Hartnell cross country

 It's become as much a tradition for the Panthers as Thanksgiving.
 A season filled with expectations and team titles hits the highest plateau when Hartnell competes in the State cross country finals on Saturday in Fresno.
 The Panthers emergence of late as a state contender has them on the radar.
 The women, who won the Northern California team title two weeks ago, are ranked No. 3 in the state while the Coast Conference champion men are ranked No. 6.
 Hartnell coach Chris Zepeda believes both squads can climb the ladder, having another peak in them.
 Distance ace Malena Grover is chasing another All-American spot for the Panthers, having rewritten a handful of school course records this season.
 Zepeda built a women's team with all local athletes, including Watsonville grad Lizette Garcia, who dropped nearly two minutes off her career best two weeks ago.
 Rachel Shimabukuro has chased Grover's shadow all season, along with Nancy Rodriguez, Yessika Mayo, Yvette Felix and Maria Rodriguez.
 The men's team has one of the top distance runners in the state in King City grad Edgar Bonilla, the Coast Conference champion.
 Providing a push for Bonilla and the Panthers is Eduardo Orozco, who has worked his way back into shape after an ailment sidelined him.
 Alvarez product Jorge Sanchez and North County grad Oscar Mora have both dropped time of late, as has Anzar's Diego Avila and Rene Siqueiros and Tito Chaidez.