A middle-distance standout for Ripon’s track team last spring, Fitzpatrick has made big strides in cross country.

The senior improved his personal best time on the 5,000-meter course at Willow Hills Reservoir Community Park last Saturday, finishing as the runner-up in the Sac-Joaquin Section Championships Division IV race in the process. Fitzpatrick crossed the finish line in 16 minutes, 22.7 seconds, securing a spot in the California Interscholastic Federation State Championships.

He previously ran it in 16:44.6 during the Tom Laythe Invitational back on Sept. 30, placing third in that meet. Last year, he took 21st in 17:45.9 in the SJS finale.

In this year’s Section meet, state qualification for Division IV boys was limited to the top three teams and a maximum of five individuals not part of advancing teams, however those five individuals must end up in the top 14.

Fitzpatrick cleared those requirements with ease. First-place Broen Holman of Sonora was the runaway winner (15:20.1). Fitzpatrick edged ahead of El Dorado’s Braidon Campora (16:23.1), who is part of a qualifying team, but was more than 30 seconds ahead of the next closest contender for an individual state berth.

The state meet takes place Nov. 25 at Woodward Park in Fresno.