Bulldog girls focus on individual showings against Poway team

By Joe Naiman

Nobody expected Ramona High School’s girls cross country team to beat Poway in the Palomar League dual meet Oct. 7 in Poway, so expectations for the Bulldogs were based on individual performances and those showings pleased Ramona Coach Kim Toth.

“It went fine. I knew we weren’t going to have the numbers that they have,” Toth said. “Their cross country teams are about the size of our track team.”

The Titans had 10 of the first 11 finishers in their 16-47 win over Ramona. The only Bulldog runner who placed high enough to avoid a sweep was Lauren Cortez, whose time of 16:01 on the 2.45-mile course gave her fifth place.

“I was pleased with the other varsity girls,” Toth said.

RHS freshman Francheska Gonzalez was the Bulldogs’ second finisher and the race’s 12th finisher with a time of 17:09.

Rachel Brown had a time of 18:10 to take 13th place and Teresa Leon’s time of 18:12 gave her 14th place.

“They pretty much worked together. They worked off of each other,” Toth said.

Caitlin Choy was the 15th finisher 18:35 after the starter’s gun was fired, Kelly Helman’s time of 19:10 earned 16th place, Rachel Lindquist took 17th place after a time of 20:21, and Summer Lempe took 21:01 to finish 18th.

Poway had the top 13 finishers in the junior varsity race, in which Ramona’s three runners were not enough for the Bulldogs to receive a team score. Courtney Ford was Ramona’s top JV finisher with a time of 20:22.

The Bulldogs are not competing this week but will spend Saturday at the track for a lapathon fundraiser.