:23. 

For the Boys, junior Mateo Malko-Allen ran 10:25 to place 2^nd in the junior boy’s race. That time made him the 2^nd fastest boy of the day, no matter the race or grade.   Senior captain Ryan Painter was also up to the task on Saturday, running 11:04 for the 2.0 mile course, which was the fastest race of his life.  Earlier in the day, a trio of sophomores ran very inspired races.  Colin Kopchik placed 11^th in the very fast, very competitive sophomore race.  His time of 11:39 was his lifetime best.  Charlie Higley was nipping at Colin’s heels the entire race, finishing 13^th at 11:41 while newcomer Darragh Westover continues to impress, running a minute faster (12:30) than he did just two weeks ago at the time trial. 

 

Next up for the Panthers is their TCAL opener against rivals Albany, De Anza, Salesian and Pinole Valley on Thursday, September 30^th at Point Pinole Regional Park.  

 

Stars Shine @ Ed Sias Invitational

September 11^th, 2021

Martinez, CA – After a pandemic created hiatus in 2020, the annual Ed Sias Invitational returned in 2021 with the usual cast of Northern California powerhouses, perennial stars, high-level competition, hot weather, and plenty of fast times.  Led by a couple of veterans and a bevy of young talent, the Saint Mary’s cross country team emerged from Ed Sias serving notice that they’ll be in the state meet conversation come November.

Junior Mateo Malko-Allen was the top runner for the boy’s squad.  Running in the Varsity Boy’s Small School Race, Mateo stayed with the lead group for the majority of the race in finishing 5^th overall.  His medal-winning run over the rolling 2.0 mile course was timed in 10:49 – which is his personal best at Ed Sias.  Teammate Ryan Painter also gutted out his personal best (11:41), running almost a minute faster than he did in 2019. Seniors Simon Moss and Andreas Pichardo also ran solid races according to assistant coach Ben Turman. 

 

The Boy’s JV Race was run in the early afternoon in almost 90 degree heat.  The hot weather, however, didn’t seem to bother sophomore Charlie Higley, who followed up his eye-opening time trial with another solid run at Ed Sias – finishing 6^th overall in 12:13.  Sophomore teammate Darraugh Westover, competing in his first-ever cross country meet, also received praise from the coaches for his gritty performance.

The talent-heavy girl’s squad also had several top notch individual performances.  Sophomore Milan Jackson, quickly emerging as one of the unscripted stars in the East Bay running corridors, picked up a medal of her own with her 5^th place finish in the Girl’s Varsity Race.  In the history of our school, her time of 13:02 “has only been bettered by a couple of girls” according to longtime head coach Denis Mohun.  “Milan has the potential to be one of the best we’ve ever had,” beamed her coach.   Juniors Leiah Goode (14:48) and senior Mallory Boell (14:51) also ran very well according to coach Mohun.

 

The Girl’s JV race was completely dominated by the Panthers up front, placing 3 girls in the top 10.  Freshman Khaya Jackson took charge of the race late and pulled away to win (13:36), while freshman Alexa Lawson finished 4^th (14:06), and sophomore Annika Punz placed 5^th (14:27).  The strength of those three places, combined with the runs of freshman Lia Sullivan and junior HoneyRose Smith, propelled the Panthers to a 4^th place team finish.

“Overall, I thought the runners competed well today,” concluded coach Mohun.  “For many of them, it was the first time they’ve run since 2019 and for some it was the first time they’ve ever run a race in a Saint Mary’s uniform.  Couple that with the hot weather and stiff competition, and I think they represented themselves and our team very well.”

Next up for the Panthers is the Viking Opener next Saturday, September 18^th, in Santa Rosa. 

Youth Serve Notice @ 23^rd Annual Time Trial

September 7^th, 2021

Each year since 1999, the Saint Mary’s Cross Country team has kicked off their season with a team time trial at Tilden Park.  The course -  a winding, rolling 1.9 mile run through the trees and trails of the beautiful Berkeley park – both challenges runners and serves as a peak into the runner’s fitness level, talent, determination and competitiveness. 

“This is one of my favorite days of the year,” said longtime varsity girls coach Denis Mohun.  “It helps develop team chemistry, allows the runners to finally get a race in after a long summer of running, gets the younger runners a chance to experience a competition, and offers us coaches a preview of who’s ready to go.”

On Tuesday, many of the runners let the coaches know that are certainly “ready to go.”  Junior Mateo Malko-Allen, forecasted to be one of the top runners in Division IV, became the 6^th fastest runner in school history on the course, blazing to a personal best 10:20.  That time also makes him the 4^th fastest junior ever.  Sophomore Charlie Higley also cracked the all-time list, running almost 2:00 minutes faster than he did a year ago… crossing the finish line in 11:30.. which was the 4^th fastest time of the day.  Freshman Brandon Bosio also secured a spot on the all-time 9^th grade list, finishing as the day’s fastest newcomer in 12:52.

 

The headliners of the day, however, had to be the 9^th and 10^th grade girls.  Combined, they placed 8 different girls on the all-time list – including 6 in the top 10 all-time!  Leading the way was sophomore sensation Milan Jackson.  An accomplished hooper, Milan is also an outstanding runner who showed her talent and competitiveness with her 12:42 scorcher.  Milan now ranks as the 4^th fastest sophomore ever and the #7 girl to ever run the course. 

 

“Milan runs with such courage; such guts,” remarked Coach Mohun.  “She’s a great model for both the younger runners, older runners, girls and boys on what it looks to run tough.”

Another sophomore, Annika Punz, delivered a remarkable run herself which may have made her the most improved runner of the day.  Her 13:19 makes her the #7 sophomore ever, ahead of runners who have state meet medals! 

 

Freshman Khaya Jackson, Milan’s sister, also announced her arrival to the storied Panther squad.  Her 13:06 makes her the 2^nd fastest freshman ever, behind only state meet award winner and former UNLV star Spencer Moore.  Teammate Alexa Lawson, whose family and legacy is well documented on the Saint Mary’s campus, was close behind in 13:15.. making her the 4^th fastest 9^th grader in school history.  Sorcha Shen (13:58) and Jing Li-Chou (14:16) ran themselves into the record books and won themselves a “Tilden All-Time Top 10” t-shirt for their efforts. 

In all, the day was a successful one for sure.  “For the most part, we’re proud of the effort,” concluded boys head coach Jeff Rogers.  “As a coach, all we can ask for is their best effort.  If they’re willing to give that, we feel like we can coach them to times and performances that will make us all proud.”

The Panthers first invitational meet is the Ed Sias Invitational this Saturday, September 11^th at Hidden Valley Park in Martinez.  Come out and support the Panthers as they open their 2021 season!

Excitement and Uncertainty Usher in 2021 Cross Country Season

August 12th, 2021

 

Each cross country season brings with it an air of uncertainty and the 2021 season will be no different.  Having graduated 7 varsity runners from the boys and girls 2020 teams, this year’s teams are hoping that those voids will be filled - in numbers

and performance, - by a young group of hungry, dedicated, talented runners. 

 

“Anytime you lose the kind of talent and depth that we did, a bit of uncertainty is sure to follow,” said boys head coach Jeff Rogers.  “The jump from JV to Varsity is substantial, both physically and psychologically.  So the challenge certainly lies in front of us.  Still, I am optimistic that this group can carry on the strong tradition we’ve established over the past two decades.”

 

These feelings of optimism are fueled by the combination of several returning runners and a group of talented up and comers.  Leading the way for the girls will be the two top runners from last year’s squad:  Milan Jackson and Sofia Jackson.  Along with sharing the same last name, Milan and Sofia also share an abundance of drive, determination and talent that make them two of the top runners in the TCAL.  “Our two fastest runners to start the season will most certainly be Milan and Sofia,” said longtime coach Denis Mohun.  “Those two were are top two last season and both had strong track seasons.  I look for both of them to lead the way early on.”

 

In addition to Milan and Sofia, Coach Mohun’s squad has some solid upperclassmen leadership is senior co-captain Mallory Boell as well as a bevy of talent in underclassmen Alexa Lawson, Khaya Jackson and Annika Punz.  Add to the mix juniors Leiah Goode, Georgia Rogers, Olivia Tarango and what appears to be a feisty, eager freshman class and the 7 time defending TCAL champions seem more than capable of defending their title. 

For the boys, the 2021 team’s hopes rest on the ability of some of the younger runners to transition to varsity as quickly as possible. The team will be led by one of the top NCS runners in Division IV, junior Mateo Malko-Allen.  Mateo - fresh off a 4:25 (1600), 9:38 (3200) track campaign- enters the 2021 season as one of the individuals vying for a medal at the NCS Championships meet in November. 

“Mateo’s talent and desire are a gift,” said boy’s varsity assistant and former CAL Bear Ben Turman.  “I’ve been in the running world for 4 decades now and can say that I haven’t come upon many high schoolers like Mateo.  His determination and passion for the sport will take him places.  We’re excited to have him on our team.”

 

After Mateo, the Panthers will rely on their captain, senior Ryan Painter as well as senior Simon Moss and junior Adrian Licea.  Ryan’s commitment to running this summer – on the heels of his 4:51 mile in the spring – suggest he’s ready for a breakout senior campaign.  Likewise, Simon’s run a significant amount this summer and should be ready to contribute “significantly”, according to Coach Turman.   Junior Adrian Licea, whose summer was derailed with injury, is back and should provide the much-needed depth a good team needs.  After that, senior newcomer Andreas Pichardo is “intriguing” according to Coach Rogers, while sophomores Colin Kopchick and Charlie Higley… along with juniors Jurgis Vass and Vale Johnson Vigeant hope to make that much talked about jump from JV to Varsity. 

“My hope for our 2021 team is that their appetite for running continues to grow,” says Rogers.  “I think that is the prerequisite for improvement and success in this sport.  I see a few of the guys already chomping at the bit but we’ll need everyone to match their enthusiasm.  I’m equal parts excited and uncertain heading into this season.”   Which, in many respects, is what most runners feel as they get on the starting line of a race… excited and uncertain. 

 

The season opens on with the 23^rd annual time trial at Tilden Park on Tuesday, September 7^th, followed by the Ed Sias Invitational on Saturday, September 11^th.  Come out and support the Panthers as they kick off their 2021 campaign.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cross Country Schedule & Results (2021)

Date		Meet	Location	Time	Result
Sept. 7th	Tues.	23rd Annual Time Trial	Tilden Park, Berkeley	4:00 pm	Results
Sept. 11th	Sat.	Ed Sias Invitational	Hidden Valley Park, Martinez	9:00 am	Results
Sept. 18th	Sat.	Viking Opener	Spring Lake Park, Santa Rosa	8:00 am	Results
Sept. 30th	Thurs.	Albany, De Anza, Salesian, Pinole Valley, Richmond	Point Pinole Regional Park	4:00 pm	Results
Oct. 2nd	Sat.	Artichoke Invitational	Half Moon Bay High School	8:00 am	Results
Oct. 9th	Sat.	Clovis Invitational	Woodward Park, Clovis, CA	TBA	Results
Oct. 14th	Thurs.	SPSV, Hercules, Vallejo, Jesse Bethel	SPSV High School, Benicia	4:00 pm	Results
Oct. 16th	Sat.	Mariner Invitational	Hayward High School	9:00 am	Results
Oct. 28th	Thurs.	2nd Team Time Trial	Tilden Park, Berkeley	4:00 pm	Results
Nov. 4th	Thurs.	El Cerrito, John Swett, Kennedy	Point Pinole Regional Park	4:00 pm	Results
Nov. 10th	Wed.	TCAL League Finals	Point Pinole Regional Park	1:30 pm	Results
Nov. 20th	Sat.	NCS Meet of Champions	Hayward High School	TBA	Results
Nov. 27th	Sat.	CIF State Championships	Woodward Park, Clovis, CA	TBA	Results

  **Dates highlighted in RED denote a TCAL League event **

Cross Country Schedule & Results (2021)

Date		Meet	Location	Time	Result
Sept. 7th	Tues.	23rd Annual Time Trial	Tilden Park, Berkeley	4:00 pm	Results
Sept. 11th	Sat.	Ed Sias Invitational	Hidden Valley Park, Martinez	9:00 am	Results
Sept. 18th	Sat.	Viking Opener	Spring Lake Park, Santa Rosa	8:00 am	Results
Sept. 30th	Thurs.	Albany, De Anza, Salesian, Pinole Valley, Richmond	Point Pinole Regional Park	4:00 pm	Results
Oct. 2nd	Sat.	Artichoke Invitational	Half Moon Bay High School	8:00 am	Results
Oct. 9th	Sat.	Clovis Invitational	Woodward Park, Clovis, CA	TBA	Results
Oct. 14th	Thurs.	SPSV, Hercules, Vallejo, Jesse Bethel	SPSV High School, Benicia	4:00 pm	Results
Oct. 16th	Sat.	Mariner Invitational	Hayward High School	9:00 am	Results
Oct. 28th	Thurs.	2nd Team Time Trial	Tilden Park, Berkeley	4:00 pm	Results
Nov. 4th	Thurs.	El Cerrito, John Swett, Kennedy	Point Pinole Regional Park	4:00 pm	Results
Nov. 10th	Wed.	TCAL League Finals	Point Pinole Regional Park	1:30 pm	Results
Nov. 20th	Sat.	NCS Meet of Champions	Hayward High School	TBA	Results
Nov. 27th	Sat.	CIF State Championships	Woodward Park, Clovis, CA	TBA	Results

  **Dates highlighted in RED denote a TCAL League event **

Cross Country - 2020 Season Highlights

 

Cross Country - 2019 Season Highlights

Cross Country Schedule & Results (2019)

Date		Meet	Location	Result
Sept. 3rd		Monte Vista Invitational	Oak Hill Park, Danville	Results
Sept. 9th		21st Annual Time Trial	Tilden Park, Berkeley	Results
Sept. 14th		Ed Sias Invitational	Hidden Valley Park, Martinez	Results
Sept. 21st		Farmer Invitational	Hayward High School	Results
Oct. 3rd		Hercules, Vallejo, DA, SPSV	Point Pinole Regional Park	Results
Oct. 5th		Artichoke Invitational	Half Moon Bay H.S.	Results
Oct. 10th		El Cerrito, JFK, John Swett	Point Pinole Park	Results
Oct. 12th		Clovis Invitational	Woodward Park, Clovis, CA	Results
Oct. 17th		Albany, Jesse Bethel, Pinole Valley	Point Pinole Park	Results
Oct. 19th		Mariner Invitational	Hayward High School	Results
Oct. 28th		2nd Time Trial	Tilden Park, Berkeley
Nov. 7th		TCAL Championships	Point Pinole Park	Results
Nov. 23rd		NCS Meet of Champions	Hayward High School	Results
Nov. 30th		CA State Championships	Woodward Park, Clovis

 

 

Cross Country - 2018 Season Highlights

Cross Country Schedule & Results (2018)

Date		Meet	Location	Time	Results
Sept. 4th	Tues.	20th Annual Time Trial	Tilden Park, Berkeley	4:00 pm	Results
Sep. 8th	Sat.	Ed Sias Invitational	Hidden Valley Park, Martinez, CA	9:00 am	Results
Sept. 14th	Fri.	Woodbridge Invitational (Varsity Only)	Irvine, CA	TBA	Results
Sep. 15th	Sat.	Farmer Invitational	Hayward High School, Hayward	9:00 am	Results
Sep. 27th	Thur.	Salesian, Pinole Valley, Hercules, El Cerrito, DA	Point Pinole Regional Park	4:00 pm	Results
Sep. 29th	Sat.	Stanford Invitational (Varsity Only)	Stanford Golf Course, Palo Alto	9:00 am	Results
Sep. 29th	Sat.	Capital Cross Challenge	Haggin Oaks Golf Course, Sacramento, CA	8:00 am
Oct. 6th	Sat.	Artichoke Invitational	Half Moon Bay H.S., Half Moon Bay, CA	TBA	Results
Oct. 11th	Thurs.	SPSV, Jesse Bethel, Vallejo	SPSV	4:00 pm	Results
Oct. 20th	Sat.	Mariner Invitational	Hayward High School, Hayward	9:00 am	Results
Oct. 25th	Thurs.	Albany, Kennedy, Richmond	Point Pinole Regional Park	4:00 pm	Results
Oct. 29th	Mon.	2nd Time Trial	Tilden Park, Berkeley	4:00 pm	Results
Nov. 1st	Thurs.	TCAL League Finals	Point Pinole Regional Park	1:30 pm	Results
Nov 17th	Sat.	NCS Meet of Champions	Hayward High School, Hayward	TBA
Nov. 24th	Sat.	CIF State Championships	Woodward Park, Clovis, CA	TBA

Cross Country Highlights & Results (2017)

Season Highlights & Results (2016)

Season Highlights & Results (2015)

Season Highlights & Results (2014)

Season Highlights & Results (2013)

Season Highlights & Results (2012)

Season Highlights & Results (2011)

Season Highlights & Results (2010)

Season Highlights & Results (2009)

Season Highlights & Results (2008)

Season Highlights & Results (2007)

Season Highlights & Results (2006)

Season Highlights & Results (2005)

Season Highlights & Results (2002)

Season Highlights & Results (2001)

Season Highlights & Results (2000)

Season Highlights & Results (1999)