Since the inaugural Mountie Xpress Invitational in 2024, the early-season 2-mile cross-country has set a new benchmark for speed on the revamped Mt. SAC XC course.
Before 2024, this meet was known as the Fastback XC Shootout, held on the Mt. SAC XC course, which included the Valley Loop, Switchbacks Hill, and Poop Out Hill. Since the legendary course switched to a flatter 3-mile course, the early-season race now covers only the Valley Loop and Reservoir Hill.
Now, the Mountie Xpress Invitational is not only a great preview for Southern Section athletes racing on the CIF-SS Prelims/Finals courses, but it also provides a valuable data point to gauge where their speed is at the start of the season. That speed was on full display for the girls, with the all-time girls top 10 rewritten yesterday.
New All-Time Girls Top 10
Isabella Wroblewski shattered the previous course record, set by Emma Alba in 2025, by 18 seconds. She ran 11:14.10, bringing the high school girls' record closer to the 11-minute barrier on this course, which her younger sister may break over the next three years. Freshman Sofia Wroblewski was one of six girls who helped rewrite the all-time top 10 list yesterday.
-- Anais and Sabina Cruz running the 2025 Mountie Xpress Invitational --
All-Time Boys Sub 10
Although the boys didn't set a new course record, two boys joined the sub-10-minute club, which Albert Jacinto spearheaded last season.
First in the Small Schools Senior boys' race, Trenton Reimer dipped under 10 minutes to outlast a legion of St. John Bosco boys who surrounded him throughout the race. This is a phenomenal start to the season for Reimer, who didn't advance past the Division 3 CIF-SS prelims last season.
Then, Kingsley Lin capped the day with an epic win in the Large School boys' race, breaking the 10-minute barrier on this course and carrying momentum from a much-improved track season. This win and performance further confirm his qualification for the CIF 3200m final this spring, where he dropped 27 seconds from the previous season.
| rank | athlete/team/year | grad year | time |
|---|
| 1 | | 2026 | 9:46.80 |
2
| | 2027 | 9:57.40 |
| 3 | | 2027 | 9:59.30 |
New Class Records
Amid all the rewritten course records, the class records weren't spared. Both boys' and girls' freshman records fell to start the morning, first by Sofia Wroblewski, then by Andrew Nilsen. Each of these frosh athletes already showed great promise in club running, but these performances have raised expectations even higher heading into the season.
Anais Cruz had a strong start to her sophomore season, breaking the class record after closing out her freshman season in the CIF 3200m final. She and her twin, Sabina Cruz, continue to show they will be mainstays in the California distance scene for years to come.
Isabella Wroblewski's performance is arguably the most impressive victory because she is a two-time D3 CIF State XC top-20 finisher, and this is her first major high school XC invitational win in her decorated career. All the strength she gained in her first three years of high school may pay huge dividends heading into her senior year.
Girls
FRESHMAN: Sofia Wroblewski (Yorba Linda) - 11:28.70
SOPHOMORE: Anais Cruz (Westlake) - 11:32.50
SENIOR: Isabella Wroblewski (Yorba Linda) - 11:14.10
Boys
SENIOR: Trenton Reimer (Mater Dei) - 9:57.40
FRESHMAN: Andrew Nielsen (Yucaipa) - 10:10.10