Men's Cross Country
"RUN PANTHER TOUGH "
COAST CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS |
1987 - 1989 -1990 - 1992 - 1995
- 1996 - 1997 - 2003 - 2004 - 2005 2006 - 2007 |
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA CHAMPIONS |
1992 - 1995 - 1996 - 1997 - 2004 (2nd) |
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 held 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.
(Frosh Danny Tapia on his way to a Hartnell Course Record @ Golden Gate Park)
Lou Vasquez Invitational-Coast ConferencePreview Meet
September 25, 2008
Perfect weather in San Francisco and a very competitive field at this year's Lou Vasquez Invitational produced the fastest times of the year for the Hartnell College men's cross country team. Freshman Daniel Tapia ran away with the men's race winning in a new school record 20:12 for the four mile course around Golden Gate Park. Tapia's mark eclipses for the former record of 20:26 set by Josh Campbell in 2000. The top six Panthers all produced season best times for four miles with the first four Panthers across the line putting their names on the college's all-time list for the course. Hector Aleman (21:28) was 23rd, Manuel Esparza (21:52) 37th, Joe Castro (21:55) 39th, Luis Corvera (22:00) 43rd, Alejandro Alcaraz (22:13), and Manuel Tapia (26:21). As a team, Hartnell placed fifth in the time-based scoring format where the top five finishing times were used to calculate the team score rather than overall place.
This Friday, the cross country teams will travel to Belmont for the Crystal Springs Invitational hosted by the College of San Mateo. Four of the top five men's teams will be represented and should provide for a very exciting meet.
(Hartnell Men Place 2nd as a team at the Shast Invitational)
(Danny Tapia (1st) and Hector Aleman (3rd) finish in the Top 8)
Shasta Invitational-Norcal Preview Meet
September 20, 2008
Hartnell Freshman Daniel Tapia recorded his first win of the 2008 cross country season at the Shasta Invitational held at West Valley High School in Cottonwood, CA. The meet served as a preview of the course that will be run for the Northern California Championship meet on November 8th. The win was bittersweet for Tapia as the Hartnell men were narrowly defeated by American River College 62-63. American River College is currently the #1 ranked team in Northern California. Hartnell had been ranked #5 but placed well ahead of #4 Modesto Junior College and should move up in the next rankings . College of Sequioas and Fresno City College, both ranked ahead of the Panthers, were absent from the meet. In addition to the win, Tapia established a new course record with a time of 21:26 easily outdistancing the second place finisher by 40 seconds. Sophomore Hector Aleman picked up an individual medal with his best performance of the year with a third place finish (22:29). Also running well were Manuel Esparza in 15th and Alejandro Alcarez in 16th. Luis Corvera rounded out the scoring five in 28th place (23:54).
The Hartnell cross country teams will have a short week and return to action on Thursday at the Lou Vasquez Invite held at Golden Gate Park.
(Daniel Tapia at the Fresno Invitational 9/13/2008)
(Top 14 Men Fresno Invitational 9/13/2008)
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!!!
