Running in unseasonably warm temperatures, Mira Costa’s Savannah Pio kept her hot streak alive winning her third consecutive Bay League meet by capturing the Bay League title. The senior finished the 3-mile course at Palos Verdes in a time of 19 minutes, 12 seconds to lead the Mustangs to a 27-point finish ahead of Redondo (35), Palos Verdes (72), Peninsula (111) and West (120).
Pio outpaced Redondo runners Cara Ulizio (19:25) and Rachel Bush (19:48) and, for the first time this season, the Mira Costa girls team was successful in breaking up a pack of Redondo runners who had won the first two Bay League meets. The Sea Hawks won the second Bay League meet 25-37.
“It was an exciting win for us,” said Mira Costa girls coach Renee Williams-Smith. “I was very impressed with our two through rive runners. Their spread was only eight seconds apart. That helped us clinch the league title.”
Heading into the meet, Redondo and Mira Costa were ranked second and third, respectively, in CIF Division 2. The teams exchanged places in the poll with both advancing to compete in the CIF Prelims to be held Saturday, Nov. 13 at Mt. San Antonio College beginning at 7:45 a.m. The finals will be held the following Saturday at the same time and location.
Both teams will be chasing national power Saugus, the four-time defending section and state champion in girls cross country.
“Both we and Redondo will have our work cut out for us,” Williams-Smith said. “But both teams have depth. I’m encouraged at the way we’re running right now.”
Also in Division 2, Bay League members Palos Verdes is ranked third followed by West in the fifth spot while Pioneer League competitor Torrance holds the No. 12 spot.
In Division 4, El Segundo’s girls team is ranked fifth and Bishop Montgomery is in the eight position while Chadwick holds the No. 1 spot in Division 5.
Female runners from the Beach Cities dominated the Bay League finals finishing in 13 of the top 16 positions. After Erica Cappelino’s 4th-place finish at 19:50, Mira Costa’s four-member pack finished ahead of Redondo’s group of the same number.
Jenna Tong (19:50) improved her 16th-place finish in the second Bay League meet to place fifth, just ahead of teammates Kelli Sugimoto (6th, 19:53), Vivien Cherrette (7th, 19:55) and Aryn Foland (8th, 19:58).
Redondo followed with Kelly Ryan (20:32), Kayla Ferron (20:35), Laura O’Neill (20:41) and Lyndsey Mull (20:46 finishing in the ninth through twelfth positions.
Other finishers for Mira Costa were Shannon Hagedorn (16th, 21:30), who returned from a bout with anemia, and freshman Abby Hong (28th, 22:32).
Also running for Redondo was Anique Villegas (15th, 21:25).
In boys competition, defending champion Palos Verdes won its second consecutive Bay League title led by champion Justin Unno (16:35) and runner-up Jonah Diaz (16:49). The future looks bright for the Sea Kings, who had only one senior on its team of seven runners. Palos Verdes is ranked third in Division 3 followed by West at No. 6. Peninsula is ranked No. 9 in Division 2.
Palos Verdes captured the title with 20 points, well ahead of second-place Peninsula (46) and Redondo (68). Mira Costa (99) overtook West (134), which finished as runner-up in the second Bay League meet on October 14.
Redondo was led by Tyler Caracoza, who finished fifth at 17:11. Dezhan Bland (12th, 17:44), Patrick Borgerding (16th, 17:53), Evan Malone-White (17th, 17:53), Garrett Klatte (18th, 17:53), Alex Guzman (22nd, 18:01) and Nicholas Herold (25th, 18:31) helped the Sea Hawks match their third-place finish of the second meet.
Adam Perez (9th, 17:30) was the top finisher for Mira Costa. Other Mustangs finishing were Travis Taylor (15th, 17:50), Pablo Diaz (19th, 17:55), Sammy Nunan (23rd, 18:20), Zach Adler (33rd, 18:50), Daniel Ramos (34th, 19:36) and Tyler Norden (35th, 20:18).
Chadwick’s boys team is ranked No. 5 in Division 5. ER
