Aspen Hacker, 12th Grade. Photo by Isabel Anzaldo
Kern Valley hosted Mammoth in a meet that both squads had to battle the heat. There were two water stations and two spraying stations set up for the runners.
With the temps at race time hovering near 100, the Broncs and Lady Broncs were able to collect wins over their HDL opponent. Both Kern Valley teams won by the exact same score. Much like golf the lower score earns the victory. The score of both races were 27-28 for Kern Valley.
In the girls’ race, the Lady Broncs Aspen Hacker ran to a first-place finish to lead her team. Her time in the race was 21.58. In her short cross-country career, Hacker is only in her second year as a runner. She has never lost an HDL meet. Mammoth runners came in second and third. Greta Boettcher, the exchange student from Germany ran to a fourth-place finish to help her team earn team points. Her time was 24.31. Kyla Hacker came across the line in fifth in a time of 25.10. Mammoth runners were sixth and seventh to keep the race score close.
The Lady Broncs closed out their opponent as the next three runners were from Kern Valley. Faith Kirby (29.54) came in eighth, Tabitha Cazares (31.00) was ninth, while Kassandra Guarneros (32.30) was 10th. Cazares was the key runner as she beat the Mammoth runners to the line to help make Kern Valley the winner.
Kern Valey head coach, Kenny Bushling said, “Aspen Hacker continues to dominate the HDL and came away with a first-place finish. Aspen began running XC last year and has never lost a HDL meet. Greta Boettcher Kern Valley’s German Exchange student from Geschwenda, she continues to improve and has become a very valuable part of the team. This is Greta’s first year in organized sports as there are no sports in German High School unless you attend a specific sports academy school crossed the line.”
The Broncs had to use a different formula to win their race. The Mammoth runner took the top spot. Kern Valley’s Sebastion Stallone crossed the line in second place in a of time 23.49. The Huskies runner was third, but Kern valley picked up the fourth spot. Ethan Mauer ran the race in a time of 24.18. The alternating finishes continued as Mammoth came in fifth. The Broncs grabbed the victory as the next four runners, they only needed three, were from Kern Valley. Dario Jones (27.57) was sixth, Logan Sampson (28.07) was seventh, Angel Olivares (29.09) was eighth, Luis Lopez (29.58) was ninth. The Broncs Matthew Leonez (34.36) came in 11th to round out the runners for the winning squad.
Bushling commented, “Sebastian Stallone ran his best race of the season under some pretty harsh conditions, and finished a strong second. Freshman, Ethan Mauer was impressive and ran a really strong race, he is understanding how to push himself and as a result he is seeing big improvement.”
This past Saturday, Kern Valley took their frosh/soph runners to compete in the Ted Oliver Invitational. Eight runners, three girls and five boys made the trip. It was a good day for Kern Valley as seven of the eight runners ran to a PR (Personal Record). With only three runners, the girls’ squad could not compete as a team. K. Hacker, Cazares, and Kirby were the three Lady Broncs to run.
Hacker ran away from the other runners and crossed the line in first place. She ran to a PR in a time 21:28.38. She was able to knock off two minutes of her previous best. Cazares followed sit and ran to a PR in a time of 25:46.38. That was good enough for 10th and a medal. Kirby ran the course and finished in the 11th spot. (No time was given).
Turning to the boys’ race, the Broncs saw all five runners collect PR’s. Kern Valley had two runners earn medals at the invitational. Sampson was the top finisher for the Broncs. He crossed the line in seventh in a time of 19:42.15. Mauer was 10th in a time of 20:26.2 and earned the second medal. Oliveras time 22:57.5, Jones time was 23:56.7, while Leonez’ time was 29:03.2.
Bushling said, “An amazing day for the frosh/soph Broncs! Each runner on the team set a new PR. Really proud of the younger runners on both teams. They have been improving all year and to have seven-out-of-eight set a new PR was absolutely amazing.”
Kern Valley will travel to Boron to get back into HDL meets today.
