By Michael Bower

The longest race Kirsten Moody had run before this year was 1,600 meters for the Del Norte High track team. And she is pretty good at it, reaching the San Diego Section finals last year as a sophomore.

The Del Norte cross country coaching staff kept its fingers crossed for two years hoping Moody would come out for the fall sport. She finally did this season and with the help of a few other new faces, the Nighthawks are now off to the state championships for the first time since 2010.

Moody led Del Norte to a second-place finish in Division III at the CIF San Diego Section Championships Saturday on Morley Field’s 2.75-mile course. She crossed the tape in 17 minutes, 22 seconds, good enough for 11th place.