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Division II team profile

Ramona's Clingman getting bullish

By Phillip Brents

Posted Oct. 20, 2002

Ramona’s Richard Clingman will attempt to continue his breakout season at the upcoming San Diego Section Division II cross country championships Nov. 23 at Balboa Park’s Morley Field. A successful end of season push could land him at the state finals the following week in Fresno.

Clingman finished sixth among No. 1 runners at the Southern California Invitational on Oct. 19 at Guajome Park, covering the 3.2-mile course in 16:31.7 behind the 15:34.2 course record set by Mar Vista junior Tory Swier. The meet matched each participating team’s No. 1 runners, No. 2 runners, No. 3 runners, and so forth to No. 7. Clingman’s time was the eighth best overall, inclusive of all runners.

Ramona, which finished seventh among Division II boys teams at last year’s divisional championships, will compete alongside East County powers Valhalla, Monte Vista and Helix, Scripps Ranch from the City Conference and Valley League power broker San Pasqual in what looks to be a very strong field this season. The top three teams will qualify for the state finals, up from two teams in the past, but the Bulldogs will likely be scratching to post a top 10 finish this season.

Even though his team may not qualify, Clingman could still land an individual berth at the state championship meet on Nov. 30, at Woodward Park in Fresno, with a top 10 individual finish.

Certtainly, the word "impressive" might not be enough to describe the season he has had thus far.

Clingman was fifth among senior boys at the Sept. 21 Mt. Carmel Movin’ Shoes Invitational at Morley Field and finished 14^th overall among Division I varsity runners at the Sept. 24 Bronco Roundup at Escondido’s Kit Carson Park.

Led by Clingman’s presence, the Bulldogs’ boys team sports an overall new look this year, with Francisco Rodriguez the lone runner returning from the seven-man team that competed at last year’s Division II meet. Rodriguez was Ramona’s fourth place-finisher (50^th out of 140 runners) at last year’s CIF finals, trailing Carlos Sanchez (ninth), Matt Saldivar (22^nd) and Jon Shellhammer (37^th).

This year’s Bulldogs’ squad also includes James Smith, Luis Barrios, Jeremy Adam and Adam Small. Smith was sixth among freshman boys at the Movin’ Shoes Invitational while Rodriguez, Smith, Barrios and Adams all posted top 75 finishes at the talent rich Bronco Roundup.

Last year, Ramona’s girls team – led by All-CIF runner Mishon Stalnaker and top 30 finisher Breanna Goetz – generated some noise at the Division II level with a fourth-place finish behind division champion San Pasqual, runner-up Helix and third-place Scripps Ranch.

Like this year’s boys team, the 2002 Ramona girls team will be out to regain some respect.

Sophomore Alanna Bennett was the Bulldogs’ finisher at the Bronco Roundup, taking 36^th place in the Division I varsity field, followed by Hannah Young (56^th), Polina Osipova (58^th), Bre Vannoy (63^rd), Stephanie Smith (70^th), Creta Del Llano (74^th) and Anusia Murray (76^th).

Osipova was 22^nd among senior girls at the Movin’ Shoes Invitational while Bennett was ninth among sophomore girls. A trio of freshmen scored among the top 25 runners for Ramona also at the Movin’ Shoes Invitational: Young (seventh), Erin Hearn (13^th) and Jenna McDermit (25^th).