Healdsburg’s cross country runners are finding their pace for this fall’s season, with a good showing at the prestigious Lowell Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 6. The annual early season meet was again held at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco.
The team to beat was Menlo-Atherton, with three of the top five finishers from the peninsula school. The only thing preventing a fourth Menlo runner from the top 10 was Healdsburg’s Jake McWilliams, who came in 10th with a time of 15:02.3, a personal best for the senior on the 2.83 mile route.
Teammate Lucas Welty, a sophomore, was the next Greyhound to finish in 18th place (15:13.4). Others in the crowded 198-runner Varsity 1 heat included freshmen Phoenix De Maria Nall and Liam McKenzie, sophomores Domenico Cornilsen and Jack Beckman, and junior Lukas Brennan.
The next regional meet is Saturday, Sept. 13—the Viking Opener Invitational at Spring Lake Park. Competition in the Redwood division starts Oct. 1 with a dual meet in Ukiah.
Tennis girls gaining respect
The Healdsburg girls tennis team is off to another strong season with several match victories already this season. Last year’s No. 1 player, Meher Dhiman, is back as a senior in the top slot, followed in order by Amelia Wickersham, Claire Berry and Sana Katsuki.
The doubles lineup is still in development, but that hasn’t stopped the team from sweeping Montgomery (Aug. 28) and Santa Rosa (Sept. 4).
They did come up short in the season’s first match on Aug. 26, falling to Cardinal Newman 5-2. One of the match wins came from #4 Sana Katsuki, who outlasted her opponent in a three-hour match 6-7, 6-4 and 7-8. “Sana is on fire on the singles court. She also plays basketball, but spent extra time over the summer and is really dedicated,” Chandler said.
The other victory came from the #3 doubles of Sophia Miranda Martinez and Ashley Jenkins, beating Cardinal Newman in two straight at 6-3, 6-3.
“Healdsburg has a deeper roster, and I think that’s going to help us this season,” said coach Mary Beth Chandler. “There’s talent that hasn’t been utilized, and there are players ready to play.”
Other new and hungry talent on the courts includes ninth-graders Bella Abel, Regina Garibay and Alexandra Jensen; sophomores Savannah Anderson, Justina Domenichelli and Francine Hawkes; and junior Jacqueline Threlfall.
Next up is a Thursday, Sept. 11, meeting with Maria Carrillo. Local games are played on the courts at the high school on Monte Vista Drive.
Girls golfers stay ahead
The Healdsburg girls golf team is off to another strong season following a first-match tie with Analy, 242-242, at Northwood Golf Club on Aug. 20. Since that time they defeated Analy in an Aug. 27 rematch at Tayman (Healdsburg) by 220-234, and Windsor, again at Tayman on Sept. 3, 228-307.
Upcoming rounds include a 9-hole rematch at Windsor High on Sept. 10, and at Cardinal Newman on Sept. 11.
