Sadness greets Pasciuto at the end

By: GREG BALL - Staff Writer | Saturday, November 29, 2003 9:24 PM PST ∞

FRESNO ---- Liza Pasciuto's fantastic run came to an end Saturday, and her four-year reign as one of the state's most accomplished cross country runners wrapped up in melancholy fashion.

Pasciuto, Murrieta Valley's standout senior, finished second in the girls Division I race at the CIF-State Championship for the third time in as many tries despite running her best time of the three races ---- 17 minutes, 39 seconds.

Rachel Bryan of Elk Grove Laguna Creek pushed ahead in the second mile and finished 10 seconds ahead.

"I can say I'm disappointed, but I kicked as hard as I could at the end," Pasciuto said. "Rachel kind of got a lead on me after the hill (late in the second mile), which is where I wanted to take off. She kept putting in surges, and I kept responding to them. I think I gave her a good run."

Despite her disappointment, Pasciuto performed well in the clutch Saturday.

After slipping into third with about three-quarters of mile to go, she held off Folsom's Natasha LeBeaud in the final 800 meters, and helped a young Nighthawks team finish second.

Her time was 24 seconds faster than last season. Earning a place on the medal stand only added to a list of accomplishments that now includes three individual and two team state medals, an individual and team Southern Section championship and countless other titles from invitationals since she burst onto the scene as a freshman.

"Few girls in the history of the state have had as successful careers from freshman to senior as she's had," Murrieta coach Chavez said. "She's been one of the most consistent girls ever in this state. That's going to serve her well at the next level."

Pasciuto, who signed a letter-of-intent to go to Colorado last month, still has plenty to run for, both in the immediate and distant future. She'll compete Dec. 6 in the sweepstakes race at the Foot Locker Western Regionals, and hopes to advance to the following week's nationals as she did her first season. And she still has a high school track season remaining.

She admitted thinking about how she'll pass the torch for a program that many would say she built. No Valley individual had ever placed in the top 10 at state before she came along in 2000. While Pasciuto is irreplaceable, the likely candidates to attempt to fill her role on the team are freshman Liana Boucher, who finished eighth Saturday, and sophomore Karen Camburn, who was 11th last season but missed this year's state meet with severe shin splints.

Pasciuto said she hadn't yet stepped back to consider her cross country career as a whole. Still, after walking off the medal stand at the course that had become her home nearly every Saturday following Thanksgiving, she couldn't help but let just a little bit of emotion through.

"Officially it's over, but I still have hopefully two more races to go," Pasciuto said. "It's sad. I'll never be able to wear that (Murrieta Valley) uniform again."