2008 Woodie Awards
MJC cross country streaking towards State
John-Joel Griffiths
Issue date: 11/17/05 Section: Sports
The streak is still alive! For the fourth year in a row, the Women's Cross Country Team is the Central Valley Conference Champions. The women scored 19 points to run away with the title; Fresno placed second with 38.
Natalie Alvarez, (1st, 20:02) who earned CVC "Athlete of the Year," kept another streak alive for the Pirates. In the last four years, an MJC woman has emerged victorious earning the conference's first place position-last year it was Linsey Van Zant and the two years prior, it was Irma Gonzalez. Both athletes later went on to compete at four year colleges.
"Natalie ran a great race," said Coach Mary Shea, CVC Coach of the Year for the fourth consecutive year. "She had a race plan and followed it."
Natalie's victory over second place was 31 seconds. MJC's top five women earned all-Conference honors-Jodie Leal was 3rd; Erin McCoy was 4th; Queriza Armendariz was 5th; and Christina Jaime was 6th.
"We knew that her competition would be Eva Flores from Fresno. I also knew she could pull away from Eva and that is what she did at about the two-mile mark," said Coach Shea.
The men's race will surely go down in history as one of the most competitive. College of Sequoias edged out the Pirates 40-42, while Fresno was an extremely close 3rd in 43.
"It was a battle the whole race and all we could do is scream as hard as we could," said Coach Shea. "All of the coaches knew how close this race was; every man counted."
Three of the MJC men ran incredibly fast first miles. Alex Padilla, Jeff Paneda (4:57) and Humberto Gonzalez (5:02), went out very aggressively.
"Their competitive spirit was admirable and the men all felt pretty good at the beginning of the race and had to fight the last three miles," said Coach Shea. "I think next week they will be a little more conservative at the Nor-Cal Championships."
When the results became available, the team was disappointed, but they are still eager to race again next week. MJC had two all-Conference performers-Alex Padilla (6th, 21:45) and Humberto Gonzalez (7th, 21:47) and earned the runner-up team position in the conference.
Next Saturday, both teams travel to Hartnell for the Nor-Cal Championships. Both teams have a strong chance of qualifying for the State Championships in Fresno.
Natalie Alvarez, (1st, 20:02) who earned CVC "Athlete of the Year," kept another streak alive for the Pirates. In the last four years, an MJC woman has emerged victorious earning the conference's first place position-last year it was Linsey Van Zant and the two years prior, it was Irma Gonzalez. Both athletes later went on to compete at four year colleges.
"Natalie ran a great race," said Coach Mary Shea, CVC Coach of the Year for the fourth consecutive year. "She had a race plan and followed it."
Natalie's victory over second place was 31 seconds. MJC's top five women earned all-Conference honors-Jodie Leal was 3rd; Erin McCoy was 4th; Queriza Armendariz was 5th; and Christina Jaime was 6th.
"We knew that her competition would be Eva Flores from Fresno. I also knew she could pull away from Eva and that is what she did at about the two-mile mark," said Coach Shea.
The men's race will surely go down in history as one of the most competitive. College of Sequoias edged out the Pirates 40-42, while Fresno was an extremely close 3rd in 43.
"It was a battle the whole race and all we could do is scream as hard as we could," said Coach Shea. "All of the coaches knew how close this race was; every man counted."
Three of the MJC men ran incredibly fast first miles. Alex Padilla, Jeff Paneda (4:57) and Humberto Gonzalez (5:02), went out very aggressively.
"Their competitive spirit was admirable and the men all felt pretty good at the beginning of the race and had to fight the last three miles," said Coach Shea. "I think next week they will be a little more conservative at the Nor-Cal Championships."
When the results became available, the team was disappointed, but they are still eager to race again next week. MJC had two all-Conference performers-Alex Padilla (6th, 21:45) and Humberto Gonzalez (7th, 21:47) and earned the runner-up team position in the conference.
Next Saturday, both teams travel to Hartnell for the Nor-Cal Championships. Both teams have a strong chance of qualifying for the State Championships in Fresno.