Ruark, Lee claim cross country titles - Marin Independent Journal

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Ruark, Lee claim cross country titles

Tamalpais senior Lucas Ruark (320) opens up a big lead at the MCAL cross country championships on Wednesday at the Indian Valley Campus of the College of Marin. D Ross Cameron — Special to the Marin Independent Journal

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By Ian Ross

iross@marinij.com

The final league championships of the fall season were handed out last week, with Tam’s Lucas Ruark, Archie Williams’ Brooke Lee, the Redwood boys team, and the Archie girls taking the honors in cross country.

The runners head to Hayward High on Saturday for the North Coast Section championships races. It’s been a strong season for cross country in Marin — particularly on the girls side — with a few teams eyeing opportunities to do big things at State in a couple of weeks.

It was a great week in the pool for the Redwood and San Marin boys teams. The Giants claimed their fourth section title in five years while the Mustangs broke through for their first one.

Redwood was the only team to survive the weekend on the gridiron, but the spectacular effort turned in by San Marin’s defense also had to be noted.

Lucas Ruark, Tam boys cross country

The senior broke through for his first MCAL title with a time of 15 minutes, 35.1 seconds on the 3.1-mile course at the College of Marin Indian Valley Campus on Wednesday. Ruark, who began the season by turning in the best time at the Stinson Beach Relays, finished about six seconds ahead of second-place runner Shahan Ajmani of Terra Linda. Ruark entered the race as the individual favorite this season after placing fifth in 2024 and third in 2023.

Oliver Bush and Gabriel Cavanagh, Redwood boys cross country

The Giants secured the MCAL team title for the first time since 2022, led by Bush in third place (15.49.1) and Cavanagh in fifth (16:02.6). Tam also placed two runners in the top five but Redwood’s depth won out with Cole Sandrich in ninth (16:07.8), Thanos Givas in 12th (16.15.4), and Cole Robertson in 13th (16.25.5).

Brooke Lee, Ani Stieg, and Claire Palmer, Archie Williams girls cross country

The Peregrine Falcons swept the honors at the MCAL championships with Lee crossing the finish line first to claim the individual crown while her teammates collaborated to secure the team title. Lee won the race in a blistering 17:15.1 — almost 30 seconds faster than the winning time Stieg, a two-time champion in her own right, submitted last year. Stieg placed fifth in 18:00.5 followed by Palmer in sixth at 18:14. Alyssa Silverstein (18:41.2) placed eighth and Ainsley Sullivan was 10th (18:57.7) for Archie Williams.

Isaac Nikfar, Tyler Mahabir, and Owen Malone, Redwood boys water polo

Nikfar and Mahabir tied for team-high honors with four goals apiece in the NCS D-I final as Redwood claimed its fourth such title in five years with a 16-8 home win against Alameda on Saturday. Nikfar also added three goals in a 14-11 semifinal win against Monte Vista on Wednesday. Malone, the team’s goalie, came up big with 16 saves against Alameda.

Beckett Corridan and Daniel Volker, San Marin boys water polo

Corridan led the team in scoring in both games, tying for that honor with Volker in the semifinal, as the Mustangs made program history with their first section title last week. Corridan and Volker scored five times each in a 15-7 victory against Granada on Wednesday. Corridan scored four times in the 9-6 victory against James Logan in Saturday’s title game. Volker added six assists and two steals against Granada. Corridan had two assists and three steals against Granada and four more steals against James Logan.

Riley Ulin, Redwood football

Ulin produced his best game of the season, accounting for 152 scrimmage yards and three touchdowns as the No. 7-seeded Giants sprung a 27-17 road upset against No. 2 Benicia in the North Coast Section Division IV playoffs on Friday night. Ulin, a running back, carried the ball 21 times for 126 yards, adding two catches and 25 yards as a receiver. Ulin got Redwood on the board in the first quarter with a 13-yard catch from quarterback Cash Ward. Ulin gave Redwood the lead for good with a 1-yard run in the third quarter then broke loose on a 47-yard run for an insurance touchdown late.

Ryan Houlahan and Daniel Gilmore, San Marin football

The defense and special teams provided the two biggest plays as the Mustangs almost sprang an upset against Cardinal Newman in the NCS Open/D-I playoffs on Friday night. No. 3 Cardinal Newman eventually prevailed 21-14 in double overtime over No. 6 San Marin. Houlahan scooped up a fumble in the first quarter and returned it for a touchdown to give San Marin a 7-0 lead. After the Cardinals had taken a 14-7 lead, Gilmore scooped up a punt blocked by Jackson Young and returned it for the tying touchdown in the final few minutes of the fourth.