Panther Freshmen Motor Girls Cross Country to Strong Start

It’s been a long time since fielded a girls cross country team that challenged for the league title but after winning the first three league meets and with three to go a league championship is within the grasp of the Lady Panther runners.

This year the team took on seven freshman girls, five of whom were moved up from to varsity 4 weeks ago.  Ellen Armaur leads the team, followed closely by teammates Allie Yip, Mady Hahn-Smith, Kaleigh Wright, and Zoe Bumgardner.

Vanden, Rodriguez, Vallejo, Jessie Bethal, and American Canyon High Schools all traveled to Benicia's home course at Community Park on September 28 for the season’s third meet.

37 girls started the varsity race that day.  As the runners headed to Lake Herman, the Benicia runners were scattered amongst the leaders.  After rounding the lake and heading into the home stretch the Panther girls,  came to the front and captured the first 5 places. 

Among the spectators on hand to witness the feat were the high school athletic director Craig Holden and principal .  Armaur, Yip, Hahn-Smith, Bumgardner, and Wright took first through fifth place finishing with a perfect cross country score of 15 points.

The team travels to American Canyon High School today to compete in the fourth meet of the season with high hopes of maintaining their perfect league record.