PREVIEW Sombreros On the Line at Dublin Distance Fiesta

Albert Caruana


Girls 1600 


Meet Record - Riley Chamberlain (Del Oro/SJ) - 4:46.34 ('22)



This meet has grown over the years and proof of the competitiveness of this meet is the record in this event. In 2015, Sonora's Cassi Land lowered the 1600 record at the DDF to 5:06.01. A year later, Miramonte's Hannah Fishlow lowered the record to 5:02.79. The first runner to lower the record under 5 minutes was Redwood's Gillian Wagner in 2017 as she raced to a 4:55.35 victory. That time held up until 2021 when Albany's Sophia Nordenholz ran 4:53.26 in the 3rd DDF that season (that's right 3rd!). Last year, Del Oro senior Riley Chamberlain outran Montgomery's talented freshman Hanne Thomsen to set the new standard at 4:46.34.

This Saturday, Thomsen is back and the one question may be if she could approach and possibly break the now stout record in this race. Thomsen is the class in this field and has already won multiple state titles in cross country to go along with her state championship last year in the 3200 meters.

Her main competition should come from Scotts Valley junior Ashlyn Boothby. Boothby also has an impressive resume that includes a section title and state final experience in this event. Boothby has a best of 4:51.90 and has already posted a 4:52.58 winning effort at the K-Bell Invitational.

Boys 1600


Meet Record - Ajani Salcido (Jesuit/SJ) 4:09.95 ('21)


The 3200m at this meet seemed to always take center stage which left the 1600 meters with a lesser competitive field. For many years, the record at this meet was held by Novato's Erik Olson who ran 4:17.28 in 2009. In 2021, that record was smashed as Jesuit's Ajani Salcido and Amador Valley's John Lester dueled over three laps before Salcido pulled away to win in the still standing meet record at 4:09.95.

The fastest personal record in this field belongs to Jesuit senior Brandon Moreno at 4:12.58 which he set finishing 6th at last year's CA State Meet (photo courtesy of Jesuit HS). Before going forward, I would like to point out that Moreno's time ranks No. 12 on the Jesuit all-time list of the fastest 1600s. I would bet that out of the 170 schools participating in this year's DDF, Moreno's time would be the school record at the majority of those schools. Jesuit coach Walt Lange has done OK in his over 50 years at that school.

His main competition should come from Pioneer sophomore Carson Hedlund who recorded an impressive 4:13.34 as a freshman at the CA State Meet. Also in the mix will be St. Mary's Berkeley senior Mateo Malko-Allen who has a best of 4:14.55.