Atwater boys cross country state bound

Ken Rhoades called it the most rewarding season in 16 years of coaching.

The Atwater High School boys cross country coach has enjoyed more talented teams than the 2014 version but few that worked harder. It was that blue-collar, team-first mentality that allowed the group to move up two spots from the Sac-Joaquin Subsection Meet to the Section Meet and qualify for Saturday’s CIF State Cross Country Championships for the first time in 23 years.

“Alex Vargas has the potential to be an elite runner, but for the most part we are a team without stars,” Rhoades said. “Between the boys and the girls teams, this season has been a real joy. We’ve had less discipline issues. The kids genuinely enjoy and push each other.

“Merced had more front-end talent, which is why they won (the Central California Conference), but depth tends to pay off in the postseason. We’re here because of this group’s collective work ethic and desire.”

Also qualified for Saturday’s races at Woodward Park in Fresno: Hilmar’s Kenzye Spears, Merced’s Daniel Ambriz and Atwater girls runner Jackie Magana. All 10 runners will attend for the first time.

“This season was just kind of magical,” Falcons girls coach Alexi Parle said. “We didn’t necessarily know what we had coming in on either the boys or the girls. Neither team was the most talented group, but they fought so hard for each other, they deserve everything they’ve earned.

“The league was really competitive this season, and we feel like it helped push our kids to qualify for state.”

After three years of getting by on natural talent, Magana decided to take a stab at greatness in her senior campaign, Parle said. The only female four-time conference champion in school history easily secured her place at the state meet with a fifth-place showing in the Division II race at the section meet.

The Atwater boys had a tougher go.

Vargas finished 12th in the Division II race at the section final and ensured his place at state with a time of 16 minutes, 57 seconds. Spencer Jacobs wasn’t far behind, placing 22nd, but it was the efforts of Ozzy Nava, Andres Quezada and Francisco Gloria that helped extend the season for everyone.

“We knew coming in we had about a 20-point gap we had to make up,” Rhoades said. “Even a mile in we weren’t in great position, but this is a very cerebral team. They know a race isn’t decided in the first mile; it usually comes down to the middle portion.

“Our three, four and five runners did a great job sticking together and pushing each other. They all finished within five seconds of each other.”

It proved essential as Atwater’s 99 points just held off Rocklin (100) and Oakmont (101) of Roseville for third place.

With five of the Falcons’ seven runners being juniors, Rhoades hopes it’s that start of a special era for the program.

“Winning league was our first goal, but coach always told us we were built for the postseason,” Vargas said. “Qualifying for state was huge for us. To be able and go experience it as a team is not an opportunity a lot of people get.

“We’re going to go and do our best, and hopefully set the stage for a big year next year.”

This story was originally published November 27, 2014 at 6:50 PM with the headline "Atwater boys cross country state bound."