Petrillo, running 47 seconds faster than a year ago, was the first of 113 varsity boys to complete the flat 2.05-mile course on and around the Fremont athletic fields on Sept. 16. His winning time of 10:08 was four seconds better than runner-up Eric Dam of Milpitas.

Saratoga senior Hari Iver (10:32), last year's individual champ, placed sixth, leading his team to the varsity boys crown.

Los Gatos was second out of 18 complete boys varsity teams with 105, followed by 2003 champ Santa Clara (122).

There was a change at the top in the girls varsity team competition, but the individual winner for the third year in a row was Alicia Follmar. The Saratoga senior clocked 11:30, easily the best time among the 110 finishers. She was well ahead of sophomore Julianne Hansen (12:11) of Cupertino.

Two of last year's top three girls varsity teams—Los Gatos and Monta Vista—did not contend for the 2004 team crown. The Wildcats, who claimed five places from ninth to 16th to win in 2003, entered just two runners in the varsity race this year. The Matadors, third a year ago, did not participate.

Medals were awarded to the top 20 finishers in both the varsity races. The top 15 placers in the boys junior varsity and frosh-soph races and the 10 fastest junior varsity girls also earned medals.

Petrillo was Los Gatos' only runner in the top 20, but all seven Wildcats were among the top 35. Seth Smart (22nd, 11:25), Sean Bardes (24th, 11:30), Michael Johnson (27th, 11:37) and Dane Sawyer (31st, 11:39) joined Petrillo in the team's top five. Jon Benthet (32nd) was nosed out by his teammate Sawyer, but had the same time, and Jimmy Jatho ran 11:47 for 35th.

Medalists in the varsity girls race included Jessica Wacker (11th) of Westmont, Jessica Douglas (12th) of Saratoga and Kristen Butelo (19th) of Kings.

Nikki Kenney (21st) was host Fremont's top finisher. Kelly Cochran of Kings was 23rd and Melissa Gomez of Cupertino was 27th. Los Gatos' two entries, Stephanie Girsback and Paige Knudsen, rounded out the top 30.

Cupertino runners Mrinal Bedi and Daniel Zhang claimed the first two places of the boys frosh-soph race.

The Pioneers were followed by Brad Jacobs (11:14) of Saratoga, Jason Wang (11:22) of Lynbrook and Los Gatos teammates Rye Livingston (11:30) and Matt Snee (11:33).

In the junior varsity boys contest, Shamil Hargovan of Lynbrook placed second in 11:49, 11 seconds behind Jacob Hull of Wilcox. David Wells of Los Gatos was fourth, Zach Wallerich of Homestead seventh, Min Park of Homestead 11th, Sam Robinson of Los Gatos 12th and Philip Saneski of Cupertino 13th.

In the JV girls race, Katrin Cooper of Saratoga placed third, followed by Los Gatos runners Erin Fabris and Chelsea Duckham.

Los Gatos won the frosh-soph boys race, while Mountain View won both JV team crowns.

Girls win titles

A week after winning the Lynbrook Invitational, the Los Gatos girls ran to a team second at the rugged Cowchip Invitational in Novato.

Competing in the prestigious Golden Chip Varsity Girls division, the Wildcats ended up second behind Vacaville but ahead of 2003 Division III state champion Miramonte.

"I've got a great squad again this year," said Los Gatos coach Monica Townsend after the impressive effort in the first two weeks of the season.

Sophomore Jill Goodwin ran fourth in 19:23 with junior Ariana Nicewonger sixth in 19:32 and freshman Kaela Townsend seventh in 19:33.

The three "worked together the whole race, each helping the other two along at a different part of the course, and they finished only 10 seconds apart by the finish," said Townsend.

Soph Samantha Peppard was 21st in 20:33 with sophomore Kristy Barker 24th in 20:50, sophomore Ashley Kita 26th in 20:57 and senior Allie Lemon 30th in 21:13.

The Cats were running in the meet without junior Jacqui Kemp.

A week earlier at Lynbrook, Goodwin was sixth as the Wildcats ran away with the team title at the invitational. Townsend, Nicewonger, Kemp, Peppard, Barker and Lemon all finished in the top 15 and ran under 14:00 on the 2.1-mile course.

Los Gatos ran away with the junior varsity title at Lynbrook, taking the top five spots with Ashley Kita first followed by Knudsen, Girsback, Adrianne Smits and Sanishya Fernando. Freshman Callie Mulgannon finished seventh.

The Cats traveled to North Monterey County on Sept. 10 for a big invitational and Goodwin and Townsend finished one-two in the frosh-soph race, both bettering the previous course record. Peppard was eighth, Barker 10th, Kita 13th and Knudsen 18th as the girls cruised to a team frosh-soph title.

In the varsity race, Nicewonger finished in 10th place followed by Kemp in 16th.

Dick Sparrer contributed to this story.