Claeys, Stanfield statebound runners

Shorthanded Sonoma cross- country girls grab NCS-D3 9th, boys get 12th|

Racing against the best boys and girls in North Coast Section Division-3 cross-country on Saturday at Hayward High School’s three-mile course, Sonoma Valley High School senior Travis Claeys and sophomore Amy Stanfield stepped up with impressive efforts that punched their tickets to run in the prestigious state meets.

In the 17-team NCS Division-3 girls race, the Sonoma County League-champion Lady Dragons were without the services of two of their top-five runners, junior Maddie Cashel and sophomore Quinn Jensen, but still ended up with ninth place, as Stanfield led the way with her own ninth-place performance.

Along with the top four NCS Division-3 finishing teams, the top five individual finishers earned a place in the CIF cross-country championship meets, established in 1987. Sonoma’s Stanfield was not only the fourth qualifier, but she also became just the second-ever Lady Dragon to reach state after Sara Jakel (1993).

Stanfield posted an overall ninth-place time of 18 minutes, 34 seconds and will travel with Dragon teammate Claeys to Fresno to race against California’s top Division-3 runners at Woodward Park on Saturday, Nov. 28.

Sonoma’s Claeys will end his stellar prep career at the highest level after running to an 11th-place finish in the NCS Division-3 boys’ race in 15:56 to become the fifth and final individual qualifier for state and the third Dragon boy to ever to reach state, following Alex Conner and head coach John Litzenberg.

“Obviously, I’m extremely proud of both Travis (Claeys) and Amy (Stanfield) for making it to the state meet in a very competitive division,” said Litzenberg, who’s assisted by Julie Niehaus. “They both finished with incredible kicks over the last 200 meters to qualify, with Travis being the lone individual D3 qualifier from the SCL.”

In the 17-team NCS Division-3 girls’ race, the Lady Dragons placed ninth and, along with Stanfield, were paced by senior Maddy Libbey’s 40th place in 19:49; freshman Malia Cashel’s 47th in 20:04; sophomore Eliza Neeley’s 68th in 21:10; sophomore Trinity McGuinness’ 75th in 21:30; and sophomore Helena Goodman 101st in 23:13.

The Dragon boys placed 12th out of 20 NCS Division-3 teams and, along with Claeys, were paced by frosh Justin Cox’s 37th place in 16:34; junior Leonardo Macedonio’s 71st in 17:38; junior Brandon Barmore’s 107th in 19:06; junior Campbell Martin’s 119th in 19:32; and sophomore Cian Martin’s 130th in 21:00.

“Justin (Cox), only a freshman, was impressive with his 37th place. He has had, by far, the best freshman season of anyone I’ve ever coached in cross-country,” said Litzenberg. 

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