Six hundred high school mountain bikers from throughout California, including riders from Nevada Union, played in the dirt at Loma Rica Ranch on Sunday.

The host Miners finished second in the California High School Mountain Bike State Championships Sunday, which capped a fifth-place finish this season in the NorCal league series. Defending champion Drake High School of Marin County pulled it off again, beating out Nevada Union, which was led by senior Christine Weir's fourth place in the varsity girls race.

“Fourth place for her is outstanding, by far one the most competitive riders in the country,” said NU coach Eric Newman said. “The top 15 riders get an automatic bid to compete at nationals, that are held in Colorado. And with her fourth place finish, she has qualified.”

The girls top three varsity finishers were Folsom's Shayna Powless, Drake High's Sophie Hamilton and Marin Catholic's Victoria Yoham, followed by NU's Weir.

“I know I put my best on the line.” Weir said. “I will miss the team rides, but I will be back next year to watch my brother, Jimmy. But I'm excited for collegiate (University of Santa Cruz) racing.”

NU junior Emma Arata took third in the junior varsity girls race and Christa Baker, who crashed in the final turn, picked up her bike and finished seventh in the JV race. Lindsey Hays rode to a 10th place finish, while Julia Toro took 16th, for Nevada Union in the girls sophomore race.

“That is huge for them,” Newman said. “They are both very good, but today they found out what it was like to push it until you puke. Their race was exemplary.”

Arata, a first-year rider for the Miners, has improved her placements in all four of her races.

“I'm proud of myself,” said Arata, also an NU varsity basketball player. “I couldn't have done it without my family's support.”

Mason Bond had the best showing for the Miners in the varsity boys race, finishing 15th. Jeremiah Newman's bike got a flat tire in the first lap, but he managed to finish 42nd.

The varsity boys put on the best race of the day, as Will Curtis of San Rafael and Zachary Valdez of Hemet High ended in a sprint to the finish line. Curtis held off Valdez out of the final turn to win. The two riders finished more than a minute in front of the third place rider.

“Zach dropped me on an uphill, so I went as fast as I could on the down to catch him,” said Curtis. “I said to myself don't let him get away.”

Drake High School not only won the state meet, but also the NorCal league this season. The team also took the title in 2004 and 2006.

The underclassman fared a bit better for Nevada Union in junior varsity boys race, with Steven Baldock leading the way with a fifth-place finish. David Lowe crossed the finish line 10th and Eric Green was 12th.

In the sophomore boys race, Julian Eisen took seventh and Tim Warmerdam was 20th.

The Miners did have three freshman place in the top 20 on Sunday. Tyler Grebe was 18th, Zach Moultrie 13th and James Schmidt 10th.

Loma Rica Ranch's new course drew praise as a first-time host.

“The track in unbelievable,” said Drake coach Paul Chourre, who is in his sixth season. “It's a good-climbing course. We are a climbing team and the single track is fast and beautiful.”

The 5.8-mile track, which has 780 feet of climbing, was built from August to December of 2009.

“I have 700 hours invested in the course,” said Robert Godar, who designed the course with Jet Lowe. “Zach Anderson and John Fisher have over 120 hours moving dirt around.”

“I wanted to create a new economic engine for the Grass Valley community, a positive place for the community to come together.”

Scott P. Hopper is a sports writer for The Union. Contact him via e-mail at sphopper@theunion.com or by phone at 477-4231.