Invitational cross country meets prepare teams for Bay League competition
Local cross country teams are preparing for runs for a Bay League title by facing tough competition in various invitational meets.
At the Woodbridge Invitational last weekend, Redondo’s girls team (ranked 10th in the CIF-Southern Section Division 1 poll) finished 4th behind Vista Murrieta (No. 2, Div. 1), Southlake, TX and Great Oak (No. 1, Div. 1).
The Sea Hawks were led by Molly Ann Hastings (19th, 17:53.2), Isabella Landry (20th, 17:54.8), Allison Montgomery (52nd, 18:23.8), Kasey Bohney (55th, 18:24.6), Domenica Villegas (57th, 18:27.8), Peyton Heiden (58th, 18:28.9) and Shelby Bender (113th, 19:07.0).
Varsity members of Redondo’s squad will travel to Seaside, Oregon to compete in Saturday’s Three Course Invitational.
Mira Costa went to Hawaii last weekend to compete in the 10th Annual Iolani Cross Country Invitational where the boys and girls teams swept the 5,000 Meters Varsity and 5,000 Meters Open races.
In the boys varsity 5,000 Meter race, Mira Costa took top honors defeating Glacier Peak and J Serra.
The Mustangs were led by Cy Chittenden who placed 3rd with a time of 15:29.08. Mira Costa had five runners place in the top 15. Joining Chittenden were Thomas Velvin (9th, 16:06.11), Jp Soares (10th, 16:06.99), Cole Gamble (11th, 16:07.51) and Cormac Carew (14th, 16:14.78).
The girls (ranked No. 3, Div. 1) outran Glacier Peak and Punahoe to claim their title. The Mustangs were led by Brooke Inouye (3rd, 18:17.68), Dalia Frias (4th, 18:23.14), Lucy Atkinson (7th, 18:45.68) and Olivia Hacohen (15th, 19:12.78).
Mira Costa also received strong performances by Jasmine Peterman (19th, 19:21.96), Pnina Tofler (23rd, 19:28.9), Tia Pappas (24th, 19:29.36) and Mel Carmen (31st, 19:46.96).
The Mustangs boys team won the 5,000 Meters Open race outpacing Hawaiian teams Iolani and Punahoe.
Mira Costa had five top 10 finishers with Russell Blakely (4th, 17:09.4), William Beck (6th, 17:33.1), Colin Beale (7th, 17:33.5), Ryan Whalen (8th, 17:36.8) and Oliver Michelson (10th, 17:39.55).
The Lady Mustangs outpaced McFarland and Iolani to claim the Open championship and were led by champion Allyson Doyle (19:35.99) and runner-up Anna Graves (20:00.36).
Also finishing in the top 20 for Mira Costa were Julia Vazquez (4th, 20:07.61), Amanda Murch (5th, 20:15.74), Cassidy George (10th, 20:55.18), Angela Diaz (16th, 21:25.14), Sydney Pell (17th, 21:37.9) and Alexandra Bedingfield (18th, 21:39.1).
Next up for Mira Costa will be the Masters University Invitational in Santa Clarita on Saturday, Sept. 29.