Monarchs look strong at Monache Invitational

Katie Fry picked up where she left off at the Monache Invitational, Thursday, at Bartlett Park.

The Monarchs’ junior 800-meter state finalist won the girls’ 3200-meter race in 13:05.95 seconds, 12 seconds ahead of second-place finisher Celina Vera (Tulare Union). On the boys’ side, Exeter’s Christian Gonzales, who was a Valley qualifier in the 1600 meters on the track, took second in 10:36.33, six seconds behind El Diamante’s Brandon Craft.

Monache senior Kristen Chan was the highest city finisher, crossing the line in fifth (13:26.98). Granite Hills landed a runner in the top 10 as well. Junior Abigail De La Cruz finished in 13:36.49.

Union won the boys’ competition with 46 points with Golden West and Exeter tying for second with

56. Granite finished fifth with 180 with Monache coming in seventh with 221. Strathmore was ninth with 244 and Porterville 10th with 249.

Chris Sides and Oscar Campos were the top Grizzly finishers, coming in 27th and 28th, respectively, while Victor Hernandez crossed the finish line in 23rd.

Exeter senior Garrett Dunn was seventh with Preston Smee 15th. William Samarin was the Panthers’ top finisher at 39th while Askar Alomari was 57th for the Spartans.

Union won the girls’ meet with 45 points with Exeter coming in fifth with 96. Monache (seventh), Granite (ninth) and Porterville (10th) and Strathmore (11th) rounded out the Orange Belt teams.

Sophomore Alisa Carstens finished 10th for the Monarchs with Analysa Asuncion coming in 15th for the Marauders. Strathmore’s Sofia Vallejo led her team with a 22nd place finish with Ivette Romero leading all Porterville girls at 37th.