CHRIS THATCHER races for Benicia on the Granite Bay course.

Benicia High School’s mountain bike team reached the midway point of the season after races in Granite Bay and Laguna Seca.

Strong finishes by Benicia’s riders at Laguna Seca allowed the team to pass Bishop O’Dowd in the standings and move into 10th place out of 20 teams competing in the NorCal South Conference Division II.

The Granite Bay course, a favorite of the team, included three technical hills and a sand pit that gives the race the name “Granite Bay Grinder.” Benicia sophomore Emily Radtke returned to the podium with a fifth-place finish in the girls race after dropping behind a Salinas rider during a bottleneck on the course. Fellow sophomore Hunter Dean placed ninth in the boys event despite having to fix a flat tire on the second lap. Junior Chris Thatcher took 12th place out of 50 competitors.

Benicia looked strong at Laguna Seca. Each lap had an elevation gain of 700 feet and included “Hurl Hill,” a short, steep section that is located at the top of a long climb. Radtke placed fifth after passing an Albany rider at the top of the second lap. Dean took ninth out of 25 riders, and Thatcher managed to complete the race despite injuring his hand. Sophomore Spencer Cromer also contributed with his finish.

Thatcher, Dean and Radtke all qualified for this year’s State Finals race later this spring. Benicia’s next mountain bike race is April 12 in Petaluma.

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