Hartnell cross country

 Whether it was a statement or a sign of things to come, the Panthers women's team put together an historical run, capturing the Fresno Invitational team title.
 Considered a precursor to the state championships in eight weeks with all the elite teams competing,  Hartnell saw all seven of its runners record one of the top 50 times in school history.
 Anchored by Soledad distance ace Yvette Tavarez, the Panthers significant seven all finished in the top 28 -- less than 60 seconds apart.
 Tavarez dropped 17 seconds off her previous best, as she and Arlene Diaz Leal both dipped under 20 minutes on the 5K Woodward Park course.
 While graduation gutted the men's team, the arrivals of Ricky Esqueda and Patrick Olson have the Panthers in the mix after finishing third as a team.
 Esqueda, who hasn't competed in three years, was eighth overall -- one second in front of Olson in 21:09. Last spring Olson reached the state meet in track in the 1,500.
 Both now have two of the top 20 times ever recorded by a Hartnell runner at Woodward Park. The Panthers were the top Northern California team