El Modena Enjoys a Meet to Remember

The El Modena girls’ cross-country team added another chapter to its storied tradition at the state cross-country championships Saturday.

Competing in the meet for the sixth consecutive time, the Vanguards finished second with 91 points, the best finish by an El Modena team.

“It’s right up there,” said co-Coach John Ahearn when asked to rank the current squad. “That’s the first time we’ve had that many girls under 20 minutes in one race.”

Junior Jessica Dahlberg, the Century League individual champion, finished ninth over the 3.1-mile course in 18 minutes 52 seconds and junior Leslie Burton finished 15th in 19:21.

Concord Carondelet (67) won the team title and the Vanguards tied Placer (91 points), but the Vanguards’ sixth runner, Laurie Burns (57th, 20:23), finished 13 places ahead of Placer’s sixth runner to break the tie.

“We were trying to get the first three to run well and they were solid,” Vanguard co-Coach Tom Weber said.

Senior Katie Kennedy, the Vanguards third finisher, was 26th in 19:31.

Two of Orange County’s top runners, Allyson Marquand of University and Heather Garritson of Buena Park, finished second in their races.

Marquand, competing in the Division II race, lost for the second consecutive week to Palmdale Highland senior Andrea Neipp, the winner a week ago at the Southern Section finals.

Neipp ran 17:33, the day’s third-fastest time. Marquand finished 20 seconds behind in the county’s best time of the day.

“I wanted to stay with her, but it didn’t happen,” said Marquand, the two-time county champion. “But I ran 25 seconds faster than last year so I’m happy.”

Garritson ran 18:24 for second in the Division III race. Winner Kristen Gordon of Carondelet ran 17:17, the day’s second-fastest time. Division I winner Julia Stamps of Santa Rosa finished in 16:43, breaking her previous course record by one second.

Orange Lutheran lived up to its No. 2 ranking in the state poll, finishing second in the Division V race.

Led by senior Kristin Groncy, who finished 10th in 19:48, the Lancers scored 84 points, second to San Francisco University (24).

Dana Hills, the two-time defending county girls’ champion, finished third in the Division II team race.

Senior Sydney Leonard finished fifth in 18:10, just behind Santa Margarita senior Katie Nuanes, who was third in 18:00 and just ahead of Woodbridge junior Mary Moore (seventh in 18:24).