Ranking the top 1,500 girls cross country runners by 3-mile times achieved during this week in 2019.
The Los Altos newcomer, who has CA's No. 1 freshman time for 5K, wasn't challenged at hilly Toro Park.
Freshman Lauren Soobrian of Los Altos, who has been among the top 2023s in the state through the first half of 2019, ran away with the Varsity Girls 3-mile race. Soobrian crossed in 17:57.98. Alexandra Zanon of Archbishop Mitty, also a freshman, was second in 18:40.65 with junior Azalea Groleau of San Lorenzo Valley third in 18:41.52.
Carson Smith of Santa Teresa (15:27.9) held off Jeremy Kain of Scotts Valley (15:39.4) to win the Varsity Boys 3-mile race. David Evans of Palo Alto finished third (15:45.6).
Emilie Difede of Palo Alto won the JV Girls 3-mile race in 21:05.2, defeating runner-up Alex Paradiso of St. Abraham's Classical by 14.2 seconds. There was quite a gap before third-place finisher Michelle Loa of King City crossed in 22:48.6.
Steven Garcia, a senior at Everett Alvarez in nearby Salinas turned a narrow lead at the halfway split into a 13-second victory in the JV 3-mile race. Despite battling stomach pain, Garcia won going away in 17:20.21 to outpace runner-up Aidan Choy-Marshall, a senior at Willow Glen (17:33.32). Senior Jose Ortega of San Lorenzo Valley was third (17:47.71).
Six girls were within about 5.5 seconds of each other at the halfway split but freshman Jane Partsch of Santa Teresa closed strong, picking up three spots over the second half of the Frosh-Soph 3-mile race to win in 19:49.41. Finley Craig of Palo Alto, also a freshman, was second in 20:12.54 with sophomore Anahi Rosas of Alisal third in 20:23.81.
Sophomore Liam Alexander of Vintage was 7.3 seconds back at the halfway split but he said he knew he could make up that time on the hills. That he did, taking over the lead for good at the top of the ridge and finished strong in 16:52.23. Ellis Richardson, a sophomore from Oakwood, was second in 17:06.42 with Alex Gao, a freshman from Palo Alto, third in 17:08.23.
Spence Koontz, an eighth grader from Pacific Collegiate, won the 1.6-mile co-ed middle school race, crossing in 8:45, 14 seconds ahead of runner-up Gianni Ponce of Palma, also an eighth grader.
