By Leonard COUTIN

Pursuing their dreams set early in the season, seven Falcon cross-country competitors lined up for the Division 1 race at the 32nd annual CIF state championships at Woodward Park on Saturday morning. The final team effort was set on the 5000-meter course, considered one of the best courses in California with its switchbacks and up-and-down paths across a scenic park-like setting.

The start of the race was very congested, with 22 teams of 185 runners vying to get out strong, creating a challenge just to stay on one’s feet. CV’s dual starters, Manan Vats and Dylan Wilbur, led their team by getting off to a powerful start. Both Vats and Wilbur sprinted out quickly, pushing through the crowd of runners securing a place with the leaders. 

Throughout the race Vats held the first position for the Falcon team with Wilbur not far behind.

But the battle for first place was between Matt Strangio of Jesults, Evan Bates of West Ranch and William Frankenfeld of Poly (Long Beach) and continued up to the last 100 meters to the finish line. Strangio was the strongest as he edged out the other two runners and won the CIF state championship individual title in a time of 15:04.5, Bates of West Ranch placed second with a time of 15:05.3 and Frankenfeld took third (15:08.5).

The Falcon team concluded the season placing eighth at the meet. 

Much improvement was seen in Vats, a senior, who placed 48th last year but on Saturday scored 22nd with a time of 15:33.3. This earned the team 20 point to its score. Wilbur placed 26th running 15:39.9 and adding 22 points. Grant Lauterback placed 64th, 16:04.2, adding 48 points; Erik Faeustle, 66th, 16:04.9, adding 49 points; Evan Doloszycki, 92nd, 16:20.2, adding 49 points;

Top five times totaled 1:19.42.

“We are really proud of what we accomplished this year,” said CV coach Mark Evans. “This all started in July when the goal was to reach the state meet and finish in the top 10. We went into the season ranked 40th in the state and [ended] with an eighth place finish in Division 1 and 13th among all divisions in the state meet. We always hope to finish a little higher than we are ranked. We were ranked eighth coming into the meet and that is where we finished.   

“We had great efforts by all the athletes who competed. Manan and Dylan had solid races, as did Grant Lauterback. This is one of Erik Faeustle’s best races and sets him as someone who can be a force in cross-country next season. Evan Doloszycki has been solid all season and has been for us this season. We have a good group of returning athletes who will make a major contribution to our program next year.”

Final boys Division 1 team scores: Great Oak 61, West Ranch 72, Dana Hills 134, Dublin 166, Jesuit 180, Poly (Long Beach) 194, Bellarmine 198, Crescenta Valley 209, Paso Robles 260, Clovis North 311.

  Chuck UTASH, Leonard Coutin