Boothby, Dimick Take Top Honors at Bellarmine Terry Ward

SUNNYVALE -- Aidan Dimick of Carlmont High School and Ashlyn Boothby of Scotts Valley were the big winners at the Bellarmine College Prep Terry Ward Invitational on Saturday at Baylands Park.

The afternoon was warm but cooled down by the time the varsity races were run.

Dimick, a senior, took the Varsity Boys race in 15 minutes, 37.8 seconds. Julian Vargas of St. Francis (CC) was well back in 15:47.3.

"That went pretty well," Dimick said. "I just paced right on top of the top person, he led me to a pretty good time."

Dimick said he made his move with about 800 meters left in the 5,000-meter race.

"I did not have that much left in the tank," he said. "It was just about getting to the finish line. It was hard the whole way."

Dimick said his season has been going well and that he has improved his times by about 30 seconds.

It was a little warmer when Boothby took to the course a half hour earlier. She went right out to the lead at the start and was in control the whole way. The sophomore finished in 18:11.5 with Pioneer's Bella Peretti (pictured) next in 18:31.4. Peretti had a momentary bobble when she started to go to the outside of the finish chute before quickly correcting and coming through.

"It went pretty well," Boothby said of her race. "It was tricky because it was hot and dry, my mouth was pretty dry. It was definitely a mental challenge but not too bad. Those hills in the sun were pretty brutal."

It was Boothby's fifth race win in six invites this fall. In the one she didn't win, she took a wrong turn and lost the lead before scrambling back to place second. 

Scotts Valley swept the varsity team competitions. The Falcons won the Girls Varsity with 38 points with Notre Dame (CC) next with 84 and Carlmont next with 96. Scotts Valley won the boys race with 51 points, just in front of Pioneer with 57.

Behind Boothby for the girls was senior Greta Feague in 16th (21:05.80), senior Megan Wu in 17th place (21:07.00), junior Rafaela Putnam in 20th (21:23.60), and sophomore Diana Alivov in 22nd (21:32.10). 

Leading the way for the Scotts Valley boys was seniors Jeremy Kain, third in 16:14.50, and Ryder Brabo, fourth in 16:18.10. Senior Austin George placed 12th in 17:09.00, and junior Aiden Boothby was 18th in 17:19.90.

The Junior Varsity Boys race was the closest of the afternoon with Sequoia (CC) freshman Zacharie Vidana rallying at the end to nip Scotts Valley senior Evan Granados at the end. The finish was so close, the runners didn't appear to know who won. The official results posted after the race showed Vidana with a time of 18:17.5 and Granados with a time of 18:17.6.

"I tried to push it as much as I could," said Vidana, adding that he had never been involved in a finish that close.

Said Granados, "It was a fun race. It was definitely close. He definitely pushed me at the end."

It was the Sequoia Ravens who took the team competition with 27 points, well in front of the host school with 58. Serra (CC) was next with 67.

Ariana Gauff, a junior at Santa Teresa (CC), won the Junior Varsity Girls race in 22:54.9. Kiera Chang, a senior for Leigh (CC), was second in 22:57.5.

Rauff said he tried to take it easy at various places around the course and push it at other times.

"It felt good," she said, adding that she has been taking her workouts more seriously now.

Evergreen Valley (CC) was the team winner with 26 points. Presentation (CC) was next with 49, just a point in front of Notre Dame (CC).

The Frosh/Soph Boys was another close race with Leland freshman Colin Jubert holding off Serra freshman Aaron Lee. Jubert was timed in 17:54.7 and Lee in 17:55.4. Lee helped the Padres to the team championship with 37 points, with Bellarmine second with 43.

Watsonville freshman Katelynn Ruiz (pictured) was well in front of the Frosh/Soph Girls race, finishing in 20:44.2. That was over 75 seconds in front of Karly Page of Leigh (22:00.5). Rancho San Juan (CC) won the team title with 27 points.