Northern California Champions - November 7, 2009

For just the fourth time in program history and the first time for Head Coach Chris Zepeda, the Hartnell women's cross country team won the Northern California cross country team championship at the Crystal Springs cross country course in Belmont. With gutsy upfront running by freshman Ellie Herrera, breakthrough races by freshman Sused Cabrera and sophomore Jazmin Suarez, and consistent performances by Priscilla Meza, Mayra Garcia, Emilse Tapia, and Stephanie Castro, the Lady Panthers knocked off top seed and Coast Conference Champion DeAnza College 74-79. Just a week earlier, the Dons of DeAnza had defeated the Panthers by 7 points on the same course. Ellie Herrera placed fifth overall in 18:51 becoming just the sixth Hartnell female ever to dip under the 19 minute mark at Crystal Springs. Also earning top 14 All-Norcal honors was Sused Cabrera. Cabrera, a former North Salinas Viking, picked the right meet for her best performance to date stopping the clock at 19:28 and tenth overall. Cabrera was only sixth at the Coast Conference meet but was the third conference finisher in this championship meet. Jazmin Suarez (20:01), the lone sophomore on the young Panther squad, set a personal best by 16 seconds in placing nineteenth overall. Freshmen Mayra Garcia (20:09), and Priscilla Meza (20:15) sealed the victory for the Panthers. Emilse Tapia (21:24) and Stephanie Castro (21:35) rounded out the victorious team. For their efforts, Head Coach Chris Zepeda was named the 2009 Norcal Women's Coach of the Year.


The 2010 Norcal Championships will be held on the Panthers home course at Toro Park and provide a chance to win men's and women's trophies just a few miles from the Hartnell College campus.