COAST CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS

1987 - 1989 -1990 - 1992 - 1995 - 1996 - 1997 - 2003 - 2004 - 2005 2006 - 2007

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA CHAMPIONS

1992 - 1995 - 1996 - 1997 - 2004 (2nd) 2005 - 2006

Congratulations!!!

Daniel Tapia

OUTSTANDING NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
MALE RUNNER OF THE YEAR

Daniel Tapia was named Northern California Male Runner of the Year. His list of accomplishments include two course records, Coast Confernece Champion, Norcal Champion, State Runner-Up, and school records for Goldent Gate Park, Mt. SAC, and Woodward Park. Tapia's lowest finish in a meet was second coming both at the Woodward Park course in Fresno.

California State Community College Championships
November 22, 2008

(Danny leading into the mile mark)

(Top 3 start to pull away)

(2nd in state highest individual in school history)

(2008 Men's State Team)

Hartnell freshman Daniel Tapia completed one of the most successful cross country seasons by a Panther runner by placing second overall at the California State Community College Championship in Fresno. Tapia's finish was the highest individual placing at the state meet in school history. His time of 20:16 bettered his 20:41 over the same course and established a new school record. Muluken Beressa of San Diego Mesa won the overall title int he second fastest time ever on the course 19:57 by pulling away from Tapia at the three mile mark. "I told Danny that if someone were to beat him, he better break the course record. That's what the Beressa kid nearly did. Danny had an amazing season and is one of the best cross country runners our school has ever had," commented Head Coach Chris Zepeda. As a team, Hartnell placed 18th overall and sixth among Norcal schools. Hector Aleman (21:48), Alejandro Alcaraz (22:01), and Joe Castro (22:24) etched their names on to the school's all-time list for Woodward Park.

Northern California Championships
November 8, 2008

(Start of the men's championship race)

(Danny leading into Mile 1)

(Danny crosses the the line in first and new course record)

(Top 14 Norcal Men)

Freshman Daniel Tapia became Hartnell College's fifth runner in school history to win the Northern California individual title taking top honors at West Valley HS in Cottonwood. Tapia did not secure the win until the final half mile of the race as he overtook the only athlete in the state to beat him, Anthony Costales of American River College. Costales edged Tapia in the first race of the year at the Fresno Invitational. Tapia's win makes it two titles in a row for Hartnell as Enrique Lopez garnered the same honor last year. The former North Monterey County athlete needed all of his course record time of 20:48 to win by 7 seconds. As a team, the Panthers finished sixth with 161 points. Coast Conference champion City College of San Francisco pulled off the upset of top ranked American River College by 8 points. Hector Aleman (31st), Joseph Castro (39th), Manuel Esparza (42nd), and Alejandro Alcaraza (50th) made up the scoring five for the Panthers. The men will conclude their season at the state championship in Fresno on November 22nd.

 

Coast Conference Championships
October 29, 2008

(Daniel Tapia breaks Golden Gate Park record in 19:45)

(Hector Aleman Coast Conference Runner-Up)

Freshman Daniel Tapia won his first Coast Conference in a convincing manner establishing a new Hartnell and course record at Golden Gate Park. Tapia's mark of 19:45 for four miles dipped under the old mark of 19:47 set by Butte College's Oscar Uribe in 2005. Uribe went on to win the state title. Sophomore Hector Aleman added a second place finish for Hartnell in 21:02. Aleman was only 9th in this meet in 2007. Luis Corvera (21:21) was 8th, Joe Castro (21:41) was 13th, Manuel Esparza (21:46) at 14th, followed by Alejandro Alcaraz (22:04) in 18th. The top fourteen finishers earned All-Conference honors. Despite having their top six runners all set personal bests on the course it was not enough as the host Rams of CC San Francisco edged the Panthers by just 3 points. The loss broke a streak of five consecutive conference titles fo Hartnell College.

The 2008 Northern California Championships will be held November 8 at West Valley High School in Cottonwood. Hartnell's Daniel Tapia holds the current course record at 21:26 set earlier this season at the Shasta College Invitiational. Hartnell will be looking to improve on its fourth place team finish in 2007.

Mt. SAC Invitational
October 17, 2008

(Freshman Daniel Tapia takes the win at Mt. SAC)

For just the second time in school history, the Hartnell College cross country teams ventured south to the Mt. SAC Invitational. Freshman Daniel Tapia pulled away from a very competitive field after "Poop-out" hill and the two mile mark on the course. Tapia eased in to the finish with a two second victory over the Southern California Prevew champion Andrew Salg of LA Valley College in 21:08. The time was a Hartnell best for the Mt. SAC course bettering Enrique Lopez's time of 21:28 from last year. Tapia has now won five consecutive meets heading into the championship season. Due to a timing error at the finish line only overall places were official. Hector Aleman (18th), Alejandro Alacraz (35th), Manuel Esparza (45th), and Joe Catro (74th) helped Hartnell to a fifth place team finish. The Panthers raced without sophomore Luis Corvera.

(Asst. coach Lyle takes the fun run in 15:12)

Next up for the Panthers is the Coast Conference Championships. The meet will be contested Wednesday, Oct. 29th at Golden Gate Park. The men's squad has a streak of five consecutive team championships and will be challenged by City College of San Francisco.

 

Toro Park Invitational
October 10, 2008

(Start of the Mens race at the Toro Park Invitational)

The much anticipated match-up between #2 Norcal ranked College of the Sequioas and #5 Hartnell College lived up to the billing as the team winner was not decided until the fifth runner for the winning team crossed the finish line. The Giants Dustin McAlpine's 9th place finish sealed the team victory for the visiting school but the Panthers were a close second just five points behind 31 to 36. Hartnell's Danny Tapia edged out second place finisher David Sanchez of COS by 15 seconds in a time of 20:35. The time was just one second short of equaling the best ever mark on the course by a Hartnell runner. Tapia and Sanchez ran most of the race together before Tapia pulled away in the final mile. The former NMC Condor has a current winning streak of four meets going into next week's trip south to the Mt .SAC Invitational. Sophomore Hector Aleman placed 4th overall in a new personal best of 21:27. Aleman also snuck on to the school's all-time performance list for the course. Manuel Esparza (21:43), Luis Corvera (22:19) and Alejandro Alcaraz (22:29) rounded out the Panthers scoring five.

The Panthers will travel to Mt. SAC for only the second time ever in school history. There they will face #2 state ranked and defending champion San Bernadino Valley College as well as Socal ranked # 4 Mt. SAC, #9 Southwestern, #10 Saddleback, and #12 LA Valley. Several community colleges from Arizona will also compete.

 

Crystal Springs Invitational
October 3rd, 2008

(Downhill start to the men's 4.196 mile race)

With excellent team running and another decisive runaway victory by freshman Daniel Tapia, the Hartnell men's cross country team picked up its first team win of the season at the Crystal Springs Invitational in Belmont.

Tapia dominated the 4.195-mile course despite running slightly off course just after the two mile mark. His time of 21:31 was 26 seconds in front of the second place finisher. Tapia's mark also moves him into the top 10 all-time for Hartnell performances on the Crystal Springs course. After a second place finish at the Fresno Invitational, the former North Monterey County High School Condor has won all his races since.

But this is not a one-man show. It was solid team running from the next six Panther runners that wrapped up a decisive victory over #3 Norcal ranked Fresno City College 37-62. The team performance should move Hartnell up in the next rankings after slipping to #5 last week due to a surprising loss to City College of San Francisco at the Lou Vasquez Invite. Hector Aleman (22:31), Manuel Esparza (22:47), Luis Corvera (23:15), Joe Castro (23:21), and Alejandro Alcaraz (23:31) all placed inside the top 20. Aleman, Esparza, and Castro also posted all-time school performances.

Fresno Invitational
September 13, 2008

Saturday's Fresno Invitational produced the largest community college field of the 2008 season with 28 men's teams competing at Woodward Park.

For the men, freshman Daniel Tapia came within one second of equaling the fastest time in school history on the four mile course. Tapia's time of 20:41 was good for second overall in a field of 256 runners. Anthony Costales of American River College was the overall winner in 20:34. Tapia, who attended North Monterey County HS, was the Northern California 5,000 and 10,000 meter champion last spring and holds the school record for both events. Daniel Tapia puts his name on a short list of contenders for the 2008 Northern California and State individual titles. Hector Aleman enjoyed a nice early season personal best for the course running 22:05. Manuel Esparza (22:42), Alejandro Alcaraz (23:00), and Luis Corvera (23:10) rounded out the scoring five. The Hartnell men placed 13th out of scoring teams. Also running were Joe Castro (23:14) and Manuel Tapia (25:01).

The Hartnell cross country teams will travel north next weekend to Cottonwood for the Shasta Invite. The Shasta Invite will serve as the course preview meet for Northern California Chapionship to be held November 8th.  

GO PANTHERS!!!