For the third time in our history, and for the first time with a full team, King XC will travel to Fresno for the California State Championships, held at Woodward Park, site of the Clovis Invitational which we competed at in October.

The caravan will leave Friday morning at 8:30 AM from King High

The girls team will race in the Division One race which starts at 11:25 AM and Lane Werley will compete at 1:25 PM.

The trip is approximately 300 miles to the park from King High and takes about 5 hours.

ClickDyestatcal.com's  here for complete coverage. Includes ticket prices, maps to the park, hotel lists, and more.

Click here for Fresno weather.

We have reserved rooms at the Holiday Inn Clovis.  Here are the room assignments:

Drivers:
Bowmans: 4 seats
Werleys: 4 seats
Asplund: 3-4 seats
Tippets: 4-5 seats

Coaches:
1. Mr. and Mrs. Peters
2. Mr. Griesinger and Mr. Peirce
3. Mr. and Mrs. Clendenen

Parents of athletes:
4. Mr. and Mrs. Werley
5. Mr. and Mrs. Bowman
6. Deborah Asplund
7. Mr. and Mrs. Tippets
9. Mr. and Mrs. Jaramillo
10. Mr. and Mrs. Graham

Athletes
11. Tippets, Tippets, Asplund
12. Soholt, Graham, Bowman
13. Jaramillo, Werley, Peterson
14. Lane Werley, Charlie Alvarez
15. Chris Miller, Brad Sheets, Jarod Nocella, Derek Nelson

We are full on rooms. Please check the "State Meet Bulletin" link inside the dyestatcal.com link posted above for a list of hotels should you want them.

The girls of King Cross Country have represented the school at the CIF Finals for each of the last 8 seasons, an accomplishment all by itself. In a few of those years, they were happy to just be there among the Section's elites and harbored few illusions about moving on to the State Finals. For the last few seasons, the teams have been tantalizingly close, missing only due to teams that out raced them, or stricken by having "off days" on "the day." Last year, the group finished 10th in the Southern Section Division One, the highest-ever finish in our ten years of racing up to that day. But they cried that day, knowing an opportunity had eluded them ... again.

Well, if "the day" ever arrived, it was today. The girls of King were racing like they never have before, putting down a spectacular team effort to finish inside the qualifying top seven teams.  They were sixth overall out of the 16 teams that went to the line and broke the school record for team time by over 30 seconds!

Without doubt, it was a total team effort, as each of the prerace strategies for all five scorers were executed precisiely and with a refreshing sense of poise on the part of everyone.

The race unfolded very fast which left a bit of scramble on the menu for the first mile, not just our two front runners, Hanna Peterson and Kelsi Tippets, but for the pack as well. The two leaders came by the mile in the high 20's place-wise and would have some serious ground to make up over the next mile to resume their expected places near the front. Hanna, who has been simply on fire and racing incredibly fast over the last month led the charge and started seriously closing the gap with the leaders by the top of the Switchback Hill. Kelsi was about 10 meters back and also closing on those who started more aggressively. The twosome, now moving into position, were followed by the expected large gap to third.  But the gap was filled with expected teams and Rebecca Asplund was ably holding down the three-spot while running the best race of her career. Aubrey Bowman and Carrie Soholt were a few ticks behind her, also making up ground from the start.

It was Carrie's effort over the next 1.8 miles that really made a difference. After volunteering to race JV at league finals so a teammate could go varsity, she promptly contracted a groin pull two days later and it cost her a spot on the line last week at Prelims. In fact, it cost her most of two weeks of training, as she rested and tried not to worry.  Implementing a pre-race plan to perfection to "stay back" to the top of the Switchbacks and start her race there, she steadily moved up through the field, ultimatley finishing 4 seconds off of her PR on the course and scoring third for King in 54th place overall.  She was followed closely by Rebecca Asplund and Aubrey Bowman, both of whom ran lifetime bests for the course and helped the team to a 182 point total, ahead of several teams previously ranked above them. Both picked up admirably for Raelyn Werley, our normal #4 runner who hurt her leg in the first 800 and spent a good deal of the race limping.

For Hanna and Kelsi, their game of catchup couldn't have gone better. At least a couple-dozen talented runners were between them and the leader in the first 800 meters of the race, but the two ran like the seasoned veterans that they are and ended up 6th and 9th in the scoring, with both notching "All CIF" awards. Hanna continued her "ownership" of the Mt.SAC course.  Last October, she ran 18:30 at the invitational, then 18:17 last week to win the prelim heat, then 17:53 today, setting the school record and finishing 6th in CIF!  Words can't describe the month it's been for the talented and driven junior! For Kelsi the 9th place finish gives her three All CIF honors in her four trips to CIF Finals, a distinction no one at King has ever earned.  These two talented girls truly helped make the difference for the entire squad, with just 15 points between them!

The team heads now to State, having earned the right to go by virtue of that sixth place finish. It is the first time in school history and an achievement all nine girls can rightly be quite proud of, excited about and grateful for!

Photo Gallery   Team Results   Individual Results   MSAC Records

Lane Werley's breakout year has been one for the record books. The talented junior enjoyed what most would call a "good year" as a sophomore, with a 15:58 Mt.SAC best and a 9:34 3200 on the track.

It was no surprise then that he had a whole lot of folks back in September asking, "Lane who?" as he bolted from the ranks of the good to the lofty altitude of one of the State's best with some stunning races and huge improvements. His name is quite recognizable now after putting together a truly magical season. His times are over a minute faster than they were a year ago on virtually every course he duplicated. He challenged several of the state's and nation's elite runners and put himself squarely onto the diminutive list of "the nation's best", all while maintaining a training regime that was significantly increased over last year.

It was also no surprise then, that he made the goal for today's CIF SS D1 Finals simply, "to win." Running as an individual after his teammate gracefully and ferociously bowed out last week at Prelims, his "buds" were along the sidelines of the course cheering on his every step.

Confidently placing himself in the lead pack before 200 meters had elapsed, he held position there looking comfortably going by the mile split south of 4:50. By the time the Poop Out hill loomed, a crack to the leader from Arcadia, Amar Moussa, had opened up and Lane hit the hill in third. By two miles he was breathing down the neck of Royal's leader, who valiantly tried to hold Lane off but couldn't heading into "the gauntlet" that spans the course's final 100 meters. Lane made a move on that final turn and sprinted in to a second place finish at 14:55. The winner was 20 seconds ahead of him and busy writing his name into the All Time Ever List, so no shame in that finish!

Lane's amazing race makes him the first male King runner to make the State Finals in Fresno, but also places his name firmly as the best King has ever had. He's the first to finish among the All CIF ranks, first to "runner up" and the school record holder on every significant course we've covered.

Couldn't happen to a better young man, full of talent, humility and run.

Individual Results

Off season training will be available to all athletes NOT in a winter sport starting on November 30, the day after Thanksgiving. 

Practices with Coach Griesinger and Coach Peters will be structured and run from 2:45 PM to 4:00 PM. We will meet in the normal location, by the outdoor basketball courts.

Those whose season ended at League Finals should resume training on December 30.

The boys whose season ended at CIF Prelims, are to resume training on December 7.

The girls and Lane who are still competing should start three weeks after the final race (CIF Finals or State) 

During this period of "rest" you should remain active by doing light cardio work, lifting weights, bike riding, hiking, taking walks, using elliptical trainers, etc. Don't just sit around.

Brad    Rebecca    Jarod    Danielle   Craig    Derek   Sean   Rebecca   Brandon    Kelsi

Since we had our first-ever graduating class at King, (Class of '02) we've celebrated those who went the full distance of high school, running cross country.  After all, endurance is what the sport is basically about.

This is our largest class of Four Year Runners, and they're an exciting and classy group of athletes.

Check the links below that are full of information on our  fundraising methods.  Please help out!

Scrip Sales    Ralphs Grocery Rewards Card Club   King Bling Gear from CrazySportzMom! 

Thank you to all who participated in our many "Eat Out Nights" during the summer. All told, the program netted $814.80 - split 50/50 that gives CC and Track each $407.40!

attendance record - final     Read our Attendance Policy      Letter points thru 11-14-09     Team Sweats Checkout Numbers

2009 Season Handbook -- Explains policies, procedures, etc

2009 Parent & Athlete Contract/Release form - Must be signed by both parent and student before first race

2009 Time Trials and Workout Results:
October 13th - 3xmile on Parsons Vo2 workout, 3 min. rest
September 3rd. 4 and 5 mile distances in Woodcrest
August 27. 3 miles (same course as July 30)
August 18.  5, 4 and 3 mile distances
August 6. 5, 4, and 3 mile distances at Canyon Crest
July 30. 3 miles

Season's Times: 2001   2002   2003   2004   2005  2006  2007  2008  2009

Googlemaps tool to figuring out how far you've run. Check it out!!

Pace calculator for figuring out speed per mile

MAPS AND DISTANCES OF OFTEN-USED ROUTES:    Big Greens (one lap is 1/2 mile)  Bonanza (7.0)   Cannon (6.75)  Cannon Loop (7.5)  Canyon Crest 8.3  Canyon Crest/Via Vista (10.0)  Chicago River Route (4.4) Chicago River with Trautwein to Krameria (5.9) Chicago River 5-mile version (5.0)  Crystle Ridge (6.4)  Utah (6.2) Foxglen (11)  Gage Canal 10.1  Goat Run with Hill (6.4)     Grove Community/Yarrow/JFK  (6.4) GCY extended (9.9) JFK Threshold Route (2.52) La Sierra 12 miler (12.1) La Sierra 10 miler (10.5)  Markham/Washington (7.7)    Mockingbird Canyon (9.9)  Orange Terrace Mile (1.0) Parson's Threshold Loop (4.0 ttl, 3.2 miles at threshold)  Pipeline (9.75)   Roosevelt Route (5.7) Roosevelt Extended (6.7) Roosevelt Grove Community Combo (11.5) Strasbaugh (5.0)  Scottsdale (9.1)  Victoria/Overlook 11.8

Log your miles here: www.running2win.com.  Make a personal account, then join our team, listed as "King XC".