Buchanan boys win first Central Section section title since 2017 in cross country
The Buchanan High girls cross country team seem poised to make a mark at the state championships once again at Woodward Park next weekend.
The Bears boys hope to follow after a strong showing Thursday afternoon at the Central Section championships on the 5,000 course.
Buchanan boys beat out Clovis East and Clovis North with a score of 47 points for its first section championship since 2017. The Timberwolves and Broncos had 59 and 67 points, respectively.
And leading the way for Buchanan was Luke Sanders, who placed second in 15:23.38. Conor Lott of Clovis North was the champion in 15:22.80.
“Extremely competitive race with Clovis East and Clovis North,” Buchanan coach Brian Weaver said. “They’re very well coached. Their kids come prepared really well. Our plan was to really push the last mile, and the boys did a good job with that and came out on top.”
Weaver said Weaver and Lott have been going back and forth all season, but said it was a fun race to watch.
“I knew Luke could battle him,” he said. “It’s just you just love watching kids come down to the end like that, and so they challenge each other and make each other better. So that was a really great race for those guys as well.”
While a first-place finish for Buchanan boys seems to be a long shot, Weaver can see his team being on the podium.
The D-I boys race will begin at 9:30 a.m. Nov. 30 at Woodward Park.
Weaver is looking forward to seeing how the race plays out.
“I think that they have the ability to be there,” he said. “We’ve had some illnesses, but I think we’re that’s we’re trending past that, and I think they’ll be really competitive in the state meet. And that’s been the goal the whole year.”
Isabella Ramirez of Bullard was the winner in the girls race, beating out any Buchanan runners.
Ramirez clocked in at 17:39.58, just ahead of freshman Gaby Gutierrez of Buchanan (17:56.87).
“I think it’s been 20 years since someone else besides the Buchanan girl has been out there on top, I believe,” Weaver said.
“That young lady is extremely talented and I’m very happy for her.”
Bullard coach Ramiro Calderon was happy for his runner.
“She’s been working hard all year, and this is the race that we were focusing on,” he said. “And it wasn’t so much that she had a good time, and she just. We just wanted to win the race. That was our goal, and that’s what she did. She felt strong, and she actually pretty easily won the race.”
Results
Central Section championships
5,000 at Woodward Park
Boys
Division I
Teams: 1. Buchanan 47, 2.Clovis East 59, 3. Clovis North 67
Individuals: 1. Conor Lott, Clovis North, 15:22.80; 2. Luke Sanders, Buchanan, 15:23.38; 3. Marcus Salinas, Clovis East, 15:49.99.
Division II
Teams: 1. Torres 24, 2. Madera South 94, 3. Clovis West 107.
Individuals: 1. Tyler Daillak, Paso Robles, 14:55.66; 2. Benjamin Fernandez, Torres, 15:19.08; 3. Hunter Hannah, Torres, 15:51.93.
Division III
Teams: 1. Del Oro 43, 2. San Luis Obispo 62, 3. Reedley 84.
Individuals: 1. Noel Huato, Del Oro, 16:01.56; 2. Mauricio Herrera, Reedley, 16:03.62; 3. Alex Garcia, Del Oro, 16:25.94.
Division IV
Teams: 1. McFarland 55, 2. Morro Bay 63, 3. Avenal 154.
Individuals: 1. William Wallace, Templeton, 16:36.87; 2. Beckett Aston, Templeton, 16:37.18; 3. Diego Ochoa, McFarland, 16:47.08.
Division V
Teams: 1. Yosemite 44, 2. Immanuel 48, 3. Central Valley Christian 67.
Individuals: 1. Blake Bay, Fresno Christian, 15:54.12; 2. Ford Stegge, Yosemite, 16:11.03; 3. Anthony Ruiz, Yosemite, 16:26.09.
Girls
Division I
Teams: 1. Buchanan 20, 2. Clovis North 77, 3. Clovis East 93
Individuals: Isabella Ramirez, Bullard, 17:39.58; 2. Gaby Gutierrez, Buchanan, 17:56.87; 3. Brooklyn Buckley, Buchanan, 18:01.86.
Division II
Teams: 1. Madera South 50, 2. Clovis West 57, 3. Monache 106.
Individuals: 1. Valorie Jimenez, Madera South, 18:30.71; 2. Yazmine Lachino, Monache, 18:44.52; 3. Cameron Macias, Clovis West, 19:27.32.
Division III
Teams: 1. San Luis Obispo 57, 2. Atascadero 101, 3. Kerman 106.
Individuals: 1. Arianna Diaz, Mt. Whitney, 18:44.27; 2. Ashley Villafana, Kerman, 19:20.38; 3. Carly Herera, Tulare Western, 19:22.78.
Division IV
Teams: 1. Morro Bay 66, 2. Cabrillo 91, 3. Liberty-Madera Ranchos 96
Individuals: 1. Fannie Perry, Templeton, 18:21.71; 2. Anna Villavicencio, Woodlake, 18:38.19; 3. Shleby Taylor, Morro Bay, 19:04.05.
Division V
Teams: 1. Immanel 19, 2. Fresno Christian 79, 3. Mammoth 84
Individuals: 1. Clara Riddle, Immanuel, 18:44.39; 2. Aspen Hacker, Kern Valley, 19:40.48; 3. Erin Solis, Immanuel, 19:49.01.
