SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Lauren LaRocco has always liked running. She just did it in a different form, chasing a ball. Now she is racing against the clock and leading a St. Francis team into Saturday’s CIF State Cross Country Championships with a chance to win some hardware.
“I am trying not to really have any expectations,” said LaRocco, who enters the meet ranked fourth in Division I according to CalPrepTrack.com. “I just want to run my best. I will do the best I can.”

LaRocco has been doing great all season. She has won six races on the season, including the Delta River League title and DRL Runner of the Year honors for the third consecutive season. She finished second at the Mt. Sac Invitational and fourth at Stanford where she broke 18 minutes for the first time. She also became the first St. Francis runner to break 17:00 when she posted a time of 16:56 at The Other Meet. It is the fastest 5K time in the state of California this season.

“It has helped with my confidence,” said LaRocco of her successful senior season. “Going into the state meet and all the competition, you need to really believe in yourself. I hope to be a role model for the team and show the hard work pays off.”

LaRocco did not begin running until her freshman season. She balanced her time between cross country and playing on a competitive soccer club. Eventually, she had to make a choice and focused on cross country. He has shown constant improvement each season.

“I think it is cool because some people have been running since second grade and I just started my freshman year,” said LaRocco. “It is my fourth year. I have already come so far. It is cool to see the fast times because the clock does not lie.”

Neither does the report card and LaRocco has shown her ability to earn a top grade. With a 4.43 grade point average, she ranks among the top students in the school. She is the recipient of the General Excellence Certificate each semester and garnered the Medal of Achievement.

“Academics has always been my first priority,” said LaRocco, who has a twin brother at Jesuit High School. “It is how it has always been in my family. If I do not have good grades, I will not be allowed to play sports. I enjoy taking AP courses and I really like math and science.”

LaRocco’s success in academics and athletics has attracted the college recruiters. She has been contacted by more than 50 schools to run for them next fall. She hopes to make a decision early next year.

“I want to make my decision as soon as possible but it is hard during the season,” said LaRocco. “One of the reasons I chose running is because I thought I might be better at it. Running gets your stress out but knowing that my running will help with college is helpful.”

For now she is focused on the upcoming meet minus the Thanksgiving distraction.

“I definitely have not enjoyed a Thanksgiving all of high school,” joked LaRocco, who is running in her fourth post-turkey day state meet. “We really have to watch what we eat … We have to go a little lighter and stay away from the pies.”

St. Francis finished second last season, a Division I best for the school, and fourth in 2011. The Troubadours enter the meet ranked No. 3 by PrepCalTrack.com looking for the second state title in school history. St. Francis won the Division 3 title in 2003.

“Each year we have gotten better and faster,” said LaRocco. “Coach John (DuCray) is always bringing up the 2003 team that won state and we are better than that.”

LaRocco leads a talented group including senior Madison Rawson and juniors Miranda Myers, Peyton Bilo, Camille Boudreaux and Ariel Medina. Sophomore Chase Worthen completes the championship lineup for the Troubadours.

“They mean a lot because you cannot do it by yourself,” said LaRocco.
She is one of the favorites going into the race and hopes to lead the charge for the Troubadours.

“Lauren is going to challenge,” said Head Coach John DuCray. “She is a great leader, a quiet leader…She is so tough and not afraid to run all out from the get go.”

The race starts at 8:30 a.m. at Woodward Park in Fresno. General admission for the event is $10 for adults and $5 for children. Tickets may be purchased at the park Friday, November 29, from 12-4 p.m., and throughout the day on Saturday, November 30.

DIVISION I GIRLS TEAM RANKINGS BY PREPCALTRACK.COM

1. Great Oak, Temecula (SS)
2. Davis (SJS)
3. St. Francis, Sacramento (SJS)
4. Buchanan, Clovis (CS)
5. Capistrano Valley, Mission Viejo (SS)
GIRLS INDIVIDUAL DIVISION I
1. Fiona O’Keeffe, Soph. (Davis-SJS)
2. Marissa Williams, Jr. (Palisades, Pacific Palisades-LACS)
3. Sarah Robinson, Sr. (Gunn, Palo Alto-CCS)
4. Lauren LaRocco, Jr. (St. Francis, Sacramento-SJS)
5. Haley Dorris, Sr. (Great Oak, Temecula-SS)