FRESNO, Calif. – The St. Francis cross country team finished eighth overall and junior Isabella Fauria crossed 10th to lead the Troubadours at Woodward Park at the CIF State Championships on Saturday. It was the eighth consecutive Top 10 state championship finish for the program.
"You can't be sad about that," said Rios of the program's eighth straight Top 10 state finish. "It is a great legacy and culture we are trying to continue at St. Francis. I am very proud of them. It has been a solid 5-6 months of hard work, dedication and commitment."
St. Francis scored 201 team points to finish eighth in the competitive Division II race. Claremont won the state title with 82 points with Grenada second with 95 and Mission Viejo third with 136.
"I am definitely proud of my team," said senior Sophie DeBenedetti. "I am proud of everything we were able to accomplish. It is really exciting to place top 10 again as a team and keep moving forward."
The Troubadours won the Sac-Joaquin Section title for the third consecutive season.
Junior Isabella Fauria, the third individual section champion in school history, led the team and placed 10 overall in the individual standings (seventh among the team scorers) with a time of 18:05. It was her second career top-10 finish at the CIF State Championships.
"She has been a solid leader for our team while inspiring the girls," said Rios of Fauria. "We are very proud of her and her individual and team performance."
Freshman Cate Joaquin recorded a top 20 finish, crossing the line 15th overall (11th among scorers) and was the third-best freshman in the Division II field.
Junior Haley Silva was the third finisher for the Troubadours, placing 64th overall in 19:09.
Senior Sophie DeBenedetti was the fourth finisher for the Troubadours, placing 73rd overall in her final prep high school race.
"We are tremendously proud of her," said Rios. "It is tough to do it for four years, go through all the ups and downs as an individual and keep the team mentality. She knows we love her and she gives it right back to the team."
DeBenedetti was a four-time All-Delta League performer and led her team to top-10 finishes at the state meet each year of her career.
"It was an honor to be part of this for four years," said DeBenedetti. "I put my best out there and it is all you can do. The atmosphere that St. Francis provides at these meets is so much different than any other team. I am going to cherish that forever. You only get four years of this and I realize that."
The Troubadours also had top performances by freshmen Tatiana Cornejo (89th, 19:28) and Emily Castles (141st, 20:11). Sophomore Hanna Hekkanan placed 161st overall (20:41).
St. Francis returns six of the seven runners from the 2018 state team and great depth in a program that featured more than 70 runners over the course of the season. The team will host its annual banquet on Monday, Nov. 26 at 6 p.m. in the New Dining Hall.
CIF State Division II Girls State Championships
Team Results
Individual Results (Top 10)
1. Claremont 82; 2. Grenada 95; Mission Viejo 136; 4. Serrano 148; 5. La Costa Canyon 153; 5. Saugus 166; 7. Canyon 195; 8. St. Francis 201; 9. Westlake 223; 10. San Luis Obispo 232.
St. Francis Results
10. Isabella Fauria, 18:05; 15. Cate Joaquin 18:13; 64. Haley Silva 19:09; 73. Sophie DeBenedetti 19:18; 89. Tatiana Cornejo 19:28; 141. Emily Castles 20:11; 161. Hanna Hekkanen 20:41.
