With every starter returning, Redondo’s girls cross country team has had high expectations this season but going into Saturday’s Mt. SAC Invitational, had yet to measure up.
But the Lady Sea Hawks showed they are ready to make a run for a CIF title by winning the team title in the Division 1 and 2 Individual Sweepstakes at the prestigious meet.
Redondo’s 96 points bested Long Beach Poly (123), San Pasqual (142) and Mira Costa (155). Redondo and Mira Costa are ranked No. 8 and No. 9, respectively, in CIF Southern Section Division 2 and were the top two finishing teams from that division.
In a race that began with a fast pace, Amber Gore led Redondo with a third-place finish completing the 2.93-mile course in 17 minutes, 33 seconds. Although she bettered her time of 17:52 last year, Gore did not set the personal record she was aiming for. The senior ran a 17:17 at the Great Cow Run on Sept. 6.
“I did not quite reach my goal time for this race, but in retrospect, I can’t be too hard on myself because I was significantly ahead of last year’s time,” Gore said. “Going in, we were a little nervous seeing as to how we didn’t have two of our top runners. However, we’ve been waiting for a race where everything just clicks and I think this was the start of our breakout season.”
Redondo was helped by Anevay Hiehle (17th, 18:30), Taylor Beaudoin (18th, 18:31), Nicole Pederson (34th, 19:07), Trinity Leonard (39th, 19:18) and Peyton Bell (64th, 20:21).
Gore feels competing at Mt. SAC, which also hosts the CIF Prelims and Finals, is beneficial for a title run.
“Running the Invitational before CIF not only gives us a feel for the course, but it also serves as an indicator for our strengths and weaknesses and lets us match up against some possible post-season competitors,” Gore said.
Palisades’ Marissa Williams (16:39) won the race ahead of Burbank’s Candela Fernandez (17:13) and Gore.
Emma Lautanen led Mira Costa’s girls placing eighth with an 18:07 mark.
Also running for the Mustangs were Leora Tofler (42nd, 19:28), Elizabeth Chittenden (43rd, 19:30), Sierra Andrade (49th, 19:48), Alexis Johnson (50th, 19:49) and Avery Ward (59th, 20:10).
Ranked No. 9 in CIF-SS Division 2, Redondo’s boys team was the top finisher from the division in the Individual Sweepstakes race. The Sea Hawks placed fifth as a team with 183 points, one spot ahead of ninth-ranked Tesoro (208).
CIF-SS Division powers Loyola (122), Dana Hills (135) and Arcadia (136) took the top three spots.
Junior Austin Tamagno, of Brea Olinda, set a course record to win the race at 14:23. Arcadia’s Phillip Rocha placed second at 14:31 and Big Bear’s Caleb Webb finished third at 14:34.
Carlos Suarez led Redondo finished 16th at 15:13, an 11-second improvement on last year’s time. Ethan Comeaux (29th, 15:41), Sergio Rodriguez (51st, 16:12), Andrew Zavala (55th, 16:14), Harrison Fox (59th, 16:19), Luke Stevens (62nd, 16:23) and Jonathan Douglas (69th, 16:21) also ran for the Sea Hawks.
Mira Costa’s boys, who are ranked No. 13 along with West Torrance in CIF-SS Division 2, finished third in the Sub-Sweepstakes race. The Mustang’s 108 points trailed Vista Murrieta (83) and El Toro (99).
Brandon Shirazi led Mira Costa (12th, 15:53) edging teammate Caleb Llorin (13th, 15:59). Helping the Mustangs were Ethan Williams (23rd, 16:09), Bram Osterhout (26th, 16:13), Chance Weston (40th, 16:25), Xavier Court (43rd, 16:27) and Matt O’Brien (51st, 16:32).
Redondo and Mira Costa will take on perennial power Palos Verdes when Redondo hosts the Bay League Finals on Thursday, Nov. 6 beginning at 5:30 p.m.
Redondo’s girls won the first Bay League meet by one point over Palos Verdes, who captured the second meet in convincing fashion. Palos Verdes’ girls are ranked No. 1 in CIF-SS Division 3.
Palos Verdes’ boys have dominated both Bay League meets and are ranked No. 3 in CIF-SS Division 3.
The CIF Prelims will be held at Mt. SAC on Saturday, Nov. 15 followed by the CIF Finals at the same venue on Nov. 22.
