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| Healthy, Hamilton finishes second By Mark Foyer [ markf@hmbreview.com ] Published/Last Modified on Wednesday, September 23, 2009 9:16 AM PDT Sammy Hamilton finally got to race. Running in the first of two varsity girls’ races at Saturday’s Lowell Invitational, the Half Moon Bay High School senior finished second, running the 2.93-mile course in 16 minutes, 52 seconds. Aptos’ Marissa Ferrante won in 16:39. Hamilton’s performance was one of many highlights for the Cougars. Chandra Anderson won the girls’ frosh-soph race. She was one of three girls to finish in the top 11 in that race. Cesar Aguilar was fifth in a sophomore race. Hamilton had not raced since injuring her foot in April. “Nothing has changed for me,” Hamilton said. “I just need to get in some speed work.” Ferrante and Hamilton broke away from the rest of the pack at the start of the race. Ferrante opened a little space on Hamilton late in the race. Hamilton stayed close the rest of the race. “I’m happy to be back racing,” Hamilton said. “It’s nice to be able to make an impact with the team.” Hamilton hopes to become a four-time participant at the state meet, in late November. If the girls’ frosh-soph race is any indicator, Hamilton won’t be running at the state meet as an individual. Anderson took off at the start and was never challenged. She ran the 2.13-mile course in 13:41, finishing 33 seconds ahead of runner-up Summer Lawson of Drake. “Coach (Paul) Farnsworth told me to get out fast and not get caught behind,” Anderson said. “I am very surprised to have won.” She didn’t have to wait long for some teammates. Maggie Galle was 11th in the 136-girl field in 14:57, with Half Moon Bay’s Katarina Boester one second behind. Also running for Half Moon Bay, which finished fifth in the team competition, were Emily Bernstein (64th, 16:59) and Paige Arnett (120th, 19:34). “I thought I would do better,” Galle said. “I was hoping to finish in the top 10. I have never run this course before. I didn’t know what to expect.” Aguilar led Half Moon Bay’s sophomore boys, finishing in 12:02. Also running for the Cougars in that race were Alex DeBarts (32nd, 13:03), Ryan Roberts (40th, 13:14) and Alan Mata (77th, 14:02). “I love this course,” Aguilar said. “It’s a very flat course.” Ryan Dill led Half Moon Bay’s varsity boys, finishing 51st in 16:03. He was followed by Dimitry Picchi (72nd, 16:20), Skyler Ferry (77th, 16:25) and Jared Cilia (107th, 17:00). “I felt I did well on the up hills,” Dill said. “I don’t feel that exhausted.” |