CIF Southern Sectional Showcases Intense Competition
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Boys
In Division 1 of the CIF SS Championships, Maximo Zavaleta of ML King triumphed with a strong time of 15:00.80, narrowly beating Dylan Jubak from Trabuco Hills, who finished at 15:02.20. Arnold O. Beckman claimed the team title with 83 points, edging out Great Oak by just 11 points. Great Oak finished with 94 points, putting up a valiant fight but falling just short.
In Division 2, Griffin Kushen of Tesoro led the pack with a dominant 14:38.50, besting Dylan Flores of Glendora (14:54.20). Glendora secured the team win with 73 points, followed by La Serna in second with 99 points. The race for team victory was close, with Glendora's consistent performance across their runners securing the win.
Division 3 saw Evan Noonan of Dana Hills finish first with a time of 14:42.90, while South Torrance's Liam Miller took second at 14:54.10. Oak Park clinched the team victory with 107 points, overcoming South Pasadena, who finished with 116 points. Oak Park's solid pack running was key to their win, keeping a tight 1-5 split of 41 seconds.
Max Douglass from Corona del Mar won Division 4 with a 15:02.90, edging Oaks Christian's Christian Yoder (15:06.30) into second. Oaks Christian won the team title with 43 points, ahead of JSerra Catholic who finished second with 72 points. Oaks Christian's depth and consistent performances across the team helped them secure a decisive victory.
In Division 5, Eyan Turk of Woodcrest Christian took home the win with a time of 14:54.10. However, it was Viewpoint that dominated the team competition, finishing with 60 points, narrowly defeating St. Margaret's Episcopal (104 points). Viewpoint's strong performances, including a second-place finish by Olly O'Connor, helped them hold off their rivals and claim the championship.
Girls
In Division 1, Trabuco Hills dominated the girls' race with a stellar performance by Holly Barker (16:40.70), followed by Millie Bayles (16:45.60) in second. Trabuco Hills also claimed the team title with a total of 36 points, finishing well ahead of second-place Santiago Corona (67 points). The team's depth and impressive 1-5 split of 1:54, along with a 17:28 average time, sealed their victory.
Ventura's Sadie Engelhardt led Division 2 with a 17:31.90 finish, securing her third straight win at the meet, while Newport Harbor's Keaton Robar (17:41.60) secured second. El Toro took the team title with 99 points, led by strong individual performances despite Ventura's top runner finishing first. El Toro's consistent scoring across all five runners and their 18:40 average time were crucial to their win over Ventura.
In Division 3, South Pasadena's Abigail Errington finished first with a time of 16:56.60, followed by Irvine's Summer Wilson (17:22.70). South Pasadena won the team race with 43 points, benefiting from strong performances across their top runners. Their 18:26 average time and 2:28 split between the first and fifth runners helped them dominate over second-place Santa Margarita (90 points).
JSerra Catholic's Sophie Polay clinched the Division 4 victory with a 17:49.40 finish, leading her team to a first-place team title with 29 points. Their impressive depth, with a 1:13 1-5 split and an 18:18 average time, helped JSerra secure a clear win over second-place Harvard Westlake (102 points). The team's consistent pack running proved too strong for their competition.
In Division 5, Brentwood's Amelia Sarkisian emerged victorious with an 18:13.20 finish. St. Margaret's Episcopal claimed the team title with 99 points, finishing ahead of Cantwell-Sacred Heart (137 points). Despite a strong individual performance from Sarkisian, St. Margaret's balanced depth and a 20:43 average time, aided by solid finishes from their top five runners, ensured the win.