Barstow Cross Country, National recognition

Barstow is finally getting the recognition they deserve, a program that has been respected in Caifornia is now noticed at the national level. This years team is the best team Barstow has produced, a record breakin year! Saturday's race at the state championships will determine if we qualify for the Nike High School Championships in Eugene, OR. Below is a article written on Dyestat California, a website devoted to running. Good Luck Barstow!JOE

Barring a massive upset, the division should be re-named “Division Barstow.” The defending champions are back stronger than ever in 2007 – and nearly everyone returns again in 2008! The Aztecs breezed past the competition at the SS Finals, ripping a divisional record 77:08 team time that also ranks third fastest in state history regardless of division. Legendary coach Jim Duarte has mentored the group along masterfully yet again, with lone senior Anthony Solis earning the divisional title last weekend (15:01) with star junior Isaac Chavez also crossing along in the same time for second. With six runners safely under 16 minutes on the very hilly 2.91-mile Mt. SAC course, look for Barstow to threaten inclusion into the Woodward Park record books this weekend. Oak Park ran among the fastest Division III times in section history to sew up the runner-up position to Barstow in the SS wars, but was 67 points in arrear. The Eagles are primed for another podium trip this weekend, with James Goldstein and Garrison Gourdeau equipping the crew with excellent up-front race presence. The rest of the state has been closing the gap on the Southern Section powers, with Aptos (led by junior Rylan Hunt) coming along very nicely in recent weeks to handily win the Central Coast Section crown, and North Coast Section rivals Campolindo and Maria Carrillo battling for regionalized supremacy there. Robert Pulford paced “Campo” to the section crown while senior Nate Huckeba helped fuel the Maria Carrillo attack to a runner-up finish. Senior James Attarian of Dublin might be he best-kept secret in America, with the Stanford and Mt. SAC divisional race winner in non-featured races still ranking among the best performances in the Western U.S. this year. Attarian is the individual favorite, with super Acalanes talent Nate Beach, Barstow’s aforementioned Solis and Chavez and Cabrillo of Lompoc’s Miguel Ortiz also in the mix. Keep an eye on Central Coast Section rivals Gambileg Bor of Jefferson and Mohamed Abdalla of Willow Glen as well.

CIF-State Division III Rankings

1. Barstow (Southern)

2. Oak Park (Southern)

3. Aptos (Central Coast)

4. Palos Verdes, Rolling Hills Estates (Southern)

5. Lutheran, Orange (Southern)

6. Campolindo, Moraga (North Coast)

7. Maria Carrillo, Santa Rosa (North Coast)

8. Cabrillo, Lompoc (Southern)

9. St. Ignatius, San Francisco (Central Coast)

10. Las Lomas, Walnut Creek (North Coast)