Turner, Clough second in Southern California invitational races
Ramona High School cross country runners Robyn Turner and Jack Clough were among the second-place finishers in races during the Southern California Running Center Invitational meet in Guajome Park on Saturday.
Turner was one of three Ramona harriers who placed among the top five in the junior varsity girls race. Clough placed second in the junior varsity boys race.
The Bulldog highlights of the meet also included third place as a team for the varsity boys.
“I’m happy the boys earned the third place even without Gabe,” said boys and girls head coach Sherri Edwards.
Gabe Plendcio began experiencing knee pain two days before the race. He suited up for the Southern California Running Center Invitational but withdrew from the race before the starter’s gun was fired. A calf injury kept Marissa Talle from competing in the varsity girls race. Both are expected to compete in Ramona’s next competition, the Oct. 23 Jaguar Invitational at Valley Center High School.
“I’m actually happy that we have a week off,” Edwards said.
Clough had a week off from Ramona High School competition. He missed the Oct. 2 Valley League cluster meet because he was visiting his brother at Brigham Young University that weekend. Although the Ramona freshman did not compete in CIF competition, Clough ran a five-kilometer road race while he was in Utah.
“He was pretty fit,” Edwards said.
The Southern California Running Center Invitational varsity races were 3.1 miles. Due to that day’s heat, the junior varsity course was shortened to 2.45 miles.
Clough had a time of 14:21. Two other Ramona boys competed in the junior varsity race: Colin Duffy placed 40th at 17:30 and Miguel Garza had the 48th-place time of 18:35.
Turner arrived late for the varsity race and was instead entered into the junior varsity race. The senior completed the course in 18:24.
The fourth-place runner was junior Sierra Crenshaw, who posted a time of 18:43 and ran together with Belgian exchange student Lora Schyns, who was given fifth place and a time of 18:44.
“I was pleased with how they competed,” Edwards said.
The Southern California Running Center Invitational format for varsity races pits each school’s top three runners in one race, the fourth and fifth runners in a separate race, and the sixth and seventh runners in another race. The girls 1-2-3 race included a sixth-place finish from junior Gwendalyn Gibson.
“Gwen Gibson ran great,” Edwards said.
Gibson had a time of 19:28 despite running with an untied shoelace for most of the race. Last year she had a time of 21:58 on the course.
“She just keeps getting better and better,” Edwards said.
Perla Cruz had a time of 21:22 in the 1-2-3 race for 38th place. Sarah Guthrie finished the 1-2-3 race in 22:23 for 47th place.
Madison Huckey earned 26th place in the 4-5 race for her time of 22:48 and Brittany Davidson was 30th in that race with a 23:38 performance.
The transfer of Turner to the junior varsity race made Lexie Hall the only Ramona runner in the girls 6-7 race. Her time of 25:59 was worth 29th place.
Plendcio’s withdrawal left two Bulldogs in the boys 1-2-3 race: Joey Jauregui was 26th at 17:09 and Colin McNulty took 30th place and raced for 17:21.
The Sutter brothers represented Ramona in the boys 4-5 race: Jackson Sutter had the 16th-place time of 18:06 while Mitchell Sutter was the 20th finisher 18:21 after the race began.
The Bulldogs rounded out their team scoring in the 6-7 race; Danny Edwards had a time of 19:16 for 21st place and Colton Meskell was 29th at 19:36.