Cool Breeze Invitational: Sundown Showdown Preview

Each year, the Cool Breeze Invitational serves as a great preview of what California has to offer every cross country season. The Sundown Showdown races have sparked seasons of CIF State champions and national qualifiers. 

On Saturday night, Cool Breeze moves from the Pomona Fairplex for the first time since 2022 to Gallaway Downs in Temecula, CA. The fast course offers a mix of grass, dirt, and sharp turns with the ability to produce fast marks. 

In the final two races of the evening, individuals and teams will deliver early-season statements as they look toward even bigger races this season. 

MEET PAGE | RESULTS | ALL-TIME GIRLS | ALL-TIME BOYS

Which Team Will Deliver the Biggest Early Season Statement? 

In the girls' Sundown Showdown, the focus will be on the team race among Claremont, Sage Creek, and San Clemente. Each team enters the year projected as one of California's best and has a strong trio up front that may decide Saturday's race. 

Claremont's trio of Grace Smith, Camila Trevino-Davila, and Katherine Willet are riding high from the summer as key members of their CIF State 4x800m runner-up relay. 

The Sage Creek trio of Chloe Barrett, Isabel Gladden, and Beatrice Gladden propelled the Bobcats to a third-place finish at the D4 CIF State XC Championships last season. 

Lastly, San Clemente's trio, Sedona Sweginnis, Taylor Ball, and Addison Carey, is entering its senior season with more motivation than ever to end on a high note. 

Somerset Skye Pointe Academy from Nevada could spoil everything for California with their exciting duo, Aislin McMahon and Rayna Lewis. Last week, they dominated the Red Rock Running Company Invitational, the biggest early-season meet in Las Vegas, giving them major momentum over teams just opening their seasons on Saturday. 

Who Will Get The Biggest Win of Their Life So Far? 

Last year, the boys' Sundown Showdown produced Jace Deledonne's first premier high school XC invitational win, which propelled him to a great senior season. That first premier win is possible for many athletes this Saturday night. 

Elijah Medina from Redlands East Valley leads the way after running a personal record of 14:14.20 to finish as runner-up at the PR City Invitational last week. If he could produce a similar performance, he would be extremely hard to beat. 

Other contenders to watch are Ayden Ramirez (Cajon), Gavin De La Fuente (Claremont), Cole Johnson (South Torrance), Gabriel Zamora (Hesperia), and Ryan Petty (Somerset Skye Ponte, NV)

Ayden Ramirez is also riding high off momentum from the PR City Invitational, where he finished 5th in a personal record of 14:30. Ryan Petty is also a great one to watch who's emerging as one of the best athletes in Nevada. 

Who Will Break Away in the Girls Sundown Showdown?

On Saturday, the girls' Sundown Showdown features numerous contenders, making it hard to pick a favorite. Classical Academy's Lindsey Billotte and Somerset Skye Pointe's Aislin McMahon are stepping up to the line with the most momentum after impressive season openers last week. McMahon dominated the Red Rock Company Invitational, winning by 35 seconds, while Billotte finished 5th at the PR City Invitational with a personal-record 3-mile time of 17:06.80.