Gloria Sosa third in Junior Olympic meet

Six Carson City youth runners joined forces with the Silver State Stiders on Sunday to compete in a USA Track and Field Junior Olympics qualifier at San Francisco's Golden Gate Park.

The top 25 finishers advanced to the next stage of qualifying to be held Nov. 26 at Woodward Park in Clovis, Calif. The top finishers in that event will advance to the national championships to be held Dec. 10 in Spokane, Wash.

Carson City's contingent was led by Gloria Sosa, who took third in the intermediate women's division, finishing the 5-kilometer race in a person best 20 minutes, 6 seconds..

Also from Carson City, 7-year-old Blanca Sosa ran in the Bantam Division where she placed 31st in a personal record of 15:12 for the 3,000 meter race.

Erika Sosa had an excellent race in the Midget Division placing 21st in a personal record of 12:09 for three kilometers.

Peter Brinson placed 14th in his Midget Division race in a personal record of 11:28. Teammates Sean Johnson placed 31st in a personal record of 12:09 and Luke Johnson placed 43rd in a personal record of 12:56.

Other Silver State Striders that made a good showingincluded NIAA 4A State girls cross country champion Mel Lawrence from Reno High. She won the Young Women's race in 18:05 for the 5K race. Walter Juarez, also from Reno High, who was the Northern 4A boys champion, won the Young Men's division in a time of 15:46. He was closely followed by Galena's Bryan Tibaduiza in 16:02 and Reno's John Lawrence in 16:21.

Mel Lawrence said she'll be attending the University of Washington next fall to run for the Huskies. She ran the race to prepare for her upcoming Foot Locker Western Regional race to be held on Dec. 2.