Standouts Emerge at Orange County Championships
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The Orange County XC Championships at Oak Canyon Park brought together not only some of California's top teams but also some of the nation's best, competing on the scenic 3-mile course. The meet delivered standout individual performances and thrilling team battles, showcasing elite talent from across the region.
On the boys' side, Griffin Kushen of Tesoro High School took the top spot, winning in an impressive 14:22.40. Kushen's victory was especially notable, as he improved from his third-place finish last year to claim the title this season. He held off Woodbridge sophomore Aidan Antonio, who finished second in 14:35.40, while Dylan Jubak of Trabuco Hills rounded out the top three in 14:41.30.
| PLACE | VIDEO | ATHLETE | TEAM | MARK | POINTS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Griffin Kushen | 12 | Tesoro (SS) | 14:22.40 | 1 | |
| 2 |  Aidan Antonio | 10 | Woodbridge (SS) | 14:35.40 | 2 | |
| 3 |  Dylan Jubak | 12 | Trabuco Hills (SS) | 14:41.30 | 3 | |
| 4 |  Taye Newman | 12 | JSerra Catholic (SS) | 14:44.90 | 4 | |
| 5 |  Oliver Hunter | 11 | Dana Hills (SS) | 14:47.40 | 5 |
In the team competition, JSerra Catholic secured the title with 78 points, marking a major leap after placing fourth at this meet last year. Their victory came with a tight 48-second 1-5 split, led by Taye Newman's fourth-place individual finish in 14:44.90. Trabuco Hills followed closely in second with 127 points, powered by Jubak's top-three finish, while Tesoro placed third with 149 points, thanks to Kushen's individual win.
In the girls' race, Summer Wilson of Irvine captured the title in 16:22.00, winning her first OC title in her first year running for Irvine after previously competing for JSerra. Wilson held off Trabuco Hills junior Millie Bayles, who finished second in 16:24.80, while her teammate Holly Barker placed third at 16:48.80.
| PLACE | VIDEO | ATHLETE | TEAM | MARK | POINTS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Summer Wilson | 11 | Irvine (SS) | 16:22.00 | ||
| 2 |  Millie Bayles | 11 | Trabuco Hills (SS) | 16:24.80 | 1 | |
| 3 | Holly Barker | 12 | Trabuco Hills (SS) | 16:48.80 | 2 | |
| 4 |  Mackenzie Forrest | 11 | Tesoro (SS) | 17:01.30 | 3 | |
| 5 |  Keaton Robar | 12 | Newport Harbor (SS) | 17:13.50 | 4 |
Trabuco Hills dominated the girls' team competition, winning with 32 points as all five scorers finished among the top 12 scoring runners. Their performance, with an average time of 17:13 and a 1:24 1-5 split, was a statement of dominance, coming just a year after finishing as runners-up in the same meet. JSerra Catholic secured second place with 80 points, showcasing a tight pack and a 37-second split, while El Toro rounded out the top three with 92 points, led by a strong fifth-place individual finish.
With some of the nation's top talent on display, the Orange County XC Championships at Oak Canyon Park delivered exciting performances. Kushen avenged last year's third-place finish to win the boys' race, while Wilson took the girls' title in her debut season with Irvine. JSerra Catholic's boys improved from fourth to claim the team title, while Trabuco Hills' girls team dominated a year after finishing second.