Hartnell Men Repeat as Norcal Champs, Deniz Individual Winner

Despite only two retuners from last year's Northern California Championship performance and a course made more challenging by a steady pre-race rain, the Panthers managed to secure their tenth Northern California title at Rohner Park in Fortuna, CA. This year's squad has traveled the length of the state of California having competed in both Fortuna and San Diego this fall in preparation for championship season. With three all-region performers, all seven runners in the top 25, the Panthers tallied 49 points to edge rival American River College by three points for the win. 

Sophomore Esteban Deniz had only one previous cross country meet win which came earlier this season at Toro Park but made an aggressive move just before the two mile mark and second loop through the hills and forest to edge away from the field. His lead grew before hitting the 3 mile mark and at the end of the race was 21 seconds as the King City graduate became Hartnell's tenth individual champion covering the 4 mile course in 21:43. Despite the rain, mud and cold, Deniz only ran 3 seconds slower than his previous performance on the course. After placing fourth as a freshman last year, Deniz puts himself into elite Hartnell company and follows teammate Isaac Gensel's win from last year. After Deniz, a potential future champion freshman Moises Benito fought for second place over the final mile but was rewarded with a solid fourth place finish. Benito was timed in 22:07 just three seconds from the runner-up spot. With his fourth place finish this year, Benito could join Deniz as a repeat top 5 finisher should he equal or improve on his finish next fall. Sophomore Jose Velazquez stepped up for the Panthers in 2021 and earned all-region honors. He would repeat this honor placing eleventh in 22:42. Freshman Jesse Blanco ran a well-planned race to find himself just one spot from all-region with his fifteenth place finish in 22:58. Ricky Diaz III sealed the team title in eigthteenth (23:03). Daniel Pantoja, in just his second race back from injury, was 22nd (23:15) and Josh Riley (23:27) completed the team. 

This was the tenth Northern California title in program history and the Panthers now only trail American River College by two titles for most in region history. Hartnell has also recorded 21 top 3 finishers only one behind American River College. Deniz joins Diego Leon (2013-2014), Daniel Tapia (2008-2009), Enrique Lopez (2006-2007), Steve Moreno (1995-1996) and Nacho Flores (1992-1993) as repeat top 5 finishers at the Norcal Championship.