This was a big weekend for SGV XC. Our schools registered six team wins and three individual wins

• the Bishop Amat girls won the Div. IV race at Stanford.
• Melanie Mach (Sr, Rosemead) won the Girls Varsity race at Perris Valley.
• The Damien boys won the Boys Varsity race at Perris Valley.
• Joyce Wu (Arcadia) finished 2nd in the Div. 1 race at the Nike Portland XC classic, and the team, nearing full strength, was 5th. The boys finished 8th in the Championship race.
• Both the Claremont Boys and Girls win the big seeded races at the Stanford Invite.
• The Bonita boys were the winners of the Brea Invitational.
• Lily Miller (So, Webb) won the White Varsity Division race at the Bellarmine-Sacred Heart Invite.
• Ellaney Matarese won the girls Varsity race at Staub-Barnes and led La Canada to the team win.

We will expand our coverage as photos and more details become available.

Stanford Invitational (Stanford Golf Course)

Full Coverage Here

Staub/Barnes Invitational (Crescenta Valley Park)

Full Coverage Here: La Canada & San Dimas on the  Rise

Brea Invitational (Carbon Canyon Park – Brea)

Complete Results Here

• Lorelei Claxton (Jr, Bonita) was 4th/19:21 for three miles in the race that matched up each team’s number one and two runners. Ivanna Chagolla (Sr, St. Lucy’s) was 11th/20:08
• Nick Acosta and Daniel Echeveste were 6th/16:30 and 11th/16:41 for Bonita in the boys 1-2 race.
• The Bonita girls finished 3th overall in the merge of all the results, beating Santiago, ranked in Div. 1 and the D3 hosts Brea-Olinda. St. Lucy’s also had a strong day and finished 8th overall.
• Other girls finishes: St. Paul-13th, El Rancho-16th and El Monte-26th. Baldwin Park, Cantwell-SHM, Los Altos, West Covina and Southlands Christian competed by did not have five runners finish.
• The CIF-SS Div. 3 #10 Bonita boys were breakthrough winners, defeating the higher ranked host team with what were probably three life-time best performances in the first five. Los Altos and El Rancho also had their best days of the season, finishing 6th and 8th respectively.
• Here’s a Milesplit Interview with Bonita’s #3 Connor Henning
• Other boys finishes:  El Monte-16th, St. Paul-17th, West Covina-25th, Baldwin Park-31st. Cantwell-SHM and Southlands Christian competed but did not have five runners finish.

Bellarmine-Sacred Heart Invitational (Griffith Park – Los Angeles)

 Complete Results Here

• Serena Duenas (Alhambra) finished 2nd/18:45 in the top Varsity race and, along with Alyssa Romero 11th/19:35, led the Moors to a third place finish on this super-hilly course. Mark Keppel was 20th.
• Lily Miller won the White Div. race in 18:32 to lead Webb to a third place finish. Olivia Ruiz was 6th/20:06. Westridge was 4th and Mountain View 15th. Here’s a Runnerspace interview with Lily.
• Daniel Piesik (La Salle) was 9th/16:45 in the boys White Div. race. Webb was 7th and San Marino 19th.
• Jesus Islas (Montebello) – 30th/17:02 was the top SGV finisher in the boys Red Div. race, and the Oilers’ at 11th were the top local team. Alhambra was 22nd and Mark Keppel was 23rd.

Perris Valley XC Showdown (Lake Perris SRA – Moreno Valley)

Complete Results Here

• Rosemead Melanie Mach won the Girls Varsity race in 16:53 on this 2.6 mile course! The Panthers were 2nd in the team competition, and Bassett was 11th.
• Danny Ebiner (So, Damien) was 4th/14:13 and senior teammate Trevor Goodenough 6th/14:17 in the Boys Varsity race, leading their team to the win. Rosemead was 8th.

Last Saturday was something of an off day for SGV XC, with only 3 top ranked boys team and 2 of the top ranked girls teams competing in Invites. Here a quick recap.

Sunny Hills/Wayne Walker Invite – Craig Park in Fullerton

Forty-five schools, including six from the SGV competed in this meet, run over rolling hills and deep grass. Full Results

The SGV #2 Walnut girls were the story here, winning the meet by over six minutes with a 92:28 total! Chloe Arriaga broke the meet record with an easy 17:16 while sister Emma was just off the record in 17:48. The Mustangs put four in the top five, and had two frosh edge into their top 7, so things are looking better by the week.

The Diamond Bar girls continued their rise with a nice 7th-place, 103:34 finish, led by Kelli Ishitani (19:52). Walnut was also the top local boys team, finishing 7th/83:31 overall, while Whittier was just behind in 9th/84:14.

Southlands Christian’s Nathan Vallejo (8th/15:48) was the SGV’s top performer Giovanni Mejia (19th/16:08) was best for Whittier, and Walnut was led by Jesse Alvarado (23rd/16:15)

Other SGV Teams

• Diamond Bar boys – 11th/84:49
• Baldwin Park boys – 33rd/95:36
• Southlands Christian boys – 36th/98:57
• Whittier girls – 11th/104:38
• Baldwin Park girls – 34th/135:55

Billy York Invitational  – Riverside Cross Country Course.

This was the first meet of the season to run the full 3-miles at the Riverside Cross Country Course, the home of this year’s CIF South Section Championships. Four SGV teams took park

The SGV fifth-ranked Arroyo boys rolled to an easy 81:02 win with 24 points. Bishop Amat was third in a small field of (mostly) small schools. Noah Hibbard (Arroyo) was the meet winner in 15:46, with teammate Joshua Orellana 2nd/15:59. Isaiah Hernandez was 5th/16:21 in a race where the two SGV teams placed eight in the Top Ten.

Gabrielino (89:12) was 2nd in the other Varsity race with Montebello (90:31) 3rd. Gabrielino soph Nicolas DiConti won the race in 16:45. Tops for the Oilers was Jonathan Maya – 4th/17:13

SGV #4 Bishop Amat (missing their #3) just edged un-ranked Arroyo – 34 pts/98:49 to 41 pts/100:48. Olivia Paez (Amat) – ran 18:55 for the win.  Molly Hake – 5th/19:53 was best for rapidly improving Knights, who had two frosh in their top four.

Montebello was 2nd and Gabrielino 4th in the other Varsity race. Meriyen Sandoval – 5th/21:53 and Crystal Lok – 7th/22:09 were best for those two teams.

Full Results: Boys  Girls

Dana Hills Invitational – Dana Hills HS.

This is a big meet with 109 schools and many ranked teams. Three SGV Varsity teams made the trip this year to run on this fast, slightly net-downhill course.

Results: here

SGV #4 California ran a solid race to finish 5th in the Invite race, led by Andres Espinosa 14th/15:01, shoring up their ranking in the CIF-SS Division 1.

Covina was 53rd/85:18 in a merge of all the divisions, led by Daniel Hernandez in 16:10. Don Bosco also competed by sat out most of their usual Varsity team.

Katelyn Vuong (Covina) was the top SGV girl, running  36th/18:39 in the Invite race. SGV #7 California finished 16th/96:01 in a merge of all the divisions. Zoe Gurule (18:52) led the Condors. The Covina team was 34th/100:07.

Brentwood Small Schools Invite – Brentwood School

CIF Ranked Pomona Catholic and San Gabriel Mission will competed in this Div. 5 only meet, run on the hilly campus of the host school.  Complete Results

Missing four of their first seven, Pomona Catholic was 7th, led by junior Brooke Burciaga (4th/20:35).  San Gabriel Mission was 9th. Their best was Samantha Gomez (28:01)

Sunny Hills/Wayne Walker Invite – Craig Park in Fullerton

Forty-five schools, including six from the SGV competed in this meet, run over rolling hills and deep grass. Full Results

The SGV #2 Walnut girls were the story here, winning the meet by over six minutes with a 92:28 total! Chloe Arriaga broke the meet record with an easy 17:16 while sister Emma was just off the record in 17:48. The Mustangs put four in the top five, and had two frosh edge into their top 7, so things are looking better by the week.

The Diamond Bar girls continued their rise with a nice 7th-place, 103:34 finish, led by Kelli Ishitani (19:52). Walnut was also the top local boys team, finishing 7th/83:31 overall, while Whittier was just behind in 9th/84:14.

Southlands Christian’s Nathan Vallejo (8th/15:48) was the SGV’s top performer Giovanni Mejia (19th/16:08) was best for Whittier, and Walnut was led by Jesse Alvarado (23rd/16:15)

Other SGV Teams

• Diamond Bar boys – 11th/84:49
• Baldwin Park boys – 33rd/95:36
• Southlands Christian boys – 36th/98:57
• Whittier girls – 11th/104:38
• Baldwin Park girls – 34th/135:55

Bassett came into 2018 hoping to defend their boys title and to overtake Edgewood in the girls division. There had been a lot of turnover in the teams from last year, but the Olympians met their goal the first Miramonte meet Thursday at Bonelli Park in San Dimas.

The Bassett girls had a lower point total than the boys, but a closer battle as they bested Edgewood 26-40 as the two leaders put the first 9 runners across the line. Carissa Bilecki of Edgewood, 6th at last year’s League Final, was the first in 21:49.  Ana Tecuahuehe – 10th in 2017 – led Bassett in 21:57 in a race where the two leaders gapped the rest of the field.

The Bassett boys won on the strength of their pack, putting all five scorers in the first ten, scoring 36.  Edgewood, moving up from 4th at last year’s league meet, was second 61, edging out 2017’s #3 Garey by one point! The leaders were quite spread out, with winner Nicolas Castillo Davidson (Edgewood) finishing with a seven second edge on runner up  Alexis Castillion (Bassett) 16:41– 16:48.

The win was quite an achievement for Bassett, who lost six of seven from last year’s winning team, with new #1 Castillon improving nearly 90 seconds from last year.

Full Results are Here.

Individual Top Tens and Team Scores after the jump.

Continue reading Miramonte #1: Bassett At the Front →

The Camino Del Rey Athletic Association is a “super league” of 14 girls teams and 15 boys (including 7 from the SGV), divided into three leagues, with something like a “promotion/relagation” system that groups the schools by recent results. All three leagues in the association hold their meets together, and the first of 2018 was Wednesday at Hollydale Park in South Gate.

 In the top Del Rey League, SGV #4 Bishop Amat girls were easy winners, running together off the front and just missing a perfect 15, finishing with a 16-54 to second place St. Joseph. Newly promoted Pomona Catholic was 4th and St. Paul fifth. Pomona Catholic is not out of reach of 3rd, the final CIF qualifying spot, but it looks like they’ll need to rely on on an at-large spot to advance to CIF

Amat’s Olivia Paez was the winner in 18:47 and the next five Lancers were within a minute. Brooke Burciaga (11th/19:59) was tops for PC and Raegan Lucero (13th/20:33) was best for St. Paul

This is the La Salle girls’ first year in the middle, Camino Real League, and they made the most of it, scoring a 34-35 win over St. Pius X/St. Mattias. Margaret O’Hagan (4th/23:57) was best for LS, but their win sealed by a 6-9 finish from the other four scorers. Cantwell-Sacred Heart was third in this four team league, led by Kylee Daley (14th/26:21)

On the boys side Amat and Bosco Tech made strong efforts but couldn’t quite reach CIF Div. 3 – #3 Cathedral.  Cathedral took command from the gun, their top 5 was in the top 10 all race long. Bosco moved up in mile two to challenge Amat for 2nd but Amat’s frontrunners closing well to secure 2nd place. This was a tightly grouped race, with 2-8 within 20 seconds, so things could change around quite a bit in the coming weeks.

This was Amat’s best race of the year, and the 3rd place puts Bosco in the hunt to advance to CIF for the first time since 2014. The SGV’s St. Paul and La Salle were 4th and 5th in this five-team grouping.

Isaiah Hernandez (2nd/15:46) was best for Amat, and he as joined in the first seven by teammate James Leon (3rd/15:51), Owen Lozano/St. Paul(6th/15:58) and Aaron Dominguez/Bosco Tech (7th/15:58). Daniel Piesik (14th/16:37) was tops for La Salle.

Cantwell-Sacred Heart boys are in the third divison Santa Fe League, and they were second to St. Anthony in the five-team league in which three scored. Josue Banuelos (9th/21:17) was best for the Cardinals.

Complete Results are here: Camino Del Rey #1

SGV Athlete & Team Ranking after the jump

Continue reading Camino Del Rey #1: Bosco Tech Returns, Amat Holds Steady →

Here are the League/Cluster Meets coming this week. We will post results as we get them, and expand the coverage of each meet as results, photos and other information becomes available.

Tuesday – 9/18

• San Joaquin League (Mile Square Park – Fountain Valley) – Full Results Webb were easy winners of both the boys and girls races. The Gaul’s Lilly Miller was the winner by nearly 3 minutes (!), and Southlands Christian’s Nathan Vallejo was the boys winner by (only) 90 seconds.

Wednesday – 9/19

• Valle Vista League (Bonelli Park – San Dimas) – Results: Valle Vista League Meet #1 2018  - Kaitlyn Voung was the easy winner and lead Covina to an equally big win. Jonathan Pfeiffer (Jr, Wilson) topped the boys race. Rowland was the team winner, but Covina was a surprisingly close second.
• Del Rey & Camino Real Leagues (Hollydale Park – Downey) Complete Results – See full coverage here: Camino Del Rey #1
• Horizon League (Eaton Canyon – Pasadena) – Full Results – The SGV’s Ramona Convent and Alverno were 2nd and 3rd in this six team league. San Gabriel Mission was sixth. Katie Bolin (Jr, Alverno) – 6th/24:55 was the top local finisher.

Thursday – 9/20

• Rio Hondo League (Lacy Park – San Marino) – Full Results As expected, La Cañada girls and South Pasadena  boys were winners. Kai Dettmann (South Pas) and Ellaney Matarese (LC) were the individual winners.
• Pacific League (Crescenta Valley Park) – Live Results – Arcadia boys fall narrowly to Crescenta Valley – 34-40. The Apaches Joyce Wu is the individual winner, but the team is 4th.
• 605 League (Cerritos Regional Park) – Full Results and Coverage here at PrepCalTrack
• Miramonte League (Bonelli Park) – Full Coverage Here: Bassett At the Front

Friday – 9/21

• Prep League (Palos Verdes XC Course) – Full Results - Audrey Suarez debuts for Mayfield and leads them over 2nd placed Flintridge Prep 43-53. FP win the boys side in a close one over Chadwick 34-41 in this four team league. Top SGV was Carson Hasbrouck (FP) – 2nd in 17:41 on a super-hilly course.

Saturday – 9/22

• Palomares League Preview (Legg Lake – South El Monte) - Complete Results – Claremont literally (well, actually, figuratively) cruises to two easy wins. Bonita boys are 3rd by one point, Glendora just behind, but 5th. Bonita girls are 4th and Glendora 6th.  Lorelai Claxton (Jr, Bonita) has a particularly strong performance – 3rd/18:06.