Elena Denner (3), Maddy Denner (1) and Olivia O'Keeffe (2) ran fast times at sectionals. (James Leash photo)
4. Distance Distinction: Mariah Castillo (Saugus), Maddy Denner (Oak Ridge), Olivia O'Keeffe (Davis), McKenna Brown (La Costa Canyon), Elena Denner (Oak Ridge) and freshman Jacqueline Duarte (Chino Hills) are ranked among the top seven in the US in the 1600.
Castillo, the Denners, O'Keeffe, Brown are joined by Tori Gaitan (Great Oak), Haley Herberg (Capistrano Valley), Gillian Wagner (Redwood), Sylvia Cruz-Albrecht (Oak Park), Corie Smith (Buchanan), Kristin Fahy (La Costa Canyon) and Sara Leonard (Anaheim Canyon) among the nation's top 28 in the 3200. Girls only running the 3200 should have an advantage -- at least will be fresher -- over the girls looking to double. Those figure to be two difficult 1600s on consecutive days in the heat before they ever get to the Saturday night eight-lapper.
The boys distance field isn't anywhere close to as highly ranked as is the girls but at the top, Liam Anderson (Redwood), Justin Hazell (El Camino Real), Xavier Court (Mira Costa), Jagdeep Chahal (Burbank Burroughs), Matt Strangio (Jesuit), Rory Abberton (West Torrance), John Bennett (Granada), Collin Ullrich (Liberty Ranch), Ethan Danforth (Canyon Country Canyon), Elias Opsahl (Redlands East Valley) and Carlos Carvajal (Great Oak) are among those who will push for two highly competitive finals.