SALINAS >> This time last season Jesse Blanco was training sporadically and alone, unsure about what direction he wanted to go in life or even if he wanted to run anymore.

A series of situations on and off the course led to the Hartnell College distance ace being without a team, as he worked to take of care of personal issues.

“It was hard being on my own, attempting to train alone,” Blanco said. “It’s a whole different element. I did consider not running anymore. Then I thought about all the years I’ve been running. I wasn’t ready to let it go.”

The sophomore came back with a different attitude. Instead of watching his teammates excel in 2023, Blanco set the tone this year and the pace Friday, winning the men’s Northern California cross-country title at Toro Park.

Blanco, who prepped at Salinas High, clocked one of the fastest times ever on the 4.01-mile loop, finishing in 20 minutes, 23.2 seconds — 27 seconds in front of runner-up Steph Chapdelaine of Butte.

“If I have to lose to somebody, I don’t mind it being you,” Chapdelaine told Blanco after the race. “You deserve this. You’re all class. Man, what a race.”

As a team, the Panthers are returning to the state meet after finishing fourth as a team, behind team champion Butte, conference rival De Anza and American River.

With Janai Orozco dipping under 20 minutes for the first time on Toro’s 3.01-mile women’s course, the Panthers finished third as a team in the women’s division.

The day, though, belonged to Blanco, who asserted himself on the hills during the second mile, separating himself to where there was no one within 200 meters of him when he came down the hills for the final 1,000 meters.

“I knew the race would go out fast,” Blanco said. “I didn’t want to set the pace. So, I just kind of hung with a runner before making a move on the hills. That’s my strength. That’s where I attack the race.”

The Coast Conference champion last week, Blanco clocked the seventh fastest time ever at Toro Park. Yet, the sophomore believes he has more to offer going into the State Championships in two weeks at Woodward Park in Fresno.

“My finish needs to get better, be stronger,” said a humble Blanco, whose mark is the third fastest time ever recorded by a Hartnell runner. “State is what will push me do that and get me to where I believe I’m capable of running.”

The Panthers had two other runners earn all-Northern California honors as Alvaro Ruelas finished ninth and Giancarlo Mendo took 10th.

For the 17th time in 18 years under head coach Chris Zepeda, the Panthers are sending both their men’s and women’s teams to the state championships after the women finished third behind Clovis and American River.

Orozco was aggressive over the final 2 miles, dropping more than 20 seconds off her mark to finish eighth for Hartnell, which was coming off a Coast Conference team title.

“I tried to push through on the hills,” said Orozco, a Salinas High product. “I broke through a mental block, the one that tells you that you can’t.”

Orozco, who never broke 21 minutes on this course in high school, finished in 19:40.7 to earn all-Northern California honors, while providing a confidence boost going into the state meet.

“Honestly I didn’t think about where I was in the race when I came off the hill,” Orozco said. “I just told myself to push to the finish. I’m pleased with the effort.”

Coast Conference champion Roselyn Olivo was among the leaders over the first mile before being accidentally tripped. While she did not fall, she was in discomfort over the final 2 miles, finishing a disappointing 14th.

“I didn’t fall, but I felt pain in my IT band in my knee,” Olivo said. “This isn’t what I wanted. If it had been just about me, I probably would have stopped. But I didn’t want to let my teammates down. What’s disappointing is I felt so good over the first mile.”

Teammate Jimena Hernandez cracked the Top 20 for Hartnell, while MPC’s Mary Hooper is headed to the state meet after finishing 17th overall among 91 runners from Northern California, along with teammate Alana Gamino.

MPC will be represented at the state championship in the men’s division as well after sophomore Caleb Bouwens finished 15th with a massive personal best at Toro, clocking 21:37.3.

“After the first mile, I saw the gap was growing,” Bouwens said. “I made a decision to leave my group and chase the pack. It was all mental before the race. Once the race began, it was total reset.”

Bouwens will be returning the state meet for the third time, having qualified in high school at Trinity, and last year as a freshman for the Lobos. He will be joined by Andew Moberg as an individual.

“The hills on the college course come out of nowhere,” Bouwens said. “I settled in way too much last year. I need to stay locked in.”