University’s Marquand Qualifies for National Championships

Allyson Marquand of University High bypassed the state cross-country championships last weekend in order to try out for the national girls’ 17-and-under soccer team. But she’ll make her second consecutive appearance in the national cross-country championships Dec. 12 in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.

Marquand saw to that Saturday by finishing seventh in the seeded girls’ race at the West regional championships at Mt. San Antonio College.

The top eight finishers in the seeded boys’ and girls’ races qualified for the national championships.

Marquand, seventh in the West regional for the second consecutive year, finished in 18 minutes 32 seconds over the 5,000-meter course.

Marquand, a three-time Orange County champion, finished second in the Division I final of the Southern Section championships at Mt. SAC on Nov. 21.

She was unable to get in any running workouts during her tryout week in Bradenton, Fla, but it didn’t seem to hurt her Saturday. She ran in ninth place for much of the race before finishing seventh.

“I was running to qualify,” Marquand said. “I knew there were some really fast runners in the race, so I knew I wasn’t going to be running for first, second or third.”

Sophomore Sara Bei of Santa Rosa Montgomery won the race in 17:51 to remain undefeated this season. Senior Lauren Fleshman of Canyon Country Canyon was second in 18:02 and senior Trina Cox of Santa Rosa third in 18:05.

Senior Alberto Munoz of Estancia, who won the state Division IV title on Nov. 28, finished 31st in 16:28 in the seeded boys’ race. Senior Alfonso Leon of Santa Ana was 42nd in 16:35.

Junior Joshua Rohatinsky of Provo, Utah, won the seeded boys’ race in 15:30.