ANGELS CAMP — Sierra High produced mixed results at the Sac-Joaquin Subsection meet Saturday at Frogtown.
The Timberwolves’ Valley Oak League co-champion varsity boys team, led by John Bowers’ impressive fifth-place overall finish, took fifth in Division III to advance to this upcoming Saturday’s section meet in Folsom.
The girls team, which also claimed a share of the VOL title, was a place shy of qualifying and had no individuals make it through.
The top eight squads in each division along with the best 10 individuals not on qualifying teams will compete in the section meet at the Willow Hill Cross Country Course.
Ripon’s boys contingent is the only other area varsity team to qualify after placing sixth in Division IV. East Union’s boys and girls both ended up 12th in Division III.
Bowers, the area’s best bet to make it to the state meet on Nov. 28, clocked in at 16 minutes, 58 seconds — more than a minute behind event winner Chris Kigar (15:46) of El Camino.
VOL rival and individual champion Alejandro Garcia took third in 16:51, and Sonora’s Nicholas Klein was fourth in 16:55. Bowers was the runner-up finisher in the conference finale Oct. 28 at Legion Park in Modesto.
Sophomore Ricky Morris also turned in a strong showing for the Timberwolves, finishing 11th.
In Division IV, Victor Serrano was 24th in 18:31 to spearhead Ripon. Junior Roland Garcia is the area’s lone varsity individual qualifier after taking 21st with a time of 18:26.
Area schools were well represented in the lower-level races.
Manteca’s Tim Baker checked in at 12 minutes flat to win the sophomore Division III individual boys title, while Sierra will move on as a team with a third-place finish.
Johnny Payan (10th, 12:42), James Greer (11th, 12:49) and Thomas Trzcinski (14th) each placed in the 10- 15 to lead the Timberwolves, who were undefeated in league.
Sierra’s junior varsity girls team finished third in the Division III-V competition behind the efforts of seventh-place Megan Viduya (23:46), Shawnee Justis (ninth) and Nicole England (14th). Andrew Gulbronson, also of Sierra, took fourth in the JV boys race.
Others advancing individually are: Ripon’s Tyler Swier (eighth, sophomore boys D-IV), Skyler Cordero (14th, sophomore boys D-IV), Manteca’s Martin Ponce (15th, freshman boys D-III) and Weston Ranch’s Ray Adonis (22nd, sophomore boys D-III).
