SJS Corner: Highlights From The Kim Duyst Invitational

Sep 17, 2025

The Kim Duyst Invitational unfolded on a beautifully lit evening at the pristine River Oaks Golf Course. The well-marked course contributed to fast times and new course records across all divisions.

In the girls' race, defending champion Natalie Arriaza of Patterson took an early lead, but St. Francis freshman Alyssa Gutierrez quickly caught up by the 1km mark, creating a 10-second gap over the chasing pack. This group included Halle Welch (St. Francis), Brenna Mannion (Vista Del Lago), Khloe Delatorre (Vacaville), Lena Llamas (Buhach Colony), Zoe Corder (Bella Vista), and Avery Carlson (Pitman). By the 3km point, Gutierrez surged ahead, building a six-second lead over Arriaza. Arriaza stayed in contention, pushing Gutierrez to a new course record of 17:08, with Arriaza close behind at 17:17. Mannion and Delatorre also ran strong in the second half, finishing 3rd and 4th, respectively, and surpassing the previous course record.

The team competition showcased top programs, including St. Francis (#2), Vista Del Lago (#6), and Vacaville (#7). St. Francis demonstrated remarkable depth, with all seven runners finishing the 5km course under 19 minutes, sending a strong message to state-level competitors ahead of the Woodbridge meet. Vacaville held a slight edge over Vista Del Lago at 3km, but eventually Vacaville's tight pack of 2-4 runners secured them 2nd place. However, Vista Del Lago's three-minute gap between their 1st and 5th runners could leave them vulnerable to strong D2 teams like Granite Bay, Bella Vista, or Woodcreek as the season progresses. Placer solidified their dominance in the D3 section, posting an average time of 19:28 with three runners under 19 minutes.

The boys' race at the Kim Duyst Invitational was a thrilling display of speed and determination. Last year's course record, set by Northern Arizona commit Broen Holman of Sonora, seemed unbeatable. However, Kimball's Andres Lomeli had other plans, charging out as aggressively as the leaders in the girls' race. By the 1km mark, only Jesuit's and Matilda Torres's top three runners could keep pace with Lomeli, hitting a blistering 2:44 split.

By the 3km point, Lomeli had taken complete control, building a 15-second lead over Jesuit's Kyle Jakary and Matilda Torres's Benjamin Fernandez. He maintained his relentless pace to the finish line, breaking the course record with an impressive 14:38. Other standout performers from the Sac-Joaquin Section included Ty Hundley of Vacaville, Cooper Barr of Placer, and Jesuit's Matthew Ogilvie and Lucas Alberts, all finishing in the top 10.

In the team competition, top-ranked Jesuit faced a tough challenge, but not from the expected contender, Vacaville, which was missing key runners. Instead, Matilda Torres from Central California stepped up, making it a tight race as Jesuit also lacked some of their top athletes. Matilda Torres placed their top three runners in the first six, all under 15:30, but narrowly fell to Jesuit, 37-41. Bella Vista took a distant 3rd place, led by junior Calvin Fear, followed by D2 teams Vista Del Lago and Atwater.

Upcoming Races

SJS League Meet #1

Boys Teams racing: Jesuit (#1), Davis (#3), Oak Ridge (#4), Whitney (#6), Folsom (#8)

Girl Teams racing: Whitney (#1), St Francis (#2), Oak Ridge (#3), Davis (#4)

Woodbridge Invitational

Boys Teams racing: Jesuit (#1), Vacaville (#2), Oak Ridge (#4), McClatchy (#5), Turlock (#9), Ponderosa (#10)

Girl Teams racing: Whitney (#1), St Francis (#2), Oak Ridge (#3), Golden Valley (#5)