South Tahoe runners at USA XC Champs

Smith, Lambdin place in top 30 at junior national meet

February 17, 2008

By Steve Yingling

Tribune sports editor

South Tahoe High's top-two cross country runners competed against the nation's best, including collegians, on Saturday in San Diego.

STHS sophomore Kelsey Smith placed 19th and Vikings' senior Kate Lambdin was 30th at the USATF's Cross Country Junior Nationals at Mission Bay Park.

They were part of the meet's top club - the Buffalo Chips - which placed five runners in the top 20.

Jordan Hasay, 16, of Arroyo Grande, Calif., won the female division for the second straight year. Her winning time in the 6-kilometer race was 20 minutes, 32 seconds.

Smith was third among 16-year-old at the event, finishing in 22:31.

Lambdin placed seventh among 17-year-olds with her time of 23:28.

German Fernandez of Riverbank, Calif., won the male division by 1 second over Ryan Sheridan. His winning 8-kilometer time was 24:18.