1 week Ago
Marco Zink of Tam takes second place at the MCAL boys cross country championships to help the Red-tailed Hawks secure the team title at the Indian Valley Campus of the College of Marin in Novato, Calif. on Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024.
(Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal) Ian Sharp, a senior from Archie Williams, leads a pack of runners before winning his race at the MCAL boys cross country championships at the Indian Valley Campus of the College of Marin in Novato, Calif. on Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024.
(Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal) Caeden Gardner from Tam takes third place at the MCAL boys cross country championships at the Indian Valley Campus of the College of Marin in Novato, Calif. on Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024.
(Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal) Ian Sharp, a senior from Archie Williams, takes first place at the MCAL boys cross country championships at the Indian Valley Campus of the College of Marin in Novato, Calif. on Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024.
(Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal) On the ground, Finn Harrington from Tam is greeted by teammate Caeden Gardner after their race at the MCAL boys cross country championships at the Indian Valley Campus of the College of Marin in Novato, Calif. on Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024.
(Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal) Runners are cheered on by fans at the MCAL boys cross country championships at the Indian Valley Campus of the College of Marin in Novato, Calif. on Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024.
(Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal) Marco Zink of Tam takes second place at the MCAL boys cross country championships to help the Red-tailed Hawks secure the team title at the Indian Valley Campus of the College of Marin in Novato, Calif. on Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024.
(Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal) In the closest MCAL boys cross country meet in league history, Tam High won its second straight title by a mere point over Archie Williams on Wednesday at the Indian Valley campus of the College of Marin. Maybe the Red-tailed Hawks had a little momentum and confidence on their side after claiming their first MCAL title since 2007 last season. The Hawks also went unbeaten in the MCAL regular season this year, making them a slight favorite heading into the league finals.
But Archie Williams — led by first-place finisher Ian Sharp — boasted near equal depth to challenge the defending champs under gray skies and chilly conditions that led to fast times. Tam finished with 36 points to Archie’s 37. Redwood was third with 77, followed by Marin Catholic (142), Branson (143), Terra Linda (159), San Rafael (176) and San Marin (204).
Sharp turned in a personal best time of 15 minutes, 29.9 seconds on the 3.1-mile course.
The senior took charge from the outset, pulling away from the pack along with Tam’s Marco Zink and Camden Gardner in close pursuit. “I woke up this morning super excited for this race,” said Sharp. “But I had to keep my energy level low.
I knew it would take everything out of me to win this. Tam always has a plan. It’s me up there and three more Tam guys.
I’m really happy I came out with the win and a PR.” Zink and Gardner, both seniors were timed at 15:45.5 and 15:49.
1, respectively. Junior Lucas Ruark added a fifth-place finish for the Hawks in 16:05.5.
Junior Finn Harrington was 11th. “We put the work in — I’m excited,” said Zink. “It’s a senior-heavy class.
I’m glad we got to take it home again and show last year’s seniors that we can still do it without them.” The race for team honors was so close that Tam and Archie runners took six out of the top seven finishes. Branson’s Jasper James broke up the domination with a fourth.
Archie’s Milo Hetherington and Ryan Seeley were sixth and seventh in 16:10.0 and 16:10.1, respectively.
Reid Cross added ninth place. Both Sharp and Zink had personal bests on Wednesday as the league’s top runners prepare for the North Coast Section meets on Nov. 23 in Hayward.
With the way the Tam and Archie boys have pushed each other this season, expectations are high. “Oh my God — I crossed that line and I could not believe it,” said Sharp, whose previous PR was 15:56. “That’s a huge drop.
I’ve been doing core overnight — doing medicine ball — everything to prepare me for this moment.” Sharp’s victory ends a string of individual triumphs by Redwood runners, who had won eight of the last nine league titles..
