Xai Ricks anchored Long Beach Poly to a narrow victory in the 4x800 Relay.
PHOTOS - INTERVIEWS
WALNUT -- The high school session of the 63rd Mt. SAC Relays included just eight events under the lights at Hilmer Lodge Stadium at Mt. San Antonio College: Four individual distance races and four relays.
Here's a quick recap of each, in scheduled order:
Girls 3200 Meters
Shadow Hills (SS) senior Marjourie Lopez, fresh off her commitment to USC earlier in the week, took it out in 78.44, with Highland (CS) junior Mia Torrecillas and Jie Yi Denise Chen of Claremont (SS) matching her pace as the trio began to separate from the remaining 13 runners. Chen dropped off with about three laps remaining and it was Lopez and Torrecillas into the bell. The Central Section standout hit another gear with a final 75.29 lap to pull away late and cross in 10:38.41. Lopez was next in 10:39.72 with Jocelyn Pacheco of Granada Hills (LA) third in 10:51.86. It was only the second eight-lap race of the season for Torrecillas and her second-fastest time ever at the distance.
Boys 3200 Meters
A 61.33 final lap carried University City (SD) junior Caden Hicks to victory in 9:14.51, overcoming the likes of sophomore Zion Ortiz of Burroughs-Ridgecrest (SS), who crossed in 9:15.49, El Segundo (SS) senior Luca Romero (9:16.25), and Central (CS) senior Alazar Teffra (9:16.58).
Girls 4x800-meter Relay
The Buchanan lineup of freshman Tayler Torosian, sophomores Sierra Cornett and Elliana Lomeli, and senior Grace Hutchison rolled to a meet record and state-leading 8:59.12 (U.S. No. 3). Lomeli left no doubt with a 2:12 third-leg split and Hutchison brought it home with a 2:14 anchor. Chino Hills was second in 9:18.24 with Great Oak third in 9:25.86.
Boys 4x800-meter Relay
The Doug Soles-coached boys from Herriman (UT) High held the lead at the final handoff where Long Beach Poly (SS) junior Xai Ricks took the baton. He immediately had to find his way around traffic at the curve before sprinting near the front with about 600 left. From there, the boys ran even until the home stretch where a final surge at the line earned the Jackrabbits the victory in 7:44.90. Herriman timed at 7:45.07 with Clayton Valley (NC) third in 7:46.21. Based on results heading into the weekend, those are the Nos. 2 and 3 times in the U.S. The Poly lineup also included seniors Cameron Rhone and Noah Addison, and junior Lamar Kirk Jr. Loyola (SS) was fourth in 7:49.48, with the visitors from St. John's College HS in Washington D.C. running a school record 7:50.21.
Girls Mile
Another four laps, another record for Ventura (SS) sophomore Sadie Engelhardt. A week after running 4:36.26 at Arcadia - No. 2 in meet history behind only her 4:35.16 (No. 5 all-time) from her freshman season - Engelhardt soloed a 4:38.53 meet record and her fourth top-20 performance on the all-time list. Engelhardt went out in 67.51 and had splits of 71.17, 71.40 and 68.46. La Costa Canyon (SD) junior Gioana Lopizzo was second in 4:47.76, followed by Del Note (SD) senior Hannah Riggins in 4:48.21, Santiago-Corona (SS) sophomore Rylee Blade at 4:48.69, and La Canada (SS) junior Katelyn Matarese in 4:55.11.
Boys Mile
Clovis East (CS) junior Carter Spradling couldn't help but smile in somewhat amazement when told he split 57.29 on his final leg to beat Highland (SS) senior Matthew Donis - among others - to win the race in 4:08.97. Spradling, who has had a spectacular last few weeks -- winning at APU and West Coast Relays, and dropping a 3200m PR at Arcadia -- split 62.95, 65.04, and 63.71 before his stunningly strong finish. Santa Barbara (SS) junior Andreas Dybdahl was third in 4:11.14.
Girls 4x1600-meter Relay
The girls from Herriman (UT) and St. John's College (D.C.) pushed NorCal distance power Campolindo (NC) but the out-of-state visitors could not overcome the Cougars' lineup of seniors Quinn Guthrie and Ellie Buckley, and juniors Kate Kabenina and Shea Volkmer. Buckley and Volkmer each ran 5:05 splits. Campo ran 20:58.18 with Herriman next in 21:18.29 and St. John's College in 21:19.09.
Boys 4x1600-meter Relay
The Torrey Pines team of seniors Ryan Thomas and Nathan Christmore, and juniors Matt Conway and Jonas Rickert, held off a strong challenge from the likes of Menlo (CC), San Clemente (SS), Herriman (UT) HS, and Great Oak (SS) to in in 17:19.10. Menlo was second in 17:19.22 - a CCS record, breaking the previous mark held since 1979. San Clemente crossed in 17:20.50, Herriman in 17:21.54 and Great Oak in 17:21.96.
Photos by Jeffrey Parenti
Xai Ricks anchored Long Beach Poly to a narrow victory in the 4x800 Relay.