Lou Vasques Invitational - September 24, 2009

With ideal weather conditions for the Lou Vasquez Invitational at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, both the men's and women's cross country teams produced their best individual and team performances this season. The Lou Vasquez course is run around the Polo Fields and along the deceptively uphill John F. Kennedy Drive in San Francisco's park gem.

Daniel Tapia survived an early race scare from a LA Trade Tech runner before finishing on top of the podium in the second fastest time ever at Golden Gate Park. Tapia's 19:47 winning mark is only slower to his Coast Conference winning 19:45 last October for the 4 mile race. The ideal weather produced one of the fastest races in recent years. Also posting season best marks were Jesus Cabrera (21:03), Manuel Esparza (21:13), Rigo Vasquez (21:22), Alejandro Alcaraz (21:46), Eric Yepez (23:57), Edgar Hernandez (25:03), Gustavo Hernandez (30:44), and Cesar Alvarez (31:32). As a team, the Panthers placed fourth behind College of Sequoias, American River College, and defending Coast Conference and Norcal Champion City College of San Francisco. Cabrera, Esparza, Vasquez, and Alcaraz all moved on to the school's all-time performance list for Golden Gate Park.

Sophomore Daniel Tapia will take next Friday's race off at the Crystal Springs Invitational in Belmont to rest up for Sunday's Rock and Roll Half Marathon (13.1 miles) in San Jose. Tapia will look to improve on his time of 1:08:32 (5:12 per mile) posted last year and try for a qualifying mark to the U.S. Half Marathon Championships in Houston, TX next February. He will be looking for a time around 1:06:30 (5:05 per mile). The cross country teams will go head to head with their Norcal counterparts over the historic course at Crystal Springs on Friday, October 2nd. Crystal Springs is one of the oldest courses in Northern California and across the state. It will also serve as site of the Coast Conference and Northern California Championships in the coming weeks.

Cuesta Invitational September 19, 2009

Taking a week off from Northern California competition, the Hartnell cross country teams ventured south to the Cuesta College Invite in San Luis Obispo. Run on one of the few courses dedicated solely to cross country competition, the Fairbanks Cross Country Course provides an excellent test of strength and endurance.


Daniel Tapia all alone in the lead at the 2 mile mark.


Jesus Cabrera placed 12th overall.

Daniel Tapia continued his winning ways establishing a new course record on the 4.1 mile course. Tapia established an early lead over the entire field that steadily grew during the duration of the race. Norcal's top runner stopped the clock at 21:15, 20 seconds ahead of two runners from College of Sequoias. Jesus Cabrera placed 12th (22:43), Alejandro Alcaraz 21st (23:23), Manuel Esparza 24th (23:53), and Rigo Vasquez 25th (23:55). As a team, the Panthers placed third to event winner Glendale College and Norcal's current top team College of the Sequoias.


Cuesta Invitational Top 7 Men.

The Hartnell College cross country teams have a short week and will return to competition at the Lou Vasquez Invitational held at Golden Gate Park on Thursday, September 24th.

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.

Toro Park Short Course Invitational September 4, 2009

Hartnell College cross country started the season with wins in both the men's and women's divisions at the Toro Park Short Course Challenge. Shorter versions of the traditional courses at Toro Park were run as an early season test. The women competed over a 2.4 mile version with the men tackling a 3 miles course. Several community college teams from Northern California attended as well as NAIA 4 year institution Bethany College of Scotts Valley along with Cuesta College of San Luis Obispo.



Hartnell Men team champions with 16:22 average for top 5 runners.

Daniel Tapia kicked off his final season for Hartnell with the individual win in the men's race. The former North Monterey County runner is the state's top returner having placed second overall at last fall's state championship. Tapia will look to become Hartnell's first ever individual state cross country champion this season. Easing away in the final mile , Tapia stopped the clockat 15:31 winning by 29 seconds over a competitor from Modesto Junior College. Helping lock up the team victory were Manuel Esparza (4th 16:04), Jesus Cabrera (7th 16:21), Rigo Vasquez (8th 16:49), and Robert Anderson (13th 17:02). The Panthers tallied 32 points for the win with Modesto second at 41 points. Cuesta came in third with 54 points, and West Valley fourth at 83 points. Bethany College, Merritt College, and San Jose City College all fielded non-scoring teams.

Next up for the Panthers is the Fresno Invitational next Saturday. The Fresno Invitational attracts many of the best teams across the state and will provide a state championships preview of the course at Woodward Park.