Fast Times Await at APU Meet of Champions Distance Classic

APU Meet of Champions Distance Classic
Mark Gardner

GIRLS PREVIEW


3200 meters (8:40 pm)   

  • Meet Record: Claudia Lane, Malibu (2017) 10:12.21 
  • Break into All-Time Top 10: 10:31.50
  • 2018 Winner: Tori Gaitan (Great Oak/SS | So.) 10:18.80
When the sun goes down, the lights shine brighter than before as the 3200 meters is loaded.  Last year, we witnessed a barrage of talent where the top five now occupy the top six spots on the All-Time List.  While last year's champion, Great Oak's Tori Gaitan, will sit this one out to properly heal for the postseason, three of the top girls from last year return while one of the nation's best steps in as the favorite.  

La Costa Canyon senior Kristin Fahy, Ayala senior Mikaela Ramirez and the sophomore duo of Village Christian's Mia Barnett and Mayfield's Audrey Suarez lead the field in the eight-lap race.

Fahy, the top returner in the 3200 final from the 2018 State Final, is the top qualifier here with a best of 10:6.4x. Fahy, bound for Stanford, was the MileSplitCA Girls Cross Country Runner of the Year last fall. She's gone 10:34.67 so far this year. 

Ramirez, bound for Indiana, has a best of 10:26.20, which she ran on the fast APU track last spring. Ramirez placed third in that race behind the Great Oak duo of Tori Gaitan and Fatima Cortes. Neither of the Wolfpack girls is scheduled in the 3200 this year. 

Barnett and Suarez, two small school training partners each medaled in the 1600 at State last June as freshmen. Barnett went 10:27.82 to win the CIF-Southern Section Division 4 title last spring and went 13:30.80 in a dual last week, her only 3200 clocking since the SS D4 final. She was second to Haley Herberg in the Invitational Mile last year, pushing the accomplished Capistrano Valley senior throughout, finishing in 4:54.80, 1.60 behind Herberg, now at Oklahoma.

Suarez was fifth here last year, running 10:29.60 in the only other time she has taken on the 3200. 

Among others scheduled in this field: Sylvia Cruz-Albrecht (Oak Park/SS), Arianna Griffiths (Great Oak/SS), Kelli Hines (Mission Viejo/SS), Chloe Arriaga (Walnut/SS), Sarah Shulze (Oak Park/SS), Hana Catsimanes (San Clemente/SS), and Sydney Hwang (Claremont/SS).

Hines was fourth here last year (10:29.30), Cruz-Albrecht was sixth (10:31.50), Shulze was ninth (10:44.40).

Griffiths qualified for the State Meet in the 1600 a year ago while helping lead her squad to another State title this past cross country season.  Arriaga has the rare distinction of qualifying for the SS-Division 1 Finals in the 1600 and 3200 the past three seasons.  Hwang helped lead her squad to the Division 2 XC State title while also qualifying for the State Meet in the 3200 a year ago.  

JSerra's Nadia Tabrizi is on a roll, with a personal best of 10:51.12 effort last weekend at Laguna Beach while Westlake's Rebecca Schultz (10:51.48) also looks to break the 10:50 threshold!  Five rolled under 10:30 a year ago and an eye-popping 15 dipping under 10:50!