Great Oak produces impressive sweep, Collins and Tamagno are individual champions at 34th Woodbridge Classic

By Erik Boal, DyeStatCAL Editor

Great Oak's cross country program delivered a memorable performance Saturday night at the 34th Woodbridge Classic, becoming the first school in meet history to sweep the boys and girls sweepstakes titles.

Destiny Collins captured the individual title on the 3-mile Great Park course in Irvine in 16 minutes, 3.56 seconds, leading five Great Oak scorers in the top 25 to produce a 58-point effort to knock off fellow national powers Desert Vista of Arizona (107) and Saugus (108), with Buchanan placing fourth (156) and last year's champion Simi Valley taking fifth (167).

It was Great Oak's fourth girls sweepstakes victory in five seasons, atoning for a seventh-place finish last season. The Wolfpack joined Saugus (2006-09) as the only program to win four Woodbridge girls sweepstakes titles.

Brea Olinda's Austin Tamagno rallied in the final 400 meters with an impressive kick to win the championship in 14:04.21, but it was Great Oak's depth that enabled the Wolfpack to secure the boys crown for the first time with 108 points.

Claremont took second with 193 points, followed by Saugus (195), Brea Olinda (205) and Desert Hills of Utah (208).

Arcadia's Phillip Rocha was runner-up in 14:05.72, followed by Immanuel's Kasey Knevelbaard (14:07.80) in third, Jurupa Hills' Michael Teran (14:07.98) placing fourth and Madera South's Eduardo "Lalo" Herrera -- who led with less than a mle to go -- taking fifth in 14:09.71.
Saugus' Brian Zabilski placed sixth in 14:15.15 and Isaac Cortes led Great Oak by finishing seventh in 14:17.21.

Desert Vista's Dani Jones was second in the girls race in 16:15.67, followed by Saugus' Samantha Ortega (16:20.80) in third, Palisades' Marissa Williams (16:27.21) in fourth and Citrus Valley's Claire Graves (16:31.24) rounding out the top five.

After posting the fastest time Sept. 13 at the Laguna Hills Invitational, Bishop Amat sophomore Ally Palomino was sixth in the sweepstakes in 16:45.54, ahead of defending Division IV state champion Caroline Pietrzyk of Malibu (16:46.54).

Great Oak also won the girls rated race with 66 points. San Clemente's Kelsey Carroll prevailed in 17:05.65, with Vista Murrieta's Ashley Cahalan taking second in 17:18.

California captured the boys rated race with 157 points, edging Beaumont (172), led by winner Andres Vizcarra in 14:36.73.

Great Oak also added a girls varsity victory with 62 points.