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Girls Harriers Score Impressive Win
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The Riverbank High School girls champion cross-country team put together an impressive win on Oct. 9 at the Clovis Invitational.

Aiming to again reach the State Meet this year, Riverbank won in a close race with 75 points. They were followed by Campolindo, with 86 points; Bishop O' Dowd, with 92; and Orange Lutheran, with 128, said the Bruins coach Jeep Oliveira.

Bishop O' Dowd is the top ranked team in the North Coast Section. Campolindo is the top Division III team, and Orange Lutheran has been ranked as high as second in the state for Division IV.

Maritza Garcia came back from a foot injury to lead the Bruins at 20:02 for 13th place.

"Garcia will run much faster when we get her healthy. I think she can be in the top 10 at state," said Oliveira.

Gina Arnold ran only a second behind Garcia, but in a tight field she placed 16th.

"It was her best race of the year. She is learning she can run with the leaders and does not need to hang in the pack," said Oliveira.

Bianca Melchor was 22nd, with a time of 20:25. Brettany Harrison clocked 20:37, in 23rd place for her best race of the season. The team's fifth runner, Angelica Duarte, ran a personal best of 20: 56.

"Bianca ran 20:04 at Stanford a few weeks ago and complained of lower leg pain but just toughed it out," said her coach.

"Bret," he added, "is finally getting her confidence back and will keep getting faster. Angelica is without doubt the year's most improved runner, and on a state-ranked team that means something."

The girls easily won a dual meet against a depleted Patterson team on Oct. 13, and will race in a three-way meet against Escalon and Elliott today.

But they are not slated for another invitational until the Mt. Sac. event in Southern California on Oct. 22.

"The Mt. Sac race will be the toughest so far this year. It is against the best schools in the western states, and the course is the hardest in California," said Oliveira.