Streak continues for Buchanan girls cross country; Clovis High’s Caudillo takes first

There is no slowing down the Buchanan High girls cross country team after illnesses and an injury led to a shuffling of the lineup for the TRAC championships at Woodward Park on Thursday.

The same was the case with Clovis High senior Christopher Caudillo who didn’t start out with a particular gameplan.

In the end, the Buchanan girls and Caudillo finished first.

Led by senior Grace Hutchison (first in 17:18.84), Buchanan captured its 27th conference title – and 23rd in a row – despite running without the services of three top runners: senior Sydney Sundren (illness), sophomore Elle Lomelí (injured) and freshman Cornett (illness).

“We wanted to be a little more cautious with them making this big push at the end,” said Buchanan coach Brian Weaver, referring to next week’s CIF Central Section championships at the Nov. 26 state meet on the same course.

“We want to get the whole team out there running and firing to see what we can really do,” he said. “It’s a challenge, but that’s OK.”

Weaver has the luxury of calling on younger runners who continually push the veteran runners.

Finishing behind Hutchison were freshman Kynzlee Buckley (third, 17:57.72), sophomore Avery Hutchison (fifth, 18:19.57), freshman Taylor Torosian (sixth, 18:21.4), senior Caroline Mendyk (eighth, 18:36.4), and, sophomore Elizabeth Dimitrashchuk (ninth, 18:56.63).

Weaver’s decision on the seven runners for Buchanan changed before the team boarded the bus because “one of the girls was not going to run.” Then, after arriving at Woodward Park, another runner wasn’t ready either, and another runner got moved up.

“These girls, to do what they did in handling a last-minute change, was impressive,” said Weaver. “To run the time that they did showed the depth of the whole program.”

At the Asics Clovis Invitational last month, Buchanan started only five runners, and Grace Hutchison dropped out due to injury after the 2-mile mark. That kept Buchanan from contending for the team title.

Wednesday, Hutchison showed she’s back by clocking a personal-best on the 5-kilometer course.

Just as impressive was Clovis West freshman Cameron Macías, who finished second overall in 17:56.6.

She said the cross country season has gone “better than I expected.”

“I’m running faster,” said Macías, who said her times on the Woodward Park course are surprising due to its difficulty.

Macías said her goal Wednesday was to manage the hills “where everyone either dies or doesn’t.”

“I had to make sure that no one caught me, and I just kept going,” said Macías.

Caudillo takes individual, Buchanan boys grab team title

Once Clovis East junior Carter Spaulding indicated he would go all out, Caudillo figured he’d stick near him.

“It turned out a little bit better than expected,” said Caudillo. “I wasn’t planning on getting that low of a time. I mean, I wasn’t planning on doing this at all.”

Caudillo and Spaulding were together at the 2-mile mark until Caudillo took off “when the timing felt right.”

“I was expecting him to stick a little bit more with me,” said Caudillo, who finished in 15:04.85. Spaulding was second in 15:29.32.

Caudillo hopes Wednesday’s race is a “good momentum starter” heading into the section and state meets.

“I was able to hit it really fast that last mile,” he said. “So, that was a really good boost of confidence.”

The Buchanan boys captured the team title with 45 points, ahead of Clovis (49 points) and Clovis West (72 points).

Junior Ryan Kunkel (sixth, 16:03.21), senior Zach Weaver (seventh, 16:03.44), and senior Andrew Escobar (eighth, 16:03.7) paced Buchanan.

Central High senior Alazar Teffra was third overall in 15:43.49; while Clovis West junior Sam Dresick also broke the 16-minute mark in 15:44.63.