PREVIEW 49th Lowell Invitational


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2021 Results


This Saturday,
 Lowell HS will host the 49th Annual Lowell "San Francisco" Invitational at the world-famous Golden Gate Park. This meet has been the first meet of the season for some of the top teams and individuals in this area and beyond. This year's version will not disappoint as the competition should be outstanding from the first boys' freshman race at 9 am to the last boys' Varsity race at 2:30 pm. The teams that will be competing are listed on the next page and as you can see, it's an assortment of some of the best teams in the state, regardless of division. 

All of the races will be separated due to the large-sized fields. Although some of the top teams and individuals won't be facing each other, we should still get some very fast times and performances over the slightly altered course. The teams competing in the varsity races can be viewed on the second page of this article.

For the girls, the first heat will feature Dougherty Valley, Montgomery, San Francisco University (defending state Division V champions) and Tamalpais. The second heat will be headlined by the strong trio from Castilleja, Clovis North, Granada, Los Altos, and Menlo Atherton

Individually, the top runner for the girls will be Montgomery freshman Hanne Thomsen (DeAnna Turner photo above). She is the defending individual CIF-State champion in Division II as well as the 2022 State track and field champion in the 3200m. She will be racing Los Altos senior Lauren Soobrian who had a similarly spectacular track and field season and will more than keep Thomsen honest. 

Learn More About Hanne Thomsen

The first varsity boys' race will feature Bellarmine, Dougherty Valley, Lowell, Mountain View, San Francisco University and El Dorado. The second heat will include a second Bellarmine team, Albany (defending State Division IV champions), Arcadia, Archie Williams, Granada, and Menlo School. It appears that the second race for the varsity race will be a bit more competitive but that remains to be seen.

For the top boys' individuals, Albany senior Sean Morello should definitely be included in that conversation. He will have plenty of competition in the second heat from Granada senior Roland Ruckmann-Barnes. Both runners are the lead runners on two of the best teams in the state who will both contend for a state championship in November.

RACE SCHEDULE
Walk Course 8:00-8:45 AM
Frosh Boys 1 - 9:00 AM
Frosh Boys 2 - 9:25 AM
F/S Girls 1 - 9:50 AM
F/S Girls 2 - 10:15 AM
Soph Boys 1 - 10:40 AM
Soph Boys 2 - 11:05 AM
Non Var Boys 1 - 11:30 AM
Non Var Boys 2 - 11:55 AM
Non Var. Girls - 12:30 PM
Var. Girls 1 - 1:00 PM
Var. Girls 2 - 1:30 PM
Var. Boys 1 - 2:00 PM
Var. Boys 2 - 2:30 PM