2022 Meet Preview

3rd Annual Jackie Henderson Memorial Meet Preview by Coach Gustavo Ibarra

We are excited to host our 3rd Annual Jackie Henderson Memorial Cross Country Invitational on Saturday, September 17th, 2022 at North Monterey County High School in Castroville, CA after a 2-year COVID shut down. The inaugural event in 2018 had 14 schools and exploded the following year when we had to limit the meet to 50 schools! This year we had to limit it to 25 schools as we ease back into campus events. We hope the event will honor Jackie Henderson who was an assistant cross country and track coach at North Monterey County who was tragically hit by a car while out on a run in the summer of 2017. This event will be held yearly on the high school campus where she taught science and coached. The course is 3 miles and features flat grass loops, track laps in a brand new state of the art track and field stadium, and hilly loops on a newly developed dirt trail on the hills nearby. It has a mix of everything with  great viewing and seating in the stadium and a very exciting stadium finish area. Most of our teams are from the Central Coast Section and we especially welcome Madera who has made a long trip! The meet kicks off with a free 3 mile open race (8:00 am) to honor Jackie allowing everyone to lace them up. Then the middle schoolers (6th-8th grades) are invited to show up for a free/open 2 mile (8:30 am). Finally, the traditional Frosh/Soph (9:00 Girls, 9:30 Boys), Junior Varsity (10:00 Girls, 10:30 Boys), and Varsity (11:00 Girls, 11:30 Boys) 3 mile high school races for each gender will highlight the meet on the 3 mile layout.

For the boys, Santa Cruz comes in as slight favorites as the defending CCS D3 Champions who return all 7 scorers and will try to hold off rival Scotts Valley, the defending CCS D4 Champions (3rd at state), who are hoping to keep their top dog position with their team course record (79:51) they set here back in 2019! Both teams feature solid individuals up-front fighting for the win as well as stellar pack runners to seal the deal. Carmel has quietly been putting together a great squad and could challenge here if they had a good summer. They have former marathon world championships participant Danny Tapia, who ran for North Monterey County, coaching them and could provide the tips they need to navigate the course!  Alisal has become as consistent as they get in the area and usually features a strong pack. They could upset some favorites with that strategy. North Monterey County has the home course advantage and is led by one of the strongest trios up-front. They could mix it up if they can close their 1-5 gap. Aptos has our pre-meet individual co-favorite leading them and could mix it up in our top 3 if their back end closes the gap. Other teams rounding out our top 15 teams to watch include King City, Soledad, Gilroy, Hollister, Greenfield, Pacific Collegiate, Soquel, Gonzales, Alvarez, SLV, Harbor, and Watsonville.  

Individually, Eli Fitchen-Young (10-Santa Cruz) comes in as favorite. He stormed the scene last year as one the top freshman around and blazed a 16:19 at state after a nice 3rd place at CCS and is coming off a nice win at the Monterey Bay Invite. Trent Nosky (12-Aptos) will be close and could win it all after a nice 16:24 5k effort at the state meet last year. He roared in track season with a 1:54 800 and a 4:14 1600! His senior year could be quite special! Both will be chasing the course record of 15:06 set by Carson Smith (Santa Teresa-2019). Aiden Boothby (12-Scotts Valley) was close in 16:25 on the state course and should lead the chase pack. Aiden Tarantino (12-Carmel) ran a nice 4:24 1600 and has his teammate Dylan Craig (12-Carmel) to work together. Jack Brownfield (12-Scotts Valley) will try to help his team with some low sticks up front. Spencer Koontz (11-Pacific Collegiate) will try to break up the senior party up front with his nice 4:25 1600 best. Joshua Guzman (10-Gilroy) is another youngster to keep an eye on. Mason Lantz (11-Scotts Valley) gives them a strong front 3. Jim Ratliff (12-Santa Cruz) has the experience in his favor.  Irineo Navarro (12-North Monterey County) and Gael Godinez (12-North Monterey County) lead them and have the home course advantage to play spoilers. Chase Jacques (12-Aptos), Jonah Verinsky (12-Scotts Valley), and Tyler Imamura (12-Carmel) could all play major roles in the team title. Others to watch include Brody Staley (12-Soquel), Will Trowbridge (12-Santa Cruz), Harry Ordiano (12-Alisal), Evan Niles (11-Aptos), , Luis Silva (12-Hollister), Santiago Ramirez (12-St. Francis), Miguel Alvarado (12-North Monterey County), Guerande Houssin (10-Harbor), Gustavo Perez (10-Alisal), Mack Aldi (10-Carmel), and Israel Limosnero (12-King City). 

For the ladies, Scotts Valley is our pre-meet favorite. They were a close 2nd at CCS last year and they feature an amazing sibling duo up-front and could soar in 2022 by developing a 5th runner. They will chase the course record of 95:57 set by Clovis West in 2019. Carmel has a better pack and could upset the favorite this early in the year with greater depth. Madera also has a solid pack up-front, made a long trip, and knows how to work hard in the summer. They could surprise early on in the year. Prospect has one of the top individuals and could snag a top spot with that low stick. Hollister is quietly rebuilding their tradition and has a new school name to showcase (formerly San Benito High). Santa Cruz features a great pack capable of having a sub :30 gap. That could boost their stock here. Alisal girls have been developing a nice pack to mirror their boys and should fare well. San Lorenzo Valley has a nice lead duo and could move up with some depth. Aptos has tradition to spare as the top pedigreed team around and will climb the pecking order if all are on board this early. Other teams to watch include host North Monterey County, Pacific Collegiate, Watsonville, Gilroy, Alvarez, King City, and Greenfield.

Individually Ashlyn Boothby (11-Scotts Valley) is our  favorite after a CCS title and a stellar 17:27 5k at the state meet and a 4:51 mile at the state track meet. She is coming off a great win at the Monterey Bay Invite. We will keep an eye on the clock as she takes a shot at the course record of 17:28 set by Eleanor Wikstrom (Skyline-2019). Kylie Hoornaert (10-Prospect) will try to make it close and could upset our favorite on a good day. She blitzed a 17:46 at Clovis Invitational and followed that up with a CCS runner-up finish and a 10:56 2 mile on the track. Amber Boothby (12-Scotts Valley) was also a CCS runner-up and is the other side of the two-headed family monster.  Katelyn Ruiz (10-Watsonville) is primed to be their next star. Julia Snelling (12-Soquel) and Colleen Murata (12-SLV) had a nice opening run this past week. Brooke Willoughby (12-Aptos) was a sub 20:00 at Woodward and looks to have a great senior year.  Ava Ghio (10-Carmel) leads a great pack for them. Mayce Atherton (11-Madera) made too long of a drive to not compete up-front. Rachel Hoops (12-Aptos) ripped a 2:14 800 in track and could close fast here. Angela Garcia (11-Madera) gives them a strong 2nd runner. Rafaela Putnam (12-Scotts Valley) will give them a shot at three in the top 10. Monserrat Ramirez (11-St. Francis Salesian) will try to hold off teammates Christiana Kvitek (11-Carmel) and Isbabella Davi (11-Carmel). Others to watch include Roselyn Olivo (12-Everett Alvarez), Ava Decleve (9-Scotts Valley), Diana Alivov (11-Scotts Valley), Kendra Melching (11-Hollister), Aditi Varia (10-Prospect), Bianca Scott (12-Madera), Marina Hobson (12-Carmel), Rosa Paten (11-Pacific Collegiate),  Haven Finley (12-SLV), Vianey Garcia (12-Gilroy), Dresden Brabo (11-Scotts Valley), Dahlia Barranco (12-Watsonville), Olivia Chen (11-Harbor), Suki Kasmi (11-Soquel), Natalia Zambrano (10-Madera), Kathleen Allari (11-Aptos), and Abigail Bustamante (Alisal).    

Thank you to the schools who have joined us as we honor Jackie and we hope you enjoy the meet!

RIP Coach Jackie Henderson 

July 25th, 1989-July 14th, 2017