Willow Glen Resident

Sports

Abdalla is ready to run at state after CCS 2nd

By Kevin Sparrer

Mohamed Abdalla is up to his old tricks again. The Willow Glen senior finished second for in the Central Coast Section Division III cross country finals on Nov. 10 on the 2.95-mile course at Crystal Springs in Belmont.

Abdalla completed the course in 15:08, which was 13 seconds faster than his first-place time last year. His second-place finish this year led the Rams to a third-place finish as a team, good for a spot at the state meet in Fresno on Nov. 24 at the 3.1-mile course at Woodward Park.

Abdalla is returning to the state meet in Fresno as the defending champion. Last year, he completed the course in 15:26 and hopes to break that time and defend his title this year.

Abdalla's running mate this season finished less than 30 seconds behind him in fifth place. Junior Nohe Lema (fifth, 15:27) has also been a driving force for the Rams' cross country team all season.

Finishing third for the Rams was Valentino Julien (18th, 16:14) with junior Nati Wolde (31st, 16:34) just 20 seconds behind him as the fourth-place finisher for Willow Glen. Completing the scoring for Willow Glen was freshman Donald Plazola (33rd, 16:35).

The other two runners for Willow Glen were junior John Ladd (46th, 16:54) and sophomore Christian Vargas (85th, 17:50).

Unfortunately, Willow Glen's girls struggled a bit in Division III and were only able to finish eighth as a team so will not continue on to the state meet.

The lady Rams were led by senior Hayley Tharp (40th, 20:41). Shortly behind Tharp was sophomore Kristina Rivera (48th, 20:56), followed by senior Kari Server (65th, 21:32), senior Michelle Moran (66th, 21:35) and senior Jaclyn Anderson (76th, 21:58).

Rounding out the runners for Willow Glen were senior Chelsea Moran (81st, 22:02) and sophomore Kenneth De La Cruz (91st, 22:33).

The girls of Presentation made their names known when they took second in Division II at the CCS finals. The first Panther to finish the course was senior Michelle Callaway (sixth, 18:32). She was followed by senior Tracy Vargo (11th, 18:43), junior Rebekah Phillips (17th, 19:07), junior Shannon McCarthy (20th, 19:23) and freshman Gina D'Arpino (23rd, 19:35).

The Panthers' performance qualifies the team for the state meet on Nov. 24 in Fresno.