Placer, Colfax, Foresthill girls all winners at Sac-Joaquin Section cross country meet

It was another banner day for Auburn-area athletes Saturday, as Placer, Colfax and Foresthill high schools had individual winners at the Sac-Joaquin Section cross country championship meet at Willow Hill Reservoir in Folsom. Placer junior Anna Soares won the Division III race, completing the 5,000-meter course in 18 minutes, 56.5 seconds. Soares' finish helped lift the Hillmen to 73 points and a second-place finish behind fellow Foothill Valley League member Ponderosa. On the boys' side, Julian Doak placed fourth in Division III, qualifying for the CIF State Championships as an individual. Placer finished fifth as a team. "I am pleased with the performance of both teams on Saturday," said Placer coach Daniel Scott. "This season, we knew it would be a challenge because we moved up from Division IV to D-III. Our girls team really came ready to run." The Colfax girls won the Division IV crown with a dominant performance, scoring 35 points. Junior Jesse Redding won the race in 18:59.8, 41 seconds before the runner-up. Redding's younger sister, Micah, was the second Falcon to cross the finish line, in fourth at 20:20.6. Jade Biitner crossed 13 seconds later in fifth. Foresthill's McKenna Lechner won her third consecutive race this season with her first-place finish in Division V. Lechner's time of 19:52 is four seconds shy of her school record for 5,000 meters. "During the hills, I kind of just keep my head up and move my arms as much as I can so that I'm pumping through it," Lechner said about one of the most challenging courses in the region. "Also, having a smaller stride helps a lot, too. Knowing that I get to go downhill also helps a lot mentally." Lechner won the section championship her freshman year and is coming off a state championship appearance. "It's encouraging to be able to come back and qualify again my senior year because this is the last time I'll be able to race here," Lechner said. "I just need to make sure my legs are well rested and not do too much mileage." The CIF State Championships is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 26, at Woodward Park in Fresno.