Michael Tomasi won the North Coast Section (NCS) Division I race at Hayward High School last Saturday. Michael's time of 15:37 was the third fastest ever by a Panther runner on the current Hayward High School course. Michael joins former Panthers, Steven Guerrini(Wake Forest), Peter Egerton(CAL), and Reesey Byers(Sac State) as NCS champions. Only Reesey and Rory McLeod(Arizona) have run faster at the Hayward course. All of the above were and are Division I collegiate runners.
Michael's efforts led the 2011 Panther boys to a third place finish in Division I. Just one position out of getting the team to the State Meet. The Panther boys had the second fastest time of the day for an Empire team.
Well done Michael!
The girls placed 8th in their race but ran the 4th fastest time in school history at Hayward. Sadia Ibrahim was our top placer. Her efforts made her the 4th fastest Panther girl ever at Hayward. The girls top 5 finishers place in the top 15 all time for our school at Hayward.
So those are the facts. Here is the story. Every one on the team ran as well as they could. No one left anything on the course. Even Emma Pierson was ready to go after being wrapped in a towel to change into someones stripped shorts. Every Panther on Saturday November 19, 2011 ran the race of their life. Carrie and me nearly cried with the effort we saw our charges put forth. Sean replied, "That was special", Bob merely said "WOW"
To see what our runners put forth and the results they had was to make me coach for another 20 years. To know that everyone strived to excel was to know happiness. There is nothing more inspiring than seeing Panther Orange and Black on display and watching the best come forth from our runners. Thank you Panther runners. You were truly great. Boys. Tomasi, Jordan Guerrero, Jon Peck, Jon Ahnberg, Michael Kennedy, Cris Nazarek, Aden Holmes, Connor Moore. Girls. Evvy Archibald, Eva Herbst, Marina Lecoeuche, Emily Rozga, Natalie Fritz, Sadia, Sarah Withers, Emma.
And THIS is how Doug continually restores my faith in humanity.
ReplyDeleteDoug, congratulations on a great season and your (first?) 20 years of coaching XC at Santa Rosa. Despite increased competition you've made the program even bigger and better than when you took over. Although I've gone to work as an agent of evil for the Pewmas, I'm proud to be part of your tradition. Fortunately the punks you got stuck with your first year didn't scare you off.
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