JHS Cross Country TeamScores in League, State Events

Julian boy cross country runners start out strong at the Citrus League competition. Pictured here (left to right) are Jared Anderson, David Neth and Noah Sloan. Photos By Betty Sloan

By Bobbi Zane

Nine Julian Union High School cross country runners made a big impression this fall as they competed in a series of events locally and statewide.

Their pursuit of excellence culminated in an award for Gina Beckman at the state competition, held Nov. 25 in Fresno.

The road to victory for the six girls and three boys started with the Citrus League championships in November at Kit Carson Park in Escondido, at which the Julian girls won, defeating archrival, Mountain Empire School District. The Julian runners went on to place well enough in the San Diego section of CIF competition to qualify for participation in the state championship event.

About 45 girls and 60 boys competed in the Citrus League championship event for high schools with fewer than 250 students. Julian’s victory was sweet, said coach Bill Porter: “We won by one point and three of our girls were named all-league athletes for finishing in the top 10 of the single race event.”

Noah Sloan pushes Mike Walters from Calvin Christian High School in the CIF competition at Morley Field.

The all-league girls were Beckman, Brenna Kelly and team captain Meghan Madigan. Two of the boys, Noah Sloan and David Neth, also finished in the top 10 and were named all-league athletes.

The girls next starred in an even more challenging competition, the San Diego CIF event at Morley Field in Balboa Park. Once again, Beckman and Kelly finished among the top 10 runners in the 2.75-mile event and were named all-CIF athletes.

Julian’s speedy boys, Sloan and Neth, also captured all-CIF designations for finishing third and 10th in the 5K race. The Nov. 19 event involved 35 girls and 45 boys from the San Diego region.

One week later, the athletes traveled to Fresno, where they participated in the state championship, held at Woodland Park. And again, the Julian athletes showed what they could do in a 5K race. The girls team came in 18th statewide against runners from small schools — including a girl who turned out to be the best cross country runner in the nation. Sloan ranked 15th overall in his race, breaking the Julian school record for the 5K in the process. Sloan also claimed a further honor as the best athlete.

Meghan Madigan, captain of the Julian girls cross country team, out in front at the CIF event at Morely Field.

“We did very well this year,” Porter said. “It was a rebuilding year, since we lost the best runners we had last year.”

The coach is particularly proud of the work done by Sloan.

“He would be a solid runner in any division in all of San Diego or Imperial County,” Porter said.

Sloan broke the 10-year-old state meet school record achieved by Todd Lewis, one of the few Julian High School athletes to have his jersey retired, Porter added.

In addition to Beckman and Kelly, the girls team was comprised of Madigan, captain; Heather Hallahan; Sarah Edman; and Theresa Duey. The boys who competed were Sloan, Jared Anderson, and Neth, captain; they competed as individuals.

Gina Beckman, number 978 pushes her competitors at the California state Cross Country event in Fresno.