Rethmeier runs to CIF title, record

By: CHRIS CLAUSEN - Staff Writer | Saturday, November 22, 2003 10:02 PM PST ∞

SAN DIEGO ---- San Pasqual High senior Claire Rethmeier went online to help make sure she crossed the finish line in record time.

En route to the CIF Division II girls cross country title Saturday, Rethmeier set a new San Diego Section record. She ran the 2.75-mile course at Morley Field in 15 minutes, 28 seconds.

"I was going for the record," she said. "I looked it up on the Internet."

Rethmeier found a time of 15:37 by Jenna Timinsky of San Dieguito in 2001 as the record to aim for.

"I kicked it into gear at the end to beat the record," Rethmeier said. "I didn't want to come up a second short, like I have a few times this year."

Senior teammate Lorin Scott followed Rethmeier across the finish line as the Eagles easily repeated as Division II champions with 27 points. They placed 1-2-6-8-10, much to the delight of head coach Pat King.

"It was a goal to finish that way," he said. "I knew we would run well and be capable of getting five runners in the top 10."

Scripps Ranch was second with 74 points, and West Hills was third with 104 points.

El Camino won the Division I title with 65 points. Sariah St. Laurent repeated as champion with a time of 16:04 to help lead the Wildcats.

Vista freshman Andrea Jacobs finished second, while St. Laurent's teammate Mariana Monasi finished third in an exciting finish. Monasi passed Rancho Bernardo's Lindsay delaMontaigne in the last 30 yards.

"This year was more fun," St. Laurent said. "I am excited for Mariana and the team. I was nervous because I wanted to win, not because of any pressure."

Said Monasi: "I wasn't sure I would be able to pass Lindsay. I saw Andrea do it, so I went for it."

Rancho Bernardo had 97 points and Rancho Buena Vista 123 to finish second and third, respectively.

Valley Center, led by Danae Hough's third-place finish, won the Division III title with 66 points. University finished second with 91 points, while Clairemont was third with 99 points.

San Dieguito Academy's Marie Raffray won with a time of 16:30, while University's Molly O'Toole finished second.

"I had a feeling I would win today," Raffray said. "I am really happy because this is something I wanted."

La Jolla Country Day (31 points) and Coronado (53 points) finished first and second in Division IV and will be the division's state-meet representatives.

Santa Fe Christian won the Division V title with 28 points. Julian (35 points) and Tri-City Christian (63) will make the trip to Fresno next week.