Fleshman Finishes Second

Senior Lauren Fleshman of Canyon Country Canyon High exceeded her highest expectations by finishing second in the girls’ race of the national cross-country championships Saturday at Oaks Trail Course at Shades of Green in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.

Fleshman, who said that a top-five finish would be a dream come true beforehand, clocked 17 minutes 42.4 seconds over the 5,000-meter course to finish behind Erin Sullivan of Mt. Mansfield High in Jericho, Vt.

Sullivan, a senior, broke away from the pack at the midway point of the race and finished in 17:35.7 to become the third girl to win consecutive titles in the meet that began in 1979.

Erin Keough of McLean, Va., won girls’ titles in 1985 and ’86 and Melody Fairchild of Boulder, Colo., placed first in 1989 and ’90.

Sophomore Sara Bei of Santa Rosa Montgomery, the favorite, finished third in 17:43.4. It was her first loss of the season.

Fleshman, 14th in the national championships last year, was in 13th place after the first mile Saturday. She moved into sixth by the two-mile mark before battling Bei for second in the final 800 meters.

Senior Allyson Marquand of Irvine University finished 16th in 18:32.0 after placing 28th last year.

Senior Jorge Torres of Wheeling, Ill., won the boys’ race in 15:16.4 with senior Louis Luchini of Ellsworth, Me., second in 15:23.8.

Junior Josh Spiker of Ventura placed 14th in 15:50.9.