RANCHO CORDOVA, CA (MPG) - The Cordova cross country team competed in the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Finals, the qualifying meet for the CIF State Cross Country Championships.

Freshman Carson Caditz started the day off on a good foot. He placed 30th out of 45 participants, with a massive personal record of 13:33. He dropped one minute and 20 seconds off his time. This was one of the best performances we have seen by an underclassman.

Sophomore Stephany Santana was set to defend her medal from the previous year. She placed 9th out of 50, with a massive personal record of 14:10. She dropped one minute and 24 seconds off her time. This performance earned her another medal. She now has back-to-back individual section medals.

"We are so happy for Stephany and the strides she has made,” said coach Josh Gruver. “She had an incredible season and has big goals going into next season.”

Junior Daniel Insco ran in one of the toughest races we have seen in recent years. With the goal of making it to the California State Championships, he needed to run hard from the gun. Daniel placed 17th among 78, with a massive personal record of 17:08. He dropped one minute and four seconds off his time. This performance earned him a 6th place individual medal against some of the best teams in the state of California. He was four places off qualifying for the state championships and he ran an incredible race.

Insco went undefeated in the Greater Sacramento League Championships this season and went on to run three miles in 16:15 at the CIF SJS Sun-Sections. He's a two-time GSL champion.

"Daniel's performance was one of the gutsiest we have seen since 2009,” Gruver said. “He put himself in the mix at the start of the race and ran with heart. He has worked extremely hard since the summer. Daniel will be back next year to make another push for [the] state meet."

The Cordova cross country team has big goals for next season, and we are excited for the future of this program. Cordova students are welcome to join one of the best programs on campus. If you are interested in running cross country next season, don't wait.

Contact coach Gruver via email at [email protected] or find him on campus in room D10.