FRESNO — Not far from the finish line at Woodward Park on Saturday, Livermore High senior Diana George sat next to a shady tree, trying to collect herself. She had just given her all in the California Interscholastic Federation State Championships girls Division II race, placing a career-best sixth in the culmination of her fine cross country career for the Cowboys.

George's teammates were gathering a few feet away as she sipped bottled water, looking spent.

"She's amazing, man," Cowboys senior Abigail Gregg said. "It's crazy. She's what inspires all of us. She makes it meaningful for all of us."

But the Cowboys don't just travel by George. The senior, who managed to stave off Simi Valley junior Liberty Miller in the final two strides — both girls were timed in 18 minutes, 1 seconds over 5,000 meters — was backed by a stout team effort. The lean, green Livermore girls squad, which with just 15 members is dwarfed in size by the traditional state powerhouses, finished fifth, the best finish in school history.

"We rode a nice wave this season," Livermore coach Ed Salazar said. "The thing about this girls team is they didn't run a bad race all season."

Overall, valley participants delivered solid efforts at the big meet. Runners in five boys and girls divisions (based on school size) vied for precious medals by placing in the top 10, or to simply hold their own in fast-paced races.

Monte Vista senior Mike Roderick, the East Bay Athletic League and North Coast Section Division I boys champion, finished 34th (15:48) among 194 runners. Tyler Valdes of Dana Hills won the race in 15:05.

California junior Colleen Lillig, the EBAL and NCS Division I girls champ, capped her sparkling season with a 17th-place finish (18:16) in Division I girls. That race was won by San Clemente senior Alex Dunne, who ran a good chunk of the 3.1 miles with only one shoe, finishing with only a sock on her left foot.

In addition to Roderick's big run in Division I, Amador Valley's balanced boys team achieved sweet redemption against NCS champion College Park in the team standings. The Dons placed 11th with 303 points, and College Park was 14th with 376. Amador was paced by seniors Brett Hornig (61st, 16:04), Garrett Ward (65th, 16:05) and Mike Marlin (76th, 16:10). Granada senior Drew Callen (52nd, 15:59) and junior Alex Summers (59th, 16:03) were the EBAL's No. 2 and No. 3 finishers in Division I.

Amador coach Peter Scarpelli had high praise for his runners, calling it a "great day for a wonderful group of seniors." He said they epitomized the credo of "hard work, dedication and just believing in yourself."

The big news in Division I was Dana Hills becoming the first school to win the boys and girls state titles the same state meet.

Behind Lillig in Division I girls were Foothill sophomore Jennifer Goldstein (73rd, 19:15), Granada senior Hayley Swanson (104, 19:39) and Monte Vista freshman Kyla Aiuto (111, 19:44).

A three-time EBAL individual champion who finished second in this year's EBAL meet to Lillig, George was right with the lead group for about two miles but faded late.

"I wanted to get a good start, and then when we got to the (1?1/2 mile mark), I realized I was right with the front group. I was really surprised," she said. "I didn't expect to be that far up."

George said she drew on all four years of her hard work and preparation to stave off the fast-closing Miller.

Salazar mentioned junior No. 5 runner Hayley Sa, who scored in a meet for the first time this season, as a big key to his team's showing.

HAYWARD — The color purple was mighty hard for Monte Vista High senior Mike Roderick to miss Saturday morning during the North Coast Section Cross Country Championships Division I boys race at Hayward High.

Since College Park's male runners dyed their hair bright purple, and the Falcons sophomore Jeff Bickert shadowed Roderick for much of the 3.0 mile race, the smooth Mustang only needed to glance over his shoulder to behold a nagging purple presence.

But Roderick, the master tactician, was too red hot in the end. The confident East Bay Athletic League champ pulled away on the hill over the final half-mile and won impressively in a time of 15 minutes, 19 seconds, beating Bickert by eight seconds and third-place finisher Alex Summers, a Granada junior, by 22 seconds.

College Park backed up its brash color scheme with the Division I boys team title with 58 points, upsetting the purple-and-gold clad Dons of Amador Valley (62 points).

Overall, it was a banner day for valley competitors in the state-meet qualifier. California junior Colleen Lillig gradually pulled away from College Park junior Alycia Cridebring to repeat as Division I girls champion in a time of 17:38. Granada senior Hayley Swanson, Foothill sophomore Jennifer Goldstein and Monte Vista freshman Kyla Aiuto, who finished fourth, fifth and ninth, also earned individual spots in Saturday's California Interscholastic Federation state meet in Fresno.

The top five individuals not on the state-qualifying teams in each of five boys and girls divisions (based on school size) at NCS earned coveted state berths.

In Division V girls, Valley Christian's Celeste Northcott placed seventh in a time of 19:51 to nab the third available individual state spot.

Lillig finished 70th at the state meet last year, but expects this year to be different at Woodward Park.

"Yeah, I'm really excited for the state meet," she said. "Currently I'm ranked fifth (in the state), so hopefully I can live up to the ranking ... Rankings don't mean everything. It's all about that day, that race, and how people are feeling."

De La Salle cruised to the boys team title in Division II, and Livermore's girls won another joust with Carondelet to take the Division II girls team title. Livermore senior Diana George, a three-time EBAL meet champion who finished second this year to Lillig, led the Cowboys with a third-place finish in a time of 17:43, equalling her 2007 NCS placing. George said she tired on the final half-mile after going out hard, which was enough to allow Carondelet's Heather Cerney to pass and take second.

George's face lit up when was asked about her teammates' influence on her.

"Oh man, it's amazing this year," George said. "Our two other seniors (Abigail Gregg, Robin Roque), they dropped minutes on last year's time. It's just amazing to see them drop so much time in a year, especially when they're already running well. They went from high (19 minutes) last year to low 18s this year."

George was also thrilled that Cowboys senior Tova Christensen was able to return to the varsity after suffering a stress fracture. Livermore freshmen Natalie Dimits and Kiely Zeitler were 10th and 18th, respectively.

Monte Vista, Granada, California, and San Ramon Valley's girls teams finished third through sixth in Division I girls, missing out on state team berths.

EBAL boys team champion Amador Valley was disappointed for the second straight year not to win the NCS crown, but at least the Dons are still headed to state. Senior Garrett Ward finished sixth to pace Amador. In addition to Summers, Granada senior Drew Callen (fifth) and Monte Vista sophomore Joshua Smiley (seventh) earned state spots as individuals.

Roderick, whose dad, Steve, celebrated his 50th birthday Saturday, laughed when asked if he'd have nightmares about the color purple.

"Man, Amador's purple, and they're the team we're gunning for, and College Park's purple, so as long as I can stay in front of them I don't think I'll have nightmares," he said.

Roderick, who dominated the EBAL this season, said he relied on his mental toughness in the mano-a-mano battle with Bickert, seemingly his athletic equal. He'd prepared for NCS by running hills and wanted to surge at various points on the course.

Contact Matt Schwab at mschwab@bayareanewsgroup.com.

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