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As a talented, but inexperienced ninth-grade runner in 2003, Matt Petrillo of Los Gatos High placed 15th in the Firebird Invitational, a race hosted each cross country season by Fremont High School. Twelve months later, as a sophomore with a full season and a spring track campaign under his belt, Petrillo is the overall champion of the 2004 Firebird event.
Saratoga senior Hari Iver (10:32), last year's individual champ, placed sixth, leading his team to the varsity boys crown.
There was a change at the top in the girls varsity team competition, but the individual winner for the third year in a row was Alicia Follmar. The Saratoga senior clocked 11:30, easily the best time among the 110 finishers. She was well ahead of the next three finishers, sophomores Julianne Hansen (12:11) of Cupertino and MayC Huang (12:23) of Lynbrook and Prospect senior Becky Palm (12:30).
Led by Hansen's second-place effort, Cupertino's varsity girls were impressive winners. The Pioneers claimed five of the top 20 spots, and their total of 59 points easily outdistanced runner-up Castilleja (128) and the 12 other schools with complete teams.
Helping Hansen win the team title for Cupertino were junior Kimberly Chew (eighth, 12:48), Sumika Shiokawa (13th, 13:05), senior Stacie Boyle (16th, 13:16) and Lisa Chang (20th, 13:24).
One of last year's top girls varsity teams—Monta Vista—did not participate this season.
Medals were awarded to the top 20 finishers in both the varsity races. The top 15 placers in the boys junior varsity and frosh-soph races and the 10 fastest junior varsity girls also earned medals.
Fremont's Elijah Castillo (10:50) was eighth, Luis Jensen (10:52) of Lynbrook ninth, Sean Robinson (10:59) of Kings 13th, Xi-Lin Yen (11:05) of Cupertino 14th and Rishi Agarwal (11:08) of Homestead 15th.
Cupertino runners Mrinal Bedi and Daniel Zhang claimed the first two places of the boys frosh-soph race. Bedi ran 11:01, 12 seconds better than his teammate.
In the junior varsity boys contest, Shamil Hargovan of Lynbrook placed second in 11:49, 11 seconds behind Jacob Hull of Wilcox.
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