Women's Cross Country All-Decade Team Announced

Victoria Alcala (2011-2012) came to Hartnell College from Everett Alvarez High School. She had modest personal bests of 20:21 at Toro Park and 20:03 at Crystal Springs. Victoria did not decide to come out for cross country until the third race of the season. She used the final eight weeks of the season to set a new personal best at Crystal Springs in 19:49 and place 24th at Norcals. As a sophomore, she broke the Woodward Park 5k program record (19:02) while placing 19th at the state championship. She was the conference runner up at Crystal Springs in the #6 all-time mark (18:40). She was 7th in the region in her second try. Her fall cross country breakout would preclude a dominate track season where she won three conference and three regional titles and established the Norcal 3k steeplechase record. Victoria accepted a scholarship to Metropolitan State University-Denver where she graduated with her degree in psychology.

Brandi Hobson (2013-2014) traveled just down Main Street from North Salinas High School to Hartnell. She came in with best of 20:51 at Toro Park, 21: 59 at Crystal Springs, and 25:01 at Woodward Park. She was twice the conference runner up and placed 7th twice at Norcals demonstrating her consistency in effort in championship races. She was the highest placing Panther at the State Championship as a freshman crossing the line in 51st.  An All American 14th place concluded her cross country career despite missing two weeks during the season due to injury.Her 18:47 Woodward Park was just the second sub 19 5k in program history and is still #5 all-time. Brandi would go on to qualify to the spring championship at 5000m and 10,000 meters. Brandi accepted a scholarship from Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls, TX where she graduated with both her bachelor's and master's degrees. 

Rachel Shimabukuro (2014-2015) returned to the sport after nearly 3 years away from her high school bests of 19:29 at Toro Park, 18:51 at Crystal Springs, and 19:26 at Woodward Park. She quickly regained the form and surpassed that of which had her as one of the top high school performers from San Benito High School.  Rachel was 3rd and 2nd at conference in her two years, placed 5th and 6th in her two regional performances with her 18:56 Toro Park mark #3 all-time. At the state championship, she was 19th as a frosh and 13th as a sophomore for All American honors. Rachel was the third woman ever to run sub 19:00 at Woodward Park at 18:43 and is still #4 all-time. Rachel earned an additional All-American honor on the track in the 3k steeplechase and is #2 all-time in the event. Rachel accepted a scholarship to Metropolitan State University-Denver and recently completed her degree from CSU Monterey Bay. 

Malena Grover (2014-2015) came into Hartnell College from down the street at Salinas High School with solid bests of 19:28 at Toro Park and 19:18 at Crystal Springs. She spearheaded two amazing teams during the decade while at Hartnell, but as an individual was the top performer of the decade. Malena won two conference titles both at Crystal Springs where she lowered her best by over 50 seconds, placed 4th and 2nd in the region, and was the second woman ever to earn back to back All American honors in cross country joining Kathy Lenno. She has the top performance on three different courses and is #3 at Crystal Springs (18:24). Her Woodward Park time of 18:06 is nearly 30 seconds faster than the next best mark.Malena earned All-American honors in each of the seasons during her time at Hartnell College, two in cross country and three in track & field total. She is the college record holder at 1500m, 5000m, and 10,000m. Malena accepted a scholarship to Adams State University where she was a member of national championship squads. Most recently, Malena competed in the 2020 US Olympic Marathon Trials. 

Arlene DiazLeal (2017-2018) competed before all the women on this list but a 10 year hiatus after graduating from Everett Alvarez High School. Her high school results pre-date the traditional reference sites! That did not deter her from enjoying the Hartnell experience as a runner. Balancing work, motherhood, athletics, and school she enjoyed two outstanding years of cross country. Her accomplishments in cross country come without the usual complimentary track season as her focus in the spring was making up for lost time on her degree and taking care of her son. Arlene was the conference champion as a freshman and 4th at Norcals, a surprise to nearly all of the region in her debut season. Arlene returned the next year to place 3rd at conference and 5th at the regional becoming a rare two time top 5 performer. She earned all-state with her 19th place finish at the state championship and is ranked#10 at Woodward Park. Arlene accepted a scholarship to CSU Monterey Bay and is in her final semester of her degree. 

Monica Ruelas (2017-2018) followed the legacy of her sister Maritza to Hartnell College from Gilroy High School but she was determined to pave her own path and that she did. Monica has run 20:40 at Toro Park, 19:57 at Crystal Springs, and 20:35 at Woodward Park. After a solid first season as a Panther that saw Monica earn all-conference and all-region honors while breaking 20:00 at Woodward Park,she had a breakout sophomore year. Monica stormed to win the conference title, placed 2nd in the region and 7th at state jumping 47 places in one year.  A double all region performer, she is #2 all-time at Woodward Park at 18:35 running nearly 90 seconds faster than her first year and two minutes faster than high school. Monica added an All-American honor on the track at 1500 meters is #2 all-time at 5000 meters. Monica attended Notre Dame de Namur University for year and is currently enrolled at the University of Alaska Anchorage. 

Daniela Salazar (2018-2019) entered Hartnell College from Watsonville High School with bests her final year as a Wildcat of 19:42 at Woodward Park and 19:41 at Toro Park. Daniela never placed lower than 3rd in the region her two years, placing 3rd as a freshman and 2nd as a sophomore. She joined Grover as a rare double All American placing 5th and 7th in her two championship races, the lowest combined places since 1980. She is #3 at Woodward Park with her freshman mark of 18:36. She was the only runner in Northern California to twice defeat the eventual regional champion during the season. Daniela had her final track & field season cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic despite posting state leading marks at 1500m and 3000m. Danieal transferred to San Jose State University on full athletic scholarship.