Mountain Biking: Redwood, San Domenico riders claim NorCal titles
“The original “home of mountain biking” is once again the home of champions, after Marin County riders dominated the NorCal Interscholastic Cycling League championships on Sunday at Six Sigma Ranch in Lower Lake with locals winning boys and girls individual titles, and team titles...
San Domenico senior Hayley Ballard was the champion in the girls varsity race at 1:34:13.64. After Shantelle Tupaz of Hayward Composite took second, Redwood’s Izzy Landry (1:38:01.17) and Charlotte Philkill (1:38:01.25), placed third and fourth, respectively. Hayley Yoslov of the Branson School placed eighth (1:45:05.78)...
Ballard is a dominant and inspiring force on the trails for female riders, and for runners. She finished in the top 25 at the North Coast Section cross country championships the past two seasons. Her coaches call her “one of the most talented runners in San Domenico history” in a 2021 post on the school website.
It’s not just one the trail where Ballard tries to encourage other female athletes. Her blog “Mud Girl on the Mountain” includes posts such as “How to not underestimate … female mountain bikers”.
No one was underestimating Ballard on Sunday. She finished second at the NorCal Championship in 2022, and this season picked up Redwood/Repack Region victories at the Granite Bay Grinder and Petaluma Round Up to qualify for the NorCal Championships”