Running on its home course at Polliwog Park, Mira Costa’s girls cross country team won the Bay League title upsetting rival Redondo for its fourth league championship in five years.
Redondo’s Kayla Ferron crossed the finish line first with a time of 17 minutes, 39.66 seconds beating teammate Amber Gore (17:39.88). Mira Costa’s Abby Hong placed third at 17:48 ahead of Redondo’s Cara Ulizio (18:10).
The remaining Mira Costa runners turned in fine performances for the Mustangs who finished with 40 points. Redondo (46), Palos Verdes (64), Peninsula (88) and West (100) rounded out the scoring.
Lauren Hagedorn (7th, 18:25), Emma Lautanen (8th, 18:25), Natasha Brunstein (10th, 18:44), Lauren Inouye (12th, 18:45), Kelli Jeong (14th, 18:49) and Sarah Locke-Henderson (26th, 19:31) scored big for Mira Costa entered the meet ranked No. 7 in the CIF Southern Section Division 2 poll but with the win, moved up to the second spot. Redondo was ranked No. 2 and dropped to No. 4 in Division 2 and Palos Verdes fell to the second spot in Division 3.
Also running for Redondo were Nicole Pederson (18th, 19:03), Erin South (21st, 19:10), Alexis Thibodeau (31st, 20:12) and Paige Sullivan (33rd, 20:22).
The boy’s competition included a battle of two top-ranked teams. Palos Verdes (No. 1 in Division 3) scored 26 points to defeat Redondo (No. 1 in Division 2) which finished with 30 points. West (99), Peninsula (110) and Mira Costa (119) completed the scoring.
The win kept Palos Verdes at No. 1 in Division 3 while Redondo dropped to No. 4 with Peninsula holding the No. 10 spot in Division 2.
Redondo’s Evan Malone-White won the race in 15:25. William Tait (4th, 15:36), Dustin Herold (6th, 15:47), Carlos Suarez (8th, 15:58), Garrett Klatte (11th, 16:11), Takehiro Yamaya (15th, 16:18) and Waseem Radi (17th, 16:19.87) also ran for Redondo.
Mira Costa was led by Michael Goldberg (16th, 16:19.55). Other Mustangs completing the course were Justin MacDonald (18th, 16:25), Niko Pappas (27th, 16:38), Dillon Shambaugh (28th, 16:56), Chance Weston (30th, 17:09) and Evan Tomita (35th, 18:35).
Run for the CIF title
Mira Costa and Redondo got a good feel for the 3-mile course where their teams will be competing in the CIF Southern Section Division 2 Prelims on Saturday and Finals on Saturday, Nov. 17.
Running at the Mt. SAC Invitational, Redondo’s boys finished first and the Lady Sea Hawks placed second in the Individual Sweepstakes event.
Redondo’s 112 points bested Torrey Pines (134) and El Toro (138). Tait led Redondo with an 18th-place finish at 15 minutes, 24 seconds. Herold (21st, 15:28) and Malone-White (22nd, 15:29) continued to run well for the Sea Hawks.
Also competing for Redondo were Suarez (34th, 15:52), Klatte (36th, 15:55), Radi (43rd, 16:07) and Tomohiro Yamaya (51st, 16:14),
With 123 points, Redondo’s girls were sandwiched by Xavier Prep of Arizona (105) and Serrano (146). Gore led the Sea Hawks with a 10th-place finish at 17:43.
Ferron (14th, 18:00) and Ulizio (18th, 18:05) also finished well. Other runners helping the Sea Hawk’s cause were Sullivan (37th, 18:46), Pederson (46th, 19:04), Anevey Hiehle (63rd, 19:35) and Thibodeau (88th, 20:16).
Competing without three of its top three runners who were taking PSAT tests, Mira Costa’s girls team finished fourth in a highly competitive Division II heat.
Lautanen (18:35) finished eighth for the Mustangs ahead of Hagedorn (17th, 18:55), Brunstein (22nd, 19:02), Inouye (28th, 19:16), Yvette Sandoval (29th, 19:24), Leora Tofler (38th, 19:53) and Amanda Zendejas (61st, 20:53).
Mira Costa’s boys finished 17th in their Division 2 race. Goldberg led the Mustangs with a 26th-place finish at 16:06.
