Caudillo, Soobrian Save Best For Last, Win Inaugural NXR California Individual Titles

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor/Erik Boal Photos

Christopher Caudillo of Clovis Project Team had one more great race in his legs and used to return to Woodward Park in Fresno and win the inaugural Nike Cross California regional. 

Caudillo, who attends nearby Clovis High, was sixth in last week's CIF Division 1 final, eclipsing the 15-minute barrier on the 5-kilometer course for the first time in his career. 

On Saturday in cool, foggy conditions, the junior took six seconds off his Woodward Park best and ran 14:53.2 to win the Nike event. 

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Michael Julian (The York School), who placed fifth in the CIF Division 5 final a week ago, took 20 seconds off his time to place second in 15:02.6. 

The San Luis Distance Club, representing Division 2 state champion San Luis Obispo High, won the boys team title with 51 points. Milo Skapinsky led the way with a seventh-place overall finish in 15:37.1. 

Dublin was second with 68 points and Ayala RC was third with 73. 

The team battle was even tighter on the girls side, where North Clovis Running Club edged JSerra TC, 42-46. 

North Clovis RC (Clovis North High) had Ashlyn Leath (second overall), Gianna Bomarito (eighth) and Miliana Perez (12th) up front and the group overtook JSerra TC over the final mile. At the 2.1-mile split, JSerra was up by three points. 

Lauren Soobrian (unattached/Los Altos) took the opportunity to return to Woodward Park, where she was 11th in last week's Division 1 final, and ran 22 seconds faster on the way to the NXR title with 17:40.6. Soobrian was four seconds behind Leath at 2.1 miles and wound up seven seconds in front at the end, as Leath ran 17:47.8 to dip under the 18-minute mark for the first time in her career at Woodward Park. 

Sacramento (St. Francis) finished third in the team standings with 68 points and La Canada TC was fourth with 74.