Bronco Invitational: Rylee Bowen takes on collegians

Take your pick of favorite phrases; Déjà vu or the future is here now.

Either one could describe what Rylee Bowen did today.
Rincon Valley Middle School had this phenominal 8th grade runner taking on the adults and winning.
That was the story back in 1991 when a youngster named Julia Stamps began grabbing headlines. Today that same story is about Rylee Bowen.

The Bronco Invitational in Santa Clara is a big meet with schools like Stanford, UC Davis and many others across the nation competing. There were two separate 6k races run for women, an invitational and open race. Bowen, competing in the 6k open race, out ran everyone in her race. In fact between the two women’s races the last three Redwood Empire “Runners of the Year”, which covers six of the last seven “Runner of the Year” awards, competed, with Bowen’s time the fastest.
Bowen’s pace for the 6k race would have had her passing the 5k mark at 18:32. Only 18 Empire preps have ever run a 5k that fast.

Photos by Thomas Benjamin

Rylee Bowen crossing the finish line in first.

Women’s 6K Open Complete Results
1st Rylee Bowen 8th grade 22:15.1 5:59 mile pace, Rincon Valley Middle School
19th Jacquelin Taylor JR Sacramento St. 23:16.5 6:15, 2009, 2008 & 2006 Redwood Empire Runner of the Year, Casa Grande

Jacque Taylor, in green, just past the 3 mile mark.

5th 158 pts Sonoma St.
Savannah Silacci SO 24:11.8
Veronica Kays SR 24:27.7
Abby Utic SO 24:35.5
Debra Daubenspeck SR 24:45.6
Maria Hurtado FR 24:52.8
Raelynn Brett FR 25:34.4

Women’s 6K Invitational Complete Results
117th Ashley Moffett FR San Francisco 22:17.9 5:59, 2012 & 2010 Redwood Empire Runner of the Year, Casa Grande
120th Nicole Lane SO UC Davis 22:19.4 6:00, 2011 Redwood Empire Runner of the Year, El Molino

Ashley Moffett, in green, at the finish.

Nicole Lane less than 100m from the finish.

Men’s 8K Invitational Complete Results
9th Reesey Byers SR Sacramento St. 24:04.9 4:51, 2009 Redwood Empire Runner of the Year, Santa Rosa
41st Luis Luna SO American River 24:39.7 4:58, 2011 & 2010 Redwood Empire Runner of the Year, Piner