Fresno Invitational September 12, 2009

Despite the warm weekend temperature in Fresno, the Hartnell cross country teams proved they will be forces to reckon with at the conference and regional levels. For the men, sophomore Daniel Tapia officially started his drive toward the school's first ever individual state title in cross country. Tapia, the defending Norcal champion and state runner-up, placed second overall last year in both the Fresno Invite and State Championships at Woodward Park. This year he overcame that demon taking the win by 6 seconds despite being slightly under the weather. Tapia's time of 20:45 was 30 seconds off his personal best for the course but was good enough to better the entire field of 246 runners. As a team, the Panthers placed 7th overall out of 26 teams and third amongst Norcal competition behind College of the Sequoias and American River College. Those also competing were Jesus Cabrera (21:50), Alejandro Alcaraz (22:20), Robert Anderson (22:47), Rigoberto Vasquez (22:57), Manuel Esparza (24:04), Diego Cervantes (25:09), Eric Yepez (26:01), Edgar Hernadez (26:41), and Cesar Alvarez (35:45).


Daniel Tapia takes the win in Fresno.


Next up for the cross country team is the Pepsi/VS Athletics Cuesta Invitational in San Luis Obispo on Saturday, Sept. 19th.