Courtney Baird continued her strong season last weekend at the Woodbridge Invitational.
The Helix senior gave Canyon's Lauren Fleshman all she could handle in the Division 2 varsity girls race, although Fleshman pulled away at the end to win in a course record 16:35 for the slightly rolling 3-mile course. Baird ran 16:48, and was also well under the old course record of 17:01.
Baird set the pace early, going through the mile (5:30) and two-mile (11:05) with Fleshman shadowing her. With about a half mile to go, Fleshman, a finalist at the Footlocker nationals last year, pulled away.
"Courtney closed as strong as she could," Helix coach Ray Mounts said. "But she couldn't make up any ground."
University City's girls team looked fast and deep, with three girls running between 18:52 and 19:11, and two others under 19:44. The team was missing Leslie Crews, a key member. Soph Talisha Clophus won the frosh-soph race, and was not extended.
Fastest of San Diego's boy entrants was Point Loma senior Tom Antl, who ran the course in 15:37, and was fifth in the Division 2 senior race.
The Results:
| BOYS (3.0 miles):
Fastest San Diego area runners: 15:37 Tom Antl, Point Loma
|
GIRLS (3.0 miles):
Fastest San Diego area runners: 16:48 Courtney Baird, Helix
|