Coyotes make statement at Golden Valley Conference Championships

Full Results

REDDING, Calif. - The Lake Tahoe Community College men's and women's cross country teams put together standout performances at the Golden Valley Conference Championships at Shasta College.

Caitlin Fulbright highlighted the day, winning the women's race and being crowned GVC individual champion. In addition, the runners combined for five PRs and every single member qualified for the NorCal Championships on Nov. 8.

The air was still and crisp, the course firm and free of dust from the previous day's rain. The Lake Tahoe CC Coyotes were prepared to put on a performance.

Niza Barton and Caitlin Fulbright took to the three-mile, pancake-flat course in the first race at 2:10pm. The race strung out quickly with a Butte College runner taking the front at a blistering pace. The LTCC women recognized the pace could not be sustained and settled into second and third place for the time being.

Caitlin and Niza trailed the sub-six minute leader by 40 meters at the mile mark, coming in at around 6:10. The patience paid dividends for LTCC as they closed the gap with the leader the next mile and a half. Caitlin took the lead near the 2.5 mile mark, and Niza sling-shotted down the home stretch for second place.

Caitlin's strength in the last half-mile gave her the Golden Valley Conference individual title with a time of 18:39.

Niza, who took the runner-up position in 18:47, achieved a personal-best time over the three-mile distance. She also set personal bests with a 6:09 at the mile-mark and a 12:30 at the two-mile mark.

Joel Nord, Jackson Davis, Jacob Christopher and Angel Robles took to the four-mile course at 3pm. Two Butte College runners jumped in front and created a gap from Jacob and Jackson. The LTCC runners recognized the pace as not sustainable and showed great control in not chasing. The leaders crossed the mile-mark at 4:53; the Coyotes ran it in 5:03.

The Butte runners felt some heavy legs between the second and third mile while allowed LTCC to close the gap. Jacob kept pace with the leadersl however, Jackson' lungs were tired because of a recent sickness. Jacob grabbed for the lead down the final straight, but Butte's top-runner was able to take the title by overcoming Jacob late. 

Jacob finished runner-up with an admirable, personal-best time of 20:22. Jackson's PR of 21:22 kept him in the top-5 and earned him All-Conference honors along with Jacob.

Joel Nord and Angel Robles put together strong performances as well. In an event in which 50-percent of individuals qualify for the NorCal Championship on Nov. 8, every spot mattered in the 28-man field. Through two miles, Joel and Angel were in spots 17 and 18. But, patience and strength rewarded these two with great finishes. Joel finished 10th with a PR time of 22:40. Angel Robles placed 14th, the final spot to move on, with a massive PR time of 23:21. He shaved 1:14 off his previous best.

Every LTCC athlete moves on to the NorCal Championship on Friday November 8 at Toro Park in Salinas, Calif.