Hear what the 8 Buchanan High runners who won at Kingsburg cross country meet had to say

On paper or on a cross country course, the Buchanan High girls team is proving it will be in the running for a fourth consecutive – and fifth overall – state championship.

Dyestat.com has the Bears, who return five key runners and add an impact freshman this year, ranked No. 1 in California and second in the nation.

Coach Brian Weaver’s runners will most likely have more competition determining the starting seven runners than it will in local meets.

That much was evident last Saturday when Buchanan runners accounted for each of the four class winners, and seven of the eight sub-12-minute performances at the Kingsburg 2 Mile cross country meet. And that was without junior Elle Lomelí participating because of illness.

Buchanan junior Avery Hutchison clocked the fastest time of the day at 11:06.8 in the junior race. Senior Stefania Sesock posted an 11:10.85 to win her race, while freshman Molly Sundgren ran 11:17.74 to run away from her competition. Sophomore Kynzlee Buckley won her race in 11:18.84.

Clovis North and San Luis Obispo – ranked second and third, respectively by local statistician Larry Lung – did not run in Kingsburg, but are expected to compete along with Buchanan at the 42nd annual Woodbridge Cross Country Classic this weekend in Orange County.

Meanwhile, the Buchanan boys also flexed their running legs in Kingsburg as their runners accounted for five of the sub-10-minute times. Buchanan runners also won each of the four class races.

Senior Ryan Kunkel clocked 9:37.53 to lead the Buchanan attack.

Dyestat.com has Buchanan, along with Clovis East and Matilda Torres, as teams to watch out for in California.

In the Sanger Cross Country Invitational last Friday at Avocado Lake, Clovis East won the boys competition with 29 points; Sanger was second with 68 points. Sanger captured the girls race with 27 points, ahead of Edison with 70 points.

Here is what the top finishers in each race in Kingsburg said, along with a third-place finisher.

Senior girls: Stefania Sesock rebounds from broken femur

“I broke my (right) femur last cross country season and so I was out like the entire season. I fractured it really badly. I took a fall during summer training, and it kind of just got worse as I kept running on it.

“I’ve only raced this race once and it was like a year ago. So definitely I was a little unsure going into it, but I knew I just wanted to do the best I could. I think I did.

At the Summer Sizzle (11:22 for 2 miles) “I hit the time I predicted, but it wasn’t too fast. I think I redeemed myself here.”

“At Buchanan, we have a lot of great runners, so it’s definitely a challenge. And we compete a lot at practice and in races. And I think it definitely prepares us like we get a little edge because we have such amazing people we can train with every day.”

Junior girls: Avery Hutchison “a little scared before” race

“My goal was to just really do the best that I could for the team. Individually, you know, just try and get across that line really fast. I was definitely a little scared before because, you know, it got really hot and humid.

“Individually my goal is to just do the best that I can for the team and for the team. You know, we just want to run together and just do as well as we can as a group.

“We don’t really try to look at rankings because we don’t want to get it in our head too much. The goal really is to just try and get that ranking at the end of the season so rankings don’t really matter for us. We just want to be that place at the end.

“We have a lot of great girls this year. You know, we’re running in groups together and I think it’s really competitive and I think it’s good. And sometimes it’s a little stressful, you know, when you want to be on that team.

“But I think the cool part about cross country and our team is sometimes our team at the beginning of the season is never the team at the end of the season. So that’s what’s really fun about it, is every race there’s an opportunity for you to make that team.”

Sophomore girls: Kynzlee Buckley looking to 5k races

“My goal was, honestly, just to come out here, work hard, see what, like, get used to the racing atmosphere before we go into the 5-kilometer (races) next week. (My time) was not my best, but I think it was a good starter for the season, but I really hope to improve that.

“It’s good for all of us girls to have a fast atmosphere for all of us; and pushing each other because it really helps us at practice to just work hard, know what racing is going to feel like, and know what we have to do to win.”

Freshman girls: Molly Sundgren “really excited” about season

“I felt strong throughout the whole race and I was a little nervous coming into it. But I’m super excited with how I did. I felt really good, so I think I did well.”

Joining a Buchanan team with its pedigree “is a lot of pressure kind of. But I just love my teammates and they’re so fun to be around. And so I’m really excited.”

Getting into the varsity starting seven “would be really cool. It’s not decided yet, but that’s definitely a goal of mine and it would be really fun as a freshman.

“The seniors are so fun and they really help. And a lot of the other girls do, too. And other freshmen are. I’m super close with them and I have a lot of fun with them.”

Central section girls rankings

Overall: 1. Buchanan (0.20); 2. Clovis North (1.91); 3. San Luis Obispo (6.66), 4. Madera South (9.95); 5. Immanuel (10.13); 6. Highland (11.28); 7. Clovis West (11.54); 8. Stockdale (12.0); 9. Kerman (13.66); 10. Tulare Western (15.12)

Division I: 1. Buchanan; 2. Clovis North; 3. San Luis Obispo; 4. Madera South; 5. Stockdale; 6. Stockdale; 7. Sanger (15.34); 8. Clovis (16.31); 9. Clovis East (16.96); 10. Arroyo Grande (23.33)

Division II: 1. Highland; 2. Tulare Western; 3. Redwood (16.4); 4. Frontier (17.75); 5. Bakersfield (18.07); 6. Edison (22.69); 7. Liberty-Bakersfield (24.36); 8. Paso Robles (25.05); 9. Golden West (27.64); 10. Foothill (27.74)

Division III: 1. Wasco (19.2); 2. Monache (25.29); 3. El Diamante (25.98); 4. Atascadero (28.29); 5. Mt. Whitney (33.66); 6. Shafter (35.34); 7. McFarland (35.67); 8. Pioneer Valley (36.16); 9. Cabrillo (38.85); 10. East Bakersfield (39.83)

Division IV: 1. Kerman; 2. Bakersfield Christian (20.9); 3. Morro Bay (31.7); 4. Orcutt Academy (32.12); 5. Matilda Torres (36.18); 6. Liberty-Madera Ranchos (41.32); 7. Justin Garza (41.45); 8. Arvin (43.56); 9. Tulare Union (44.13); 10. South Bakersfield (47.06)

Division V: 1. Immanuel; 2. Fresno Christian (24.23); 3. Yosemite (50.7); 4. Mammoth (58.41); 5. University-Fresno (61.08); 6. Riverdale (65.9); 7. St. Joseph (72.31); 8. San Joaquin Memorial (75.19); 9. Garces (75.19); 10. Frazier Mountain (77.77)

Senior boys: Ryan Kunkel goal was sub-9:40

“My goal was to run hard, run sub 9:40. We’re getting in shape quickly. It’s going to take a while to prepare for state.

“There was a little bit of a pack through the first mile and then I kind of took off with a mile to go.

“We work in practice, stick together as much as possible. It’s all a team effort. We want that short team gap. We don’t want to make it big. And that brings out the best in everyone.

“It motivates us to run (Kingsburg 2 Mile) every year. They’re fun to run as a team.”.

Junior boys: Luke Sanders increased his summer miles

“I wanted to have a strong time and I wanted to place really good. I knew I could place well, coming into this meet. I’ve spent a lot of time leading up to summer training, so we’re looking forward to it. Good start to the season.

“I put a little more miles in than I did last year. Comes with getting older, getting stronger. So, yeah, a little more miles than last year.

“I’m happy with my time today. It’s a good start to the season. I’m looking forward to building up and getting stronger and faster towards the end of the season.

“We have a pretty good team this year. I’m excited. I like the diversity that we have from the younger kids all the way up to the seniors. It creates longevity.

“I started in fourth grade. I just enjoyed running. It was hard at times. But when you get past those hard parts, it’s really motivating. And so it’s just something that I kind of stuck with since fourth grade leading up to high school.”

Sophomore boys: Jansen Geyer “was gunning” for a sub-9:50

“My first goal was to get first, which I was excited about. And my second one was to go at least under, well, sub-10, sub-9:50.

“We are all really fast and we all have a lot of talent, but we also are very good at teamwork and I think that will help us be able to work together to win.

“I was at the front for the first 400 meters and then I got passed after the 500 meters. I had to push really hard in the last 800 meters.”

Freshman boys: Andrew Ray “kind of died” in final 800 meters

“My goal was just to run fast and try to break 10 minutes. I kind of died with 800 meters to go, so I want to work on pushing the last quarter a little more.

“It’s kind of hard to tell with one race under the books, but I was just excited to get out and I felt really good. I kind of died with like, 800 to go, so I. I want to work on pushing the last quarter a little more.

“Just from training in the heat so much. It’s really tiring. And I was pretty tired coming into today, but I still feel really happy that I got to lead my team.

“I think I’m like three spots off” (making the top 7).

Parlier’s Evan Torres likes competition against bigger schools

“My main goal today was focus. Just try to keep up with the pack. You know, be competitive. You know, try to beat those guys, try to be with them.

“Most of the race I was behind them. And then slowly but surely, I started taking off people one by one and then just finished strong.

“I’m excited. I can’t wait to see what’s going to happen this year. You know, I have high goals for myself and it’s going to be exciting.

“Those (Buchanan) guys give me competition. You know, they keep me where I’m at and, you know, try to push me.

Central section boys rankings

Overall: 1. Buchanan (3.27); 2. Clovis West (4.15); 3. Clovis East (5.29); 4. Monache (5.37); 5. Yosemite (5.38); 6. Matilda Torres (5.67); 7. San Luis Obispo (6.71); 8. Bakersfield (7.39); 9. Clovis (10.9); 10. Clovis North (13.67)

Division I: 1. Buchanan; 2. Clovis West; 3. Clovis East; 4. San Luis Obispo; 5. Bakersfield; 6. Clovis; 7. Clovis North; 8. Sanger (16.62); 9. Madera South (17.77); 10. Redwood (21.94)

Division II: 1. Monache; 2. Atascadero (18.39); 3. Reedley (19.02); 4. Tulare Western (22.07); 5. Frontier (23.26); 6. Bullard (23.7); 7. Roosevelt (30.63); 8. Centennial (31.99); 9. Mt. Whitney (36.48); 10. El Diamante (40.42).

Division III: 1. Matilda Torres; 2. Lompoc (23.68); 3. Arvin (24.13); 4. Wasco (25.96); 5. Porterville (26.23); 6. Templeton (27.1); 7. Pioneer Village (29.02); 8. Independence (33.12); 9. Edison (33.92); 10. Tulare Union (33.94).

Division IV: 1. McFarland (20.99); 2. Justin Garza (22.17); 3. Del Oro (23.62); 4. Sierra Pacific (42.52); 5. Caruthers (43.91); 6. Washington Union (44.44); 7. Nipomo (45.04); 8. Kerman (46.03); 9. East Bakersfield (47.21); 10. Orcutt Academy (49.82)

Division V: 1. Yosemite; 2. Mammoth (45.85); 3. Central Valley Christian (45.95); 4. Immanuel (46.74); 5. Riverdale (57.03); 6. Fresno Christian (58.43); 7. Tranquillity (58.76); 8. Endeavor Charter (64.96); 9. San Joaquin Memorial (68.23); 10. Frazier Mountain (84.13)