Cross Country
St. Francis Cross Country
2002 State Champions
2012 Nike Cross Nationals (First No. Cal School Ever)
11-Time Section Champions
1989, 1990, 1991, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2011, 2012, 2016, 2017
19-Time League Champions
1989, 1992, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2017
2015 Cross Country Highlights
- St. Francis finished eighth at the CIF State Championships, recording a Top-10 finish for the fifth consecutive season. Sophomore Sydney Vandegrift led the team, crossing the line 17th overall in 18:14.7. Seniors Ariane Arndt and Chase Worthen were 27th and 28th respectively in a near dead heat at 18:25. All three runners had personal-bests over the 3.1-mile course.
- St. Francis was second overall at the Sac-Joaquin Section and Delta League meets to Davis.
Three Cross Country Runners Finish Season at Foot Locker West Regional
WALNUT, Calif. – Three St. Francis cross country standouts capped their seasons with participation in the Foot Locker West Regional Cross Country Championships.
Sophomore Sydney Vandegrift placed 39th overall in the girls seeded race with a time of 19:24.4. Seniors Chase Worthen (20:38.4) and Gabrielle dyer (22:07.2) placed 110th and 139th overall.
All three competed for Oak Hill Racing.
St. Francis Results (Pace, 1 Mile, 1.5 Mile, 3 Mile)
39. Sydney Vandegrift, 19:24.4 (6:15, 5:33, 9:07, 18:27)
Cross Country Earns Top-10 State Finish
FRESNO, Calif. – The St. Francis cross country finished eighth at the CIF State Cross Country Championships held at Woodward Park Saturday. It was the fifth consecutive Top 10 finish for the Troubadours at the state meet.
Sophomore Sydney Vandegrift led the team for the ninth time this season, crossing the line 17th overall in 18:14.7. Seniors Ariane Arndt and Chase Worthen were 27th and 28th respectively in a near dead heat at 18:25. All three runners had personal-bests over the 3.1-mile course.
Cross Country Advances to State Championships; Wins Frosh/Soph Section Title
FOLSOM, Calif. – The St. Francis cross country team qualified for the CIF State Cross Country Championships with a second-place finish at the Sac-Joaquin Section Division 2 meet on Saturday. It is the fifth consecutive state appearance for the Troubadours, who have finished among the Top 10 in the each of the last four seasons.
Sophomore Sydney Vandegrift crossed the third overall in 18:53 to lead St. Francis.
The Code Runner: Cross Country’s Gabrielle Dyer
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – St. Francis senior cross country runner Gabrielle Dyer will run on Saturday with a chance to extend her career to the CIF State Championships for the second consecutive season.
“I have been running since the sixth grade and after seeing my sister run all four years, it is so weird to me that (my career) is ending,” said Dyer. “It is really sad but it is making me more excited for track and having a better bond with the senior class this year.”
2015 Fall Signing Day
Thirteen St. Francis Troubadours participated in the National Letter-of-Intent and College Commitment Celebration at St. Francs on Wednesday.
Countdown to Signing Day: Arndt Commits to Cal for Track
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – St. Francis senior Ariane Arndt has committed to run track at Cal next season and will sign a National Letter-of-Intent with the Golden Bears program on Wednesday at the St. Francis College Commitment Celebration.
Samantha Gallia: Miss Congeniality Hits the Course
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – St. Francis senior Samantha Gallia is not afraid to try something new. Whether it is cross country or one of her many extra-curricular activities, she toes the line and gives it her all. When it came to the Miss Teen Placer County competition, she was in it for the experience. She got that and much more.
Cross Country Finishes Second at Delta League Champs
FOLSOM, Calif. – Sydney Vandegrift finished fourth overall to lead the St. Francis varsity team to a second-place finish at the Delta League Cross Country Championships Saturday at Willow Hills Reservoir.
“I felt like I didn’t do that well but it is okay because we are looking forward to sections and giving it my all,” said Vandegrift. “We did not have out best race but we still stuck together as a team.”
St. Francis placed their top five all among the Top 20 led by Vandegrift.
Cross Country Records Big Day at Mt. SAC
WALNUT, Calif. – - The St. Francis cross country team competed at the Mt. Sac Invitational on Saturday, participating in three races and the SF girls recorded four Top 10s, won an individual title and tied for a team title.
Sophomore Sydney Vandegrift won the Sophomore Girls Sweeps race in 18:55, clearing the field by more than one and half minutes.
“It felt pretty good,” said Vandegrift. “It was hot conditions and probably one of the harder courses. Ariane (Arndt) told me to stay consistent the first two loops and attack the hills from there.”
Cross Country Third at Bronco Invitational
FOLSOM, Calif. – The St. Francis cross country team finished third at the Bronco Invitational Saturday in the first of three races at the Willow Hills Cross Country course.
Sophomore Sydney Vandegrift was fifth overall to lead the Troubadours, running the 5K course in 18:52. Senior Ariane Arndt crossed the line 11th (19:15).
“It was really good we had this race this week,” said Arndt. “You get to know the course and how you feel at certain points to prepare mentally for the next race.”
Cross Country Wins The Other Meet Title Behind Vandegrift
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Sophomore Sydney Vandegrift won the individual title in 17:38 to pace the St. Francis cross country team to the team title at The Other Meet at Granite Regional Park on Saturday.
Vandegrift was among seven Troubadours among the top 25 with the top five all among the first 16 runners to cross the line. Behind Vandegrift, senior Ariane Arndt was fifth in 18:39.
Cross Country Wins League Meet
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Freshman Sophie DeBenedetti won the Frosh/Soph race at the Delta League race and the varsity was first in the team standings.
“It felt good but definitely tiring,” said DeBenedetti. “I wanted to run fast. There was not a (pace) bike so it was hard to set my own pace because there was no one in front of me. I tried to keep the distance from the girl behind me.”
DeBenedetti helped the team to a second-place finish behind Davis, winning the individual title by more than 50 seconds with her time of 13:36.
Arndt Leads Cross Country at Stanford Invite
PALO ALTO, Calif. – Senior Ariane Arndt was the top finisher at the Stanford Invitational for St. Francis, helping the team to a 15th-place finish overall.
Arndt clocked 18:33.5 over the Stanford Golf Course layout. Sophomore Sydney Vandegrift was close behind in 39th overall (18:46.2) with Chase Worthen crossing 46th overall (18:53.6). Senior Gabby Dyer recorded a time of 20:17 (133rd) and sophomore Ava Nkadi was 149th (20:39). Senior Jessica Danens and junior Allie Lourim finished 151st and 181st, respectively.
Cross Country Sixth at Nike Invitational
CONCORD, Calif. – Senior Chase Worthen crossed the line in 41st (19:41) as the St. Francis varsity cross country team was sixth overall at the De La Salle/Carondelet Nike Invitational. Sophomore Sydney Vandegrift was the top finisher for the Troubadours in 18:23 (11th) with senior Ariane Arndt close behind in 18:33 (14th).
Davis was the team champion led by individual winner Fionna O’Keeffe.
Sophomore Ava Nakdi was the fourth finisher for St. Francis (20:01). Other finishers included Gabby Dyer (20:59), Allie Lourim (21:14) and Juliet Batturaro (21:26).
Vandegrift Leads Cross Country at Ed Sias Invite
MARTINEZ, Calif. – Sophomore Sydney Vandegrift was fourth overall and the fastest sophomore in the field with a time of 12:19 at the Ed Sias Invitational on Saturday. The Troubadours finished seventh overall.
Vandegrift was the top finisher for St. Francis. Senior Chase Worthen was 23rd overall (13:01), while sophomore Ava Nkadi was 39th (13:30). Junior Allie Lourim was 66th (14:20) and senior Juliet Batturaro crossed the line 76th (14:31). Other finishers in the varsity race included Alanna Appel (97th) and Isabella Saca (120th).
Cross Country Alumnae Start This Weekend
Good luck to the seven former Troubies opening their NCAA Cross Country seasons this week. Recent graduates Miranda Myers (Northern Arizona) and Peyton Bilo (Cal Poly) will have their first collegiate races this weekend. Susan Frazier ’12 will run for Colorado School of Mines, while Santa Clara’s Camille Dyer will toe the line in San Francisco at the USD Invite. Lauren LaRocco ’14 was the Freshman of the Year for the Portland Pilots last season, while classmate Madison Rawson runs for Ole Miss. Melanie Stralen ’13 will run for Gonzaga this season.
Sophomore Vandegrift Wins Title at Oakmont Invitational
ROSEVILLE, Calif. – Sophomore Sydney Vandegrift won the Frosh/Soph race at the Oakmont Invitational Saturday, leading a group of four Troubadours in the Top 10 as St. Francis. She clocked a time of 14:42 to win the race by a minute, posting a time that would have been in the top five in the varsity race.
“It felt really great because I trained really hard this summer,” said Vandegrift. “It was great to see the work pay off.”
Vandegrift took over the lead early in the race and was left to pace herself with a little help.
Track Senior Peyton Bilo Caps Senior Season with State Championships
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – A year ago, St. Francis senior Peyton Bilo was in a boot watching from the stands as her teammates qualified a school-best six athletes for the state meet. Her career path was undecided after being sidelined for most of her junior campaign and the future uncertain. Everything changed this year.
Eleven Troubies Earn River Cats All-City Honors
Soccer's Gregg Named Soccer Player of the Year
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The Sacramento River Cats honored 11 St. Francis student-athletes as members of the 2014-15 River Cats All-City teams in a ceremony before the game Sunday against Memphis at Raley Field.