Caudillo leaves “bad showing” at Woodbridge behind with solid Asics Clovis outing

Clovis High senior Christopher Caudillo quickly forgot about a bad showing at last month’s Woodbridge Cross Country Classic in Orange County.

Caudillo placed 16th in a field of top runners when many expected him to challenge for the individual title.

“I just wanted to get a solid place in today’s race because I was just mentally freaking out, especially coming back from Woodbridge,” said Caudillo, who placed fourth at Saturday’s Asics Clovis Invitational at Woodward Park.

The senior clocked 15:03.9 to finish behind the Newbury Park super trio of brothers Leo and Lex Young (first and second in 14:25.9 and 14:31.7, respectively) and teammate Aaron Sahlman (third in 14:52.4).

“I did better than I thought I would maybe a day or two ago because I had lost my confidence,” said Caudillo. “I wasn’t really motivated as much.

“But coming in today and doing as good as I did, I think that was a pretty good time.”

Caudillo wants to, next time, stick closer to the Newbury Park runners, who are ranked No. 1 nationally.

“I’ll be in better shape, and I’ll be actually there mentally,” he said.

Caudillo hopes to learn from his Woodbridge experience.

“I was doing so many interviews, and so many people were talking to me before (the race) about how I’m the one who’s supposed to win,” said Caudillo. “So really, it was just the pressure and the nerves that got a hold of me.”

After the race, Caudillo said he felt he had lost his confidence and motivation. His main goal Saturday was “not doing, like, as super bad as I did at Woodbridge.”

He is relieved to have gotten his mojo back.

San Luis Obispo senior Milo Skapinsky was the only other Central Section runner to finish in the top 10 of the championship race. He placed seventh in 15:09.0.

Another Madera team on the rise

Madera has a history of talented cross country teams in Madera High and Madera South. Now comes Matilda Torres High.

Head coach José Herrera was a standout runner on the 2013 Madera High squad. Now, he is watching runners like freshman Benjamín Fernández bloom.

“The only thing I’m looking forward to is giving back to these kids,” said Herrera. “I want them to go through the experiences that I went through, winning championship races, being in a good, solid team, and having what it takes to make the team a family.”

Herrera said the Toros runners are putting in the time and preparation, but credits his assistant coaches and parents as well.

Saturday, Matilda Torres High placed third in the M Varsity race. Fernández placed seventh in 15:44.0.

Herrera calls Fernández a top runner who has produced all season long.

Fernández said he was happy to have gotten a personal-best time on the 5-kilometer course at Woodward Park.

Now, he’s looking at breaking the freshman all-time record which is about 10 seconds out of his reach.

Other results

Sanger High placed third in the XL Varsity team standings with 217 points, behind Arcadia (114) and Arnold O. Beckman High (173).

The Apaches were led by senior Myles Nicacio (ninth, 16:11.7) and junior Daniel Galvez Jr. (10th, 16:15.2).

Tulare Western senior Carter Mendes placed third (16:10.4) in the L Varsity race, while Clovis West junior Sam Dresnick was sixth (16:16.8).

Clovis West finished fourth in the L Varsity team standings. Santa Bárbara won that title with 118 points.

In the S Varsity race, Yosemite High sophomore Ben Olney placed 10th in 15:50.6. As a team, Yosemite was third with 106 points.