Cupertino High School Cross Country 2005
Page last updated: 12/26/05
Home of the Pioneers
Head Coach  Paul Armstrong
Awards and Season Recap

  All-NorCal Team
Honorable Mention Sumika Shiokawa

NorCal runners to Watch 2005
Mrinal Bedi   Sumika Shiokawa

SJMN All-CCS Team
Honorable Mention Sumika Shiokawa

California Coaches' Alliance All CIF CCS Team

ALL-LEAGUE
Top15 - VB & VG, Top 10 - F/S & JVG,  Top5 -JVB
Mrinal Bedi, Sumika Shiokawa, Kimberly Chew

MVPs
Mrinal Bedi
Sumika Shiokawa

COACH'S AWARDS
 Kimberly Chew

SCHOLAR ATHLETES
(based upon last semester's grades)
Natalie Buchinski,  Samantha Diep, Melissa Gomez, Sumika Shiokawa, Tim Tieu,  Zac Whitney,  Eric Yee

3.5 and above GPA
(based upon current semester's grades)
Mrinal Bedi, Natalie Buchinski, Jonathan Buzawa, Kimberly Chew, Caleb Escobar, Melissa Gomez, Hansol Kim,
 Tri-An Le, John Maxwell, Sumika Shiokawa, Zac Whitney, Elaine Won, Cecilia Wu, Simei Yeh

BLOCK Cs
(first varsity letter in any sport)
 Natalie Buchinski, Jonathan Buzawa, Hsin-Chang Chen,  Abiy  Gebrekristos, Hansol Kim,
Tri-An Le, Stas Rumyantsev, Zac Whitney, Cecilia Wu
Stars
(varsity letter past the first one)
Mrinal Bedi,  Kimberly Chew,  Melissa Gomez, Sumika Shiokawa, Simei Yeh

SCHOOL RECORDS
Mrinal Bedi - Sophomore record
 Sumika Shiokawa -  Sophomore and School record

CAPTAINS
Kimberly Chew, Hsin-Chang Chen

PIONEER SPIRIT AWARD
not given this year

400+ MILE CLUB
Mrinal Bedi,  Kimberly Chew,  Melissa Gomez,  Simei Yeh

300+ MILE CLUB
Natalie Buchinski, Jonathan Buzawa, Hsin-Chang Chen,  Abiy  Gebrekristos, Hansol Kim,
Tri-An Le, John Maxwell, Stas Rumyantsev, Sumika Shiokawa, Tim Tieu, Zac Whitney

SEASON RECAP

How do you evaluate a cross country season?  Is it by the individual or team placement at meets? Could it be by the team finish at the league finals?  Or, perhaps it is the attainment of the CCS qualification.  Each of you probably had your own goals for the season.  My goals for this season included the following:  (The same as last year.)

  1)  Everyone improves from the beginning of the season to the end and/or from last season to this season.  This is my primary mission.
  2)  Start with more people on the team and retain as many as possible.
  3)  Try to get more girls on the team.
  4)  Minimize chances for injuries by monitoring mileage and  lessen pavement pounding.
  5)  Return to CCS.
  6)  Return to State. 
  7)  Teach and coach to the success process model.
  8)  Try to do a shin splint exercise at every practice.
  9)  Try to get two mile splits at Crystal Springs.
10) Try to do more individual goal setting.
11) Focus on running the Crystal Springs course more.
12) Do more work on relaxation, focusing, and mental preparation.
13) Light weight training at least once per week.
14) Fund raisers.
15) Add more "fun" things.

This season was a mixed bag, even with a core of 6-8 putting in a lot of miles during the summer.  The girls once again outshone the boys.  Everyone except two people ran PRs during the course of the season.  Of those those two, one had medical problems and the other a faliure to run to potential.  The boys finished sixth at league and girls placed third.  Last year they were fifth and first, respectively.  Almost everyone improved in some way.  We lost three people who started the season (raced in a meet) and had two non-starters.  Only one was non-injury.  We only had one true season ending injury. 

I was disappointed by the number girls out for the team, but pleased by the progress of the freshman.  Last year, were one of the top teams in CCS,  finishing the season ranked 7th in the SJMN.  Going into the season, I expected the girls to return to CCS because we had a core of five returning.  However, we needed the 4-7 places to develop quickly.  One freshman stepped in and ran very well by mid-season.  As the season progressed, I had to keep telling myself to be patient, especially after Sumika was out with an injury.  

End of season statistics:
1. Once again two freshman girls become mainstays on the varsity team.
2. Mrinal  had about the 53rd best time at Crystal Springs in CCS and the 4th best in D3 for 2005.
3. Sumika had the 22nd best time (6th best soph) at Crystal Springs in CCS and the 4th best (2nd best soph) in D3 for 2005.
4. The girls had the 18th best team time at Crystal Springs in CCS out of  85 and the 5th  best in D3 teams for 2005.
5. The boys had the 54th best team time at Crystal Springs in CCS out of 92 teams for 2005.
6. We only had three complete teams at league finals.
7a. 2002 DAL: 23 runners, VB-(116 points, 90:37, 5th) VG-(144 points, 115:00, 5th ) JVB- inc. team,  F/S-(145 points, 107:13, 5th,) JVG- no team
7b. 2003 DAL: 32 runners, VB-(135 points, 89:51, 6th) VG-(90 points, 102:46, 4th)  JVB-(106 points, 113:00, 4th,)  F/S-inc,  JVG-(172 points, 130:33, 6th)
7c. 2004 DAL: 34 runners, VB-(128 points, 89:10.3, 5th) VG-(42 points, 98:32.3, 1st)  JVB-(135 points, 102:13, 6th)  F/S-(131 points, 102:24, 5th)  JVG - inc
7d. 2005 DAL: 24 runners, VB-(140 points, 89:26.3, 6th) VG-(99 points, 101:58.?, 3rd)  JVB - na  F/S-(196 points, 110:20.?, 7th), JVG - inc
8. CCS:   2002:  1 boy,  2 girls   
                2003:  1 boy,  7 girls (a team) 7th   
                2004:  1 boy,  7 girls (a team) 3rd 
                2005:  1 boy,  7 girls (a team) 6th
9. State:   2002: no one   
                2003:  1 girl   
                2004:  7 girls (a team) 9th
                2005:  1 girl
10. Sumika broke the sophomore and school records for Crystal Springs.
11. Mrinal broke the sophomore record for Crystal Springs.
12. The girls ran the third fastest time ever for Cupertino for Crystal Springs.
13. This is the third year in a row that the girls team made it to CCS.  No doubt a record.
14. This is the third year in a row that we will have someone competing at the state meet.
15. At State, Sumika was 23rd of 187 and 4th from CCS in D3, the 10th over all divisions from CCS, the fastest from the SCVAL,
       and 84th of all girls (922 finishers).


  Keys to success for the future:
1. All of you have to run consistently during the summer.
2. The overall attitude that we bring to practice and meets needs to be less of  "surviving" and more of  running to "full potential."  In other words, show up ready to run and compete, especially at every meet.  Train hard during practice.
3. Weekend meets will continue to be mandatory unless excused by the coach.
4. We will increase the mileage load for the "older" runners.
5. We must continue to get more people out for cross country and keep them on the team for four years.

Season  Highlights:
08/16 (Mon)  Pre-Season Starts                               6:00PM    Cupertino HS
    20 attended the first day of official practice.  29 eventually made it out, but one of those decided not
    to come back.

09/01 (Wed)  All Sports BBQ & Parent Meeting        5:00      Cupertino HS
    Ten parents attended the meeting. about the same as last year.

 9/08 Girls ranked  #9 in CCS in the SJMN poll.  We should not be ranked.  Good will left over from last year.

09/08 (Thu)    Lynbrook Center Meet (2.1)                3:30     Lynbrook HS
      Only ran half a team since the rest do not have physicals yet.  Sumika was 2nd, Kim was 5th, and Melissa was
    14th.while Mrinal was 4th.  This meet gives us a look at how we are doing in our training. 

9/15 Girls ranked  #12 in CCS in the SJMN poll. 

09/15 (Thu)    FireBird Invitational (2.05)                   3:30     Fremont HS
  Sumika wins, Kim was 5th, Melissa finished 12th,and the VG were 3rd.   Mrinal is 3rd while blasting a sub-5:00
  first mile for the first time.  VB still finish in the middle of the pack.
     
9/22 Girls ranked  #13 in CCS in the SJMN poll. 

09/24 (Sat)     Stanford Invite (3.1)                            12:00   Stanford Golf Course
  Sumika runs a great race, finishes 10th while Kim comes in 20.  Mrinal places 23rd.  Stas impresses with his
  race.

09/27  Sumika out 3-4 weeks with stress fracture in foot. 

9/29 Girls ranked  #13 in CCS in the SJMN poll.

09/29 (Thu)    Central Park Invitational (2.3)               3:15    Central Park
   Kim runs to a 4th place finish with no Sumika to chase.  Mrinal also finishes 4th.
   
10/1 (Sat)       Artichoke Invitational (2.33)                 1:00    Half Moon Bay                     
    Mrinal runs another 4th place finish and VB again place in the middle of the pack.  Kim finshes 14th and VG
    places in the middel of the pack.  This was not a good meet for us.

10/06 (Thu)    Saratoga Center Meet (2.0)                  3:30     Saratoga HS
    Mrinal has yet another 4th place finish, but boys finish next to last.  Kim run to a 2nd place, with Melissa 12th
    and Simei 16th. The girls finish 4th though.
 
10/6 Girls are ranked  #13 in CCS in the SJMN poll again. 

10/08 (Sat)     Serra Invitational (2.95)                      10:00    Crystal Springs
    Mrinal was our only competitor.  He finished 2nd and tied the Sophomore school record on a extremely
    windy day.   The team needed a break.

10/13 (Thu)   Crystal Springs #1 (2.95)                       3:15    Crystal Springs
    Lackluster showing, but we did train through this meet.  Mrinal captures another 4th place and comes very
    close to his Serra time.  This was the teams first look at Crystal, but I came away disappointed with the results.

10/13  The Girls continue to be ranked #15.

10/20  The Girls  fall off the ranking.

10/20 (Thu)   Crystal Springs #2 (2.95)                       3:15    Crystal Springs
   We did better this time.  The VG (4th) ran the CCS at-large qualifying time, but they have to do it at League.  
   The VB have a ways to go.  Kim finally broke 20 minutes(13th).  Sumika came back with a strong
   showing(11th).  Hansol and Tri-An broke 22 minutes.  The potential that I saw in them is starting to flower. 
   Mrinal had to shut it down during the race and cruised in.  Stas and Abiy broke 17 minutes.

10/22  (Sat)    Monterey Bay  Invitational (3.0)           9:00    Toro Park, Salinas
      The VG won this meet last year, we finsihed 10th this year.  Only Mrinal, Sumika, and Kim got medals.
     Tired legs produced so so results.
 
10/27  The Girls stay off the ranking.

10/27 (Thu)   Lynbrook Invitational (2.1)                    3:30    Lynbrook HS
              (also doubling as the FUHSD District XC Championships)  ALL MUST ATTEND
   I opted to use this meet again  as preparation for League Finals on Tuesday.  The goal was to run a fast
   mile and hang on.  Most people ran a faster mile than previous meets, although some not fast enough for me.
   Mrinal did not run because of achy legs.  Cecilia got a medal in the JVG race, as well as Kim, Sumika, and
   Melissa.

 11/01(Tue)     DAL League Finals (2.95)                     2:15    Crystal Springs  ALL MUST ATTEND
   The Varsity Girls took third, becoming the third fastest team in school history.  Sumika broke the sophomore
   and school record.  The team, including Kim, Melissa, Hansol, Simei, Tri-An and Natalie, qualified for the
   CCS meet on November 12.
  
   Mrinal was our only Varsity Boys qualifier for CCS.  I am disappointed by the the boys team failure to make
   CCS once again and my inability to get all of them to P.R. at this meet.

11/3  The Girls remain off the SJMN Top 15 ranking.
                       
11/12 (Sat)     CCS Meet (2.95)                                 10:00   Crystal Springs 
  Mrinal does not run well.  The Girls finish 6th and do not qualify for State.  Sumika finishes 4th and makes
  State.  Kim finishes 16th and came close to making State.
  
11/27 (Sat)     State Meet (3.1)                                   9:30AM    Woodward Park, Fresno
    Sumika was 23rd of 187 and 4th from CCS in D3, the 10th over all divisions from CCS, the fastest from the
   SCVAL, and 84th of all girls (922 finishers).   Her time of 19:03 is the fastest ever by a girl from CHS at the
   State meet in her second appearance there.  This effort comes in the wake of  3 weeks off during the meat of
   the season due to a stress fracture in her foot. 

12/03 (Sat)     Footlocker West (3.1)                            8:00AM    Mt. Sac, Walnut, CA
   Sumika was 3rd in the girls sophomore race and Mrinal was 45th in the boys sophomore race.  Sumika had the
   5th fastest time of the CCS girls.  Her time was 77th of 760 girl finishers overall.  


The state cross country meet has only existed since 1987.  All of the meets have been held at Woodward Park in Fresno. 


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