PROFILE Gioana Lopizzo Climbing Fast In XC Ranks

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CARLSBAD -- Ever since the 1968 Olympic Games, when Kenya's Kip Keino ran away from America's Jim Ryun in the high altitude of Mexico City, it has been proven over and over again that runners who come from rarified air have a distinct advantage.

Especially those born and raised in Kenya's Rift Valley.

Expanded lung capacity makes running at sea-level that much easier, say the experts.

So, when La Costa Canyon High School junior Gioana Lopizzo pulled away from the field with a scintillating last lap in the San Diego Section championship 3,200-meter run last spring, clocking a PR 10:25.46, it really wasn't much of stunner to those who knew her.

After all, as a junior high student she came to the U.S. from Switzerland, where high altitude is famous.

Only one problem.

"I actually didn't start running seriously until my freshman year," said Lopizzo, who went on to finish sixth in the CIF-State metric 2-mile last spring, clocking a 10:30.93.

Thin air or not, Lopizzo has continued running well heading into Friday evening's Mt. SAC Invitational where she'll compete in the Division 3-4-5 Team Sweepstakes race scheduled for 5:13 p.m.

Lopizzo is coming off a runner-up finish in the Clovis Invitational on October 8, losing only to 2021 Division 3 CIF-State champ Hanne Thomsen of Santa Rosa Montgomery (NC), who earlier won the Nike Portland cross country invitational in a sizzling 16:49.2.

No disgrace trailing Thomsen, who hasn't lost this XC season after closing her track season with the CIF-State 3,200-meter title.

San Juan Capistrano Santa Margarita sophomore Sophie Polay, who was seven seconds behind Lopizza at Clovis, should provide the push at Mt. SAC as Montgomery will not be venturing south. With combined Divisions 3-4-5, there should be no shortage of quality runners.

In addition to Polay (16:42.80) and Lopizzo (16:40.50 to win at Temecula Twilight), three others expected to compete come in with sub-17 credentials for three miles: The La Jolla (SD) duo of freshman Chiara Dailey (16:34.80) and junior Kirra Fisk (16:54.50), and Viewpoint (SS) senior Jialian Mackey (16:54.60). 

Lopizzo's performances, starting with the San Diego Section championships in track last year, have gone according to plan, says coach Beth Niednagel, whose son Jacob won the SDS Division 3 title last year. 

"(Lopizzo) winning the section 3,200 was something we knew was possible," said Niednagel, who was the head track coach last spring and cross country coach this fall, moving up when Bill Vice decided to step down. "The goal for State was to be on the victory stand, which she accomplished with her sixth-place finish.

"Gioana (pronounced Jo-ana) has run a 4:55 4-by-mile relay leg but she doesn't have that blazing speed some of the others have. But she's tough -- insanely coachable -- smart and an excellent listener."

For some, the SDS victory has an asterisk applied because favorite Mackenzie Rogers of Poway, who clocked a 10:17.91 at Arcadia, had already won the 1600 in a PR 4:48.75 and was attempting to double.

Anyone who saw the race had to be impressed as Lopizzo roared past Rogers on the final lap to win going away in 10:25.46 to Rogers' 10:26.82.

Mt. SAC will be a big test for Lopizzo, who said 2021 was a learning experience, since she was so new to cross country. She's a major team player who carries a 4.0 GPA.

"I learned last year that hard work always pays off, even if it takes a while," said the 5-foot-3, 16-year-old. "I've had the opportunity to work hard every day, which improved my running.

"My teammates and coaches are very important to me. They make the sport exciting and fun. We all go through times of hardship together which bonds us in a very unique way. 

"They truly do become your family."

Watch Lopizzo Battle Hanne Thomsen at Clovis

The Mavericks 'family' is like a lot of San Diego Section teams, working to find some depth behind Lopizzo, seniors Sophia Biesinger and Kira Larner and freshmen Brianne Duynstee and Annie Nelson. They combined to win the sweepstakes title at the Temecula Twilight meet with 67 points as Lopizzo ran her 3-mile PR and won by 12 seconds.

Mt. SAC figures to be a bigger challenge as a sampling of the state's best will be there, including nine teams, including LCC, ranking among the top 10 in CA in Divisions III, IV, and V.

Unlike Woodbridge, where Niednagel opted to not run in the ridiculously fast flat Bob Day Sweepstakes 3-miler in the evening, the Mavericks will test the never-ending hills of Mt. SAC.

"Gioana had not raced cross country at a high level yet, so to give her time to learn, and to run with the rest of the team, we ran the rated race," said Niednagel of Lopizzo, who placed fifth overall and third among Californians in 16:50.7. "She's actually still learning how to run cross country. I'd say right now she's about 88 percent of what she'll be at the end of the season.

"Gioana is totally best when she has other runners near her, which I suspect she'll have at Mt. SAC."

For Lopizzo, each race is a learning experience and a chance to grow.

"Running changed my life," said Lopizzo after finishing third at Dana Hills. "I loved running, ever since I was little, but I hate running by myself. As for Woodbridge, I know I'll have other opportunities and hopefully we'll go back next year."

No sense looking back with meets like Mt. SAC ahead.