Prep cross country: First-place tie at Stinson Relays could spark rivalry

05.09.2024 06:12

Marinij.com

Lucas Ruark of Tamalpais runs during the Stinson Beach Relay cross country race at Stinson Beach Park at Stinson Beach, Calif. on Sept. 4, 2024. (Douglas Zimmerman/Special to the Marin Independent Journal)

1 of 29

Expand

When the times came in on windswept Stinson Beach, coaches had to check — and then double-check, just to make sure there was no error.

Archie Williams High’s Ian Sharp and Tam’s Lucas Ruark finished their individual legs of the race at 8 minutes, 23 seconds, the first time in recent memory there has been a tie for the fastest individual boys time at the annual Stinson Beach Relays, which dates back to the 1970s.

“The rivalry will definitely continue,” said Sharp, whose Peregrine Falcons quartet took the boys victory in 34:43 at the relays. Sharp teamed with Ryan Seeley, who placed seventh (8:36) in running the anchor leg, and seniors Archer Diehl and Reid Cross. “Just because we won this doesn’t mean (Tam) won’t win in the future. It’s definitely a very competitive rivalry. I’m just looking forward to the rest of the season and racing against these guys.”

The Tam boys finished second overall (34:47), with third-place Caeden Gardner (8:26) and sixth-place Marco Zink (8:35) joining the top 10. Redwood (35:20) followed in third place, led by fourth-place finisher Nick Kemsley (8:31) and 10th-place finisher Justin Sherm (8:43).

“I knew once I was at the line, there was work to be done,” said Ruark, who ran the third leg for Tam. “I just had the mindset that I had to catch as many people as possible and close the gap so that my teammate for the fourth leg could have an easier shot.”

The Falcons’ Sean Chamberlain (8:34) rounded out the top five. San Rafael’s Teo Cristea placed eighth with San Marin junior Justin Catanach ninth.

The competition was tight for the girls title as the Branson School’s Audrey Spaly finished in 9:32, with Tam’s Emma Gardner (9:37), Redwood’s Sydney Middleton (9:40), Archie Williams’ Ani Stieg (9:490 and the Giants’ Kate Kozubik (10:01.7) rounding out the top five.

Spaly, a lacrosse standout who is committed to play at Division 1 Columbia, ran the fourth leg for the Bulls in her first high school cross country race.

“For Branson, we don’t typically stack the team, so I didn’t have a job to do in terms of how the relay team goes,” Spaly said. “I was just going to run as hard as I can. I was going to pass some people and what will be, will be.”

The Redwood girls foursome of Kate Kozubik, Sydney Middleton, Rose Mueller and Josie Perlove celebrated in the surf after breaking the tape at the makeshift finish line: literally, a line drawn in the sand. The Giants timed in at 41:59, while Tam (42:58) took second place, with Branson (43:08) third.

“This was a good team win,” Kozubik said, with Middleton adding her approval. “We really bonded as a team over this race, and that’s what cross country is all about. We do this for the team, not for personal times.”

Giants freshman Mueller ran a time of 10:30.23 for an eighth-place finish to help her squad take the win.

“This was so fun. I feel so good,” Mueller said of her first experience with the Stinson Beach Relays. “When. I was pushing toward the finish line and reaching to touch my teammate’s hand for the next leg, that was so exciting.

Rounding out the top 10 individuals for the girls were Marin Catholic senior Gabby Hays (10;23), the Giants’ Beatrice Nass (10:29), Mueller, Tam senior Jane Song (10:33) and the Falcons’ Brooke Lee (11:02).

“My plan was just to run fast, as fast as. I can,” said Stieg, who ran track with Lee, Alyssa Silverstein and Alexandra Greenwald in the 4×800 relay in the spring to set an MCAL record time of 9:43.10 and qualify for a berth at the CIF State Meet.

“I did it for the team,’ Stieg said of Wednesday’s performance. “I’m excited for this team. I think we’ll have a few people with some surprises this season.”