Fritzke takes 2nd section title Chico's Dillard leads girls on tortuous West Valley course

Chico's Hannah Dillard has a small gap over Mt Shasta Natalie Sjoka one mile into the girl's championship race

By Delton Lowery, Record Searchlight - November 11, 2005 edited by Tom Cushman/Hay Bale AC COTTONWOOD -- Everybody at the Northern Section cross country championships at West Valley High School knew Mount Shasta senior Austin Fritzke was the man to beat on Thursday. For the girls, it was Chico junior Hannah Dillard. Neither failed to live up to expectations. Fritzke -- a tall, lanky runner with just enough muscle to keep his wheels turning faster than everybody else -- did just that for the second year in a row, defending his section championship with a time of 15 minutes, 34 seconds on the grueling triple-hilled, three-mile course. This time, though, his competition kept a little closer. Three-quarters of a mile into the race, the leaders were a pack of eight. But, a half mile later at the base of the course's make-or-break point, a 45-degree ascent aptly named "Elliott's Torture" after West Valley assistant coach Bill Elliott, only two were within striking distance of Fritzke. Corning's Cesar Silva, who entered the race seeded second, would not be able to match the charge up the hill. "I twisted my (right) ankle yesterday," Silva said. "After that, I just tried to give everything I had."

That left Fall River's Brett Handa -- last year's runner-up -- as the lone challenger to Fritzke for the second year in a row. "I was surprised to see him at two miles," Fritzke said of Handa. "With about 800 (meters) to go, he tried to make a move and I met it. Then I made a move and he met it." Until Handa just had nothing left. "I was trying to stay as close to him as long as I could," Handa said. "I didn't think I could outkick him, and at 600 meters he pushed it and got some space." Handa would finish two seconds back in 15:36. Enterprise's Eric Malain was third in 16:16 to lead a string of 16 runners that crossed the line in under 17 minutes. In arguably the fastest girls section race ever run with five runner finishing under 19 minutes and three recording times under the 18:30 mark, Chico's top ranked Hannah Dillard posted the top time a stellar mark of 18:16 in winning her first section championship. "I really wanted to win this more than anything," said Dillard, who made her move at the top of Elliott's Torture. She broke away from Pleasant Valley junior Hannah Hodgkinson and West Valley freshman Michelle Johnson. The five-meter gap grew to 20-30 meters with a mile to go, and now the race was for second place. With Hodgkinson leaning back and Johnson leaning forward, the two made the turn down the all-weather surface track for the final 50 meters as Hodgkinson held off Johnson 18:26 to 18:28. Durham junior Hagen Atkins took fourth (18:40) with Mount Shasta sophomore Natalie Sojka, an early race co-leader and the final runner under 19 minutes, fifth in 18:57. She was followed by junior teammate Katie Fritzke in sixth at 19:19. Enterprise's Lindsey Kirschman was the first senior to cross the line in 19:21 for seventh. Chico won the team title with 55 points, led by Dillard and senior teammate Joanna Johnson 8th place finish (19:24). Kirschman's effort was just enough to keep the Hornets in second place in the team standings with 86 points, one ahead of Pleasant Valley and three up on Mount Shasta. For the boys, West Valley defended its section title but in different fashion than in 2004. "Last year we were the favorites and barely held on to it," Eagles coach Scott Fairley said. "This year we were the underdog (seeded fifth), and we ran a much smarter race -- nobody ran worse today." West Valley's 69 points were 23 clear of runner-up Mount Shasta and 30 from Enterprise. Seniors Matt Baker (fourth, 16:18) and Jon Hanna (ninth, 16:40) led the Eagles charge as expected. But Fairley said senior Shane Reno (12th, 16:47) and his son, sophomore Ryan Fairley (23rd, 17:20), each recorded personal bests on the course by at least 40 seconds. Senior Justin Barry also was solid, getting 28th in 17:38 to round out the Eagles' five scorers. State qualifying teams and individuals now will prepare for the CIF State Championships on Nov. 26 at Woodward Park in Fresno.

Bears head to state unsatisfied

By Rob McCallum/Mt Shasta Herald Posted: Wednesday, November 16, 2005 12:41 PM PST Austin Fritzke, left, made Mount Shasta High School history last week when he won the Northern Section cross country championship, against runners from schools of all sizes, for the second year in a row. High expectations can create disappointment that might not have existed otherwise. Two years ago, a second-place finish in the Northern Section would have marked the highest point in the Mount Shasta cross country team's history. But because the high-aiming Bears knew they were within reach of the top spot in the North State, celebrations were somewhat tame. Nevertheless, the Mount Shasta boys qualified for the CIF State Championships for the third straight year at Thursday's Northern Section Championships in Cottonwood, placing second overall and first among Division V teams. The girls team will also head to Fresno for the third-straight year after placing fourth overall and first in the small school division. "Where we are at as a program - it's hard to set goals," coach Steve Nesheim said. "What we were trying to do today was to win the whole thing. No Division V school has ever done that and we didn't have what it took today." Austin Fritzke became the first runner in school history to win back-to-back individual section titles, winning the boys race in 15 minutes, 35 seconds over the 3-mile course. The race clinched a fourth-consecutive state meet berth for Fritzke, and was the fourth-fastest time ever on the West Valley High School course. "I just wanted to push that last mile," Fritzke said. "I've had that in my head for the last week now - push that last mile. I was looking to go under 15:30, but I'm still pleased with my time." Like in many races this season, Fritzke had to hold off Fall River's Brent Handa for the entire race. Handa made his strongest challenge Thursday, finishing only two seconds behind. Absent from the lead pair was Corning's Cesar Silva, who tried to run through an ankle sprain ended up finishing a disappointing eighth. Turning in the race of a lifetime was Mount Shasta senior Matt Sojka. Another four-year veteran, Sojka placed fifth in a personal best time of 16:22. "This is definitely the best race I've ever had," Sojka said. "I went out at about 20th place, and when the lead pack started to break away, I caught up with them Then I just tried to hang on as long as I could." Results were similar on the girls' side, with two top-end performances but a mediocre overall showing. Still, the Bears were the top small school by far. Sophomore Natalie Sojka placed fifth in a personal best time of 18:57, a 43-second drop in her previous WVHS best. "I'm really pleased with that," Natalie Sojka said. "Our goal was to just beat the runner in front of us." Junior Katie Fritzke was one place behind in 19:19. The defending division V state champion placed fourth at last year's section meet.

The convoluted boys team race began to take shape within a period of 30 seconds. With 22 runners across the finish line, Mount Shasta, West Valley, Enterprise, Fall River, Shasta, Pleasant Valley and Corning all had at least two runners in. That's when West Valley separated themselves from the field, and their No. 4 and 5 runners finished. The host Eagles had five runners in the top 30, all within 1:23 of each other. For the Bears, No. 3-man Cory Coppin was the next Bear to cross the line at 24th in 17:30, but he was pushed hard by teammate Ramon Rubio. The Weed transfer ran perhaps his best race this season, finishing only three seconds behind Coppin and 16 seconds faster than his race on the same course on November 2nd. But West Valley's Zach Slichting placed 28th, well ahead of Mount Shasta's No. 5 runner, Kale Coppin (44th in 18:08). "You could tell West Valley had a good day early on," Fritzke said. "We ran all right as a team, we're not too disappointed." For the girls, Cynthia Laiacona placed 23rd overall and was fourth among freshmen in the section. Junior Amy Detrich led freshmen Joanna Beem to the finish line, finishing in 38th and 39th respectively. Cary Rogers (75th) and Mishey Thompson (88th) also finished. Other boys competitors were Mitchell Nesheim (116th), Andy Beem (120th) and Kevin Valenzuela (130th). In the 2-mile open division, Austin Kiser was the top Mount Shasta runner, 65th in 15:14. Robbie Croft was 121st in 17:08. The lone female was Johanna Hoyt, 67th in 20:57. "This was a reality check for us," coach Nesheim said. "A lot of kids have had it easy in the last few weeks against weaker competition. We'll be more prepared for state."

Mt Shasta's Austin Fritzke hold a narrow lead over Fall River's Brent Handa near the two mile mark.