By RYAN SILAPAN

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FRESNO -- Quite a difference a year makes.

At the California Interscholastic Federation State Cross Country Championships in Fresno last year, San Lorenzo Valley High's Anna Maxwell was sick and collapsed and several other members of the Cougars girls cross country team were banged up or ill.

Saturday afternoon, Maxwell, ranked No. 1 in Division IV, and the top-ranked Cougars put together a race for the ages.

Maxwell not only captured her first CIF State D-IV individual title, but set a new D-IV state record racing the 3.1-mile Woodward Park course in 17 minutes, 8 seconds. Her effort helped the Cougars set a new D-IV team title record, besting second place Laguna Hills 86-189 for the school's fifth state title.