Babcock makes final cross-country race a memorable one

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Christine Babcock of Woodbridge ended her high school cross-country career in style Saturday morning, winning her second consecutive Division II state title in 17:04, a Division II record and the all-time sixth-fastest time at the state championships.

Afterward, she confirmed that she will again skip the Footlocker West Regionals next weekend at Mt. San Antonio College, this time because of a sore ankle and overall fatique. Babcock, a two-time state champion in both track and cross-country, has not participated in any postseason races during her high school career.

‘If I’m not feeling at my best, I don’t want to take someone else’s place,’ said Babcock, pictured after the 2006 Woodbridge Invitational.

Concord Carondelet was ranked No. 1 in the division coming into the meet, but it was second-ranked Newport Harbor that came away the winner. I’d love to give you the final team scores from a race that ended AN HOUR ago, but they’re on, like, their third revision.

Something tells me that the person ordinarily responsible for computing the results has retired.

-- Dan Arritt

-- Image by Christine Cotter/Los Angeles Times