This week's girl may still have some of her best races and finishes ahead of her, but what the Casa Grande High of Petaluma senior has right now is exactly what we're looking for in an honoree, a complete balance in all aspects of her life.

	Harold Abend/CalHiSports.com
	Jacque Taylor

By Harold Abend, Special to CalHiSports.com

When she walked into the hallway for the Wednesday early morning on-campus interview, this week's award winner looked just like most any teenager who's concerned with showing a neat, presentable appearance on a school day.

About the only thing that gave the 17-year-old Casa Grande of Petaluma senior away were the visibly muscled and in-shape legs below the designer (not track) shorts of this powerful long distance runner.

Jacque Taylor is not a new name to the California cross country and track scene, either.  

In fact, like many long distance runners, Taylor has been a high finisher since she was a freshman.

"Jacque's done a lot in the three year's I've watched her, plus she's a great kid, very deserving,” said ESPN RISE CalHiSports.com and Dyestat.com contributor and California prep track guru Steve Brand when informed Taylor was this week's girls winner

As a cross-country runner, Jacque has medaled in the CIF Division II race all three years she's competed at the state meet in Fresno.

In 2006, she was fifth as a freshman. Taylor's best finish was in 2007 when she was second as a sophomore to senior Christine Babcock of Irvine Woodbridge in a time of 17:44. In 2008, she was a very close third to current junior Kaitlyn Mahoney of Saugus (17:34) and Hillary Hayes from Edison of Huntington Beach (17:37) but posted her best time with a mark of 17:40. In each of the three races, her finishes were the highest for a girl from the North Coast Section.  

At this past June's CIF State Track Meet in Clovis, Jacque was the top medalist, boy or girl, from the Redwood Empire, after finishing fourth in the 1,600 in a time of 4:50.70. After that kind of race, it's not surprising she finished 11th to Jordan Hasay late in the afternoon in the 3,200. Still, for a girl entered in both races, it's not a bad day at all, and in each race she was once again the highest placed NCS runner.

It was as a freshman that Jacque exploded onto the scene, finishing fourth at the state meet to Hasay in the 3,200 with a time of 10:34.39.

Her Sonoma County League and NCS titles are too numerous, but worthy of mention is her third fastest time behind Redwood Empire female long-distance running legends Julia Stamps and Sara Bei at this year's Viking Opener cross country meet in Santa Rosa.

At the September 19 meet, Taylor won the girls 3,200 in a time of 11:09.

Earlier this month on September 4, and according to DyeStatCal.com's Rich Gonzalez, who nominated Taylor for the award, she "torched the trails at Rohnert Park to crush her own meet record by 44 seconds in winning the girls race at the Rancho Cotate Invitational. Taylor, a premier talent on the national scene, won the 2.97-mile challenge over Montgomery's Julie Nacouzy in a time of 17:03.”

"That time at Rancho Cotate converts to a 17:14 for 3-miles which is the 8th fastest time for female runners from our area,” said Casa Grande cross country and track Coach Carl Triola, an elementary school teacher in Petaluma in his 12th year at the Gauchos' helm.

"She finished 30th last year at the Footlocker National Championships and last year was also named the Norcal Runner of the Year,” continued Triola with pride in his voice.

She might be on a roll over the hills and dales of cross country, according to Gonzalez, but that's not the only place this bright, articulate young woman excels.

First off, Taylor is the consummate teammate, and competitor, and displays tremendous work ethic in every endeavor she undertakes.

"Jacque is our biggest cheerleader,” Triola told CalHiSports.com. "She's always there for her teammates cheering them on no matter where they finish. She's what's made our team successful.

"Not only that but Jacque is not your typical elite runner,” continued the coach. "She goes out of her way to congratulate other competitors whether it's a dual meet or state.”

"She's also a tremendous worker who does anything we ask without complaining,” said Triola. "She's willing to do whatever it takes to make herself a better runner and I know she worked hard this summer going to camps and other things.

One of those camps was a four-day event at Humboldt State.

Besides all the track accolades and a current 3.8 GPA that has many Division I colleges seeking her services, Jacque likes working with other children and teenagers.

One of the assistant cross country coaches who teaches sixth-grade locally has Jacque come into the class to help girls having difficulty with reading.

"I go into class twice a week to read with some of the girls struggling with reading comprehension,” said Jacque with that wide, engaging smile.

Taylor is also a member of the school's Buddy Club that works with Special Education students at Casa Grande. The club meets every two weeks, plays games and goes on field trips amongst other things.

"She's an unbelievable girl, and it's not just for you today, it's every day,” said A.D. Rick O'Brien, poking his head into the office he graciously gave up for the interview.

On some Sundays the girls on the varsity cross country and track teams Jacque calls her "best friends" like to hang out, eat brownies and make tie-dye T-shirts like the ones they wore to the 2007 state track meet.

When the subject turned to family, Jacque's bright eyes shone even brighter.

Her father, James Taylor, who works in administration for Sutter Hospitals, ran track and cross country at Belmont's Carlmont.

When we asked her humorously if her dad could sing, she was ready with the answer.

"He thinks he's a singer, especially since everybody asks him if he sings.”

Her mother, Alyson, also a Sutter employee, rode horses and played some softball growing up in Santa Cruz County.

Jacque is the baby of three siblings.

Her 23-year-old sister, Kaitlyn, currently a chef in Santa Rosa, wasn't an athlete.

"She didn't do anything in sports. We like to tell her that her sport is looking good,” said an ever-laughing Taylor, who says she and her sister are near look-a-likes despite a six-year age difference.

Coleman, her 19-year-old brother, is currently studying to be an EMT/Fireman and plans on transferring after two years at Santa Rosa JC to a four-year college.

Speaking about college, Taylor has two visits scheduled, Washington and North Carolina, and is considering a third visit at this time.

"I want to keep my options open,” said Jacque, a math whiz who would like to be a teacher, speech therapist, or not surprisingly "some kind of a mentor for special education kids.”

Most of the advice our honorees give young people sounds the same but Taylor had something new to go with what has been said by others.

"Don't stay up too late. Getting the right rest is really important.”

"I know it can be hard but stay focused on what you're doing in running and in the classroom. Stick with it even when it's the toughest. There's nothing you can't overcome. Never quit.”

This Saturday will be a big test for Taylor as she goes up against the top girls in the state, including Mahoney, at the Stanford Invitational.

"I wouldn't count against her,” said Triola matter-of-factly.

And what person in their right mind would count against a math aficionado, especially one as well-rounded, talented and confident as Jacque Taylor, this week's ESPN RISE CalHiSports.com Girls State Athlete of the Week.

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