Kraemer runs to victories at meet in Belmont

By Dick Sparrer

It was a perfect day for a run at Crystal Springs in Belmont last Thursday.

And Saratoga's Will Kraemer must have agreed. Because the Saratoga senior turned in just about a perfect run for the Falcons on his way to a first-place finish in the 2.95-mile Crystal Springs Center Meet.

"Weather conditions were perfect for Saratoga runners to record outstanding time on the challenging course," said Saratoga coach Marshall Clark of the day that featured temperatures in the 70s and Saratoga times among the best in the school's history.

Kraemer stopped the watch at 15:34.8 to finish first overall in a time that's an all-time best for a Saratoga runner on the course. He finished nearly six seconds ahead of his nearest rival, Jeremey Mineau of Menlo-Atherton (second in 15:40.1).

David La and Brett Stanger also finished in the top 25 for the Falcons with teammates Trevor Adams 36th and Richard La 40th.

D. La was 15th in 16:38.6 with Stanger 24th in 17:02.7. Adams finished in 17:31.8 with R. La running 17:35.1.

"[D. La, Stanger and Adams] had significant time improvements," Clark said.

The top five finishers helped Saratoga win the team title in the boys varsity division with a combined time of 84:23.0 and 116 points.

Lynbrook's Jeff Whitsett was 27th in 17:13.2 and teammate Eugene Berson 31st in 17:20.5.

Saratoga freshman Alicia Follmar turned in a solid individual effort in the girls varsity division. Follmar ran 19:35.0 to claim sixth-place overall.

"She moved to No. 2 on the Saratoga list behind Anne Ricketts," said Clark of his talented freshman.

It was Monta Vista winning the team title at Crystal Springs with 108 points and a team time of 104:12. Half Moon Bay was second with Saratoga third.

Supporting Follmar's effort were Paula McNally, 22nd in 20:50.3; Josie Chan, 38th in 21:50; Parsan Saffai, 45th in 22:06; and Jackie Molzon, 63rd in 22:35.

Lynbrook's Francine Lee was 23rd in 20:55.5.

Jacob Osborne was third in 18:23.1 and Steven Surrette was fourth in 18:26.4 to lead the Saratoga showing in the boys junior varsity division. Conway Ting ran 10th in 18:59.3 for the Falcons.

Jesse Yeh of Lynbrook also finished in the top 10, running eighth in 18:56.5. Teammate Jey Pandian was 26th in 19:38.0 for the Vikings.

Lynbrook won the boys sophomore race with Allen Chang leading the way. Chang was 17th in 19:27.9 with Charles Chen 33rd in 20:30.7.

A week before the Center Meet, Saratoga had competed in the Artichoke Invitational in Half Moon Bay, and Kraemer ran to another win for the Falcons.

The senior star covered the 2.3-mile course in 11:42 to take the title in the boys small school event.

"He had his best race of the season," said Clark of Kraemer, who set a new course record.

Kraemer led the Falcons to a third-place finish. Stanger was 22nd in 12:46 with D. La 24th in 12:48, R. La 37th in 13:11, Adams 43rd in 13:17 and Osborne 48th in 13:27.

Senior Justin Gardner won the boys junior varsity race in 13:44 with Max Tam 20th in 14:44, McNally was 21st in the girls varsity race in 15:30, Surrette was 24th in the boys frosh-soph run in 13:45, and Hari Subramaniam was 20th in the boys frosh race in 15:07.

Irene Fan and Chan led the Falcons to a team third in the girls frosh-soph division.

In the large school division, Lynbrook's Whitsett was 44th in 12:56.

In the girls large school varsity event, Lee of Lynbrook was 22nd in 15:21.

Lynbrook's Berson finished in the top 10 in the boys large school frosh-soph race, running sixth in 13:05.