Reigning Colorado 5A state champion Kadets shine under the lights in Woodbridge debut to prevail against elite national field; JSerra takes top spot among California programs ahead of Buchanan, with returning NXN qualifiers Cuthbertson, Southlake Carroll and Flower Mound placing in top six

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Photos by Ken Martinez

IRVINE, Calif. – When it comes to impactful debuts at the Woodbridge Cross Country Classic presented by ASICS America, it didn’t get more impressive than the performance Saturday night showcased by Air Academy from Colorado.

As it relates to inspiring efforts, it was hard to top the grit and determination demonstrated by a resilient JSerra High of California lineup.

And when it came to a program seeking the ideal motivation in its pursuit of state and national championships this fall, there was plenty for Buchanan High of California following the Bob Day girls sweepstakes race at Orange County Great Park.

INTERVIEWS | RESULTS

Air Academy followed its dominant victory Sept. 9 at the Liberty Bell Invitational in Colorado by placing five competitors in the top 55, led by North Carolina State-bound senior Bethany Michalak securing sixth on the 3-mile layout in 15 minutes, 52.2 seconds, to triumph with 77 points.

The reigning Colorado 5A state champion Kadets ran the second-fastest team time in meet history by clocking 82:50, trailing only Buchanan’s victorious effort of 82:33 last year.

Air Academy ran six of the same athletes Saturday night as they did at Liberty Bell, with junior Olivia Chura replacing freshman Chamorra Cooper, who didn’t travel to Southern California because of a prior commitment.

After placing five athletes in the top 10 at Liberty Bell, including Cooper, Air Academy had sophomore Jordan Banta earn 16th in 16:30.4, junior Tessa Walter take 19th in 16:30.6 and junior Emily Beers grab 28th in 16:46.8 in support of Michalak.

Freshman Mariah Hook placed 52nd in 17:10.6, sophomore Lauren Myers finished 66th in 17:16.5 and Chura achieved 95th in 17:48.6. Hook was the fastest ninth-grader in the sweepstakes field.

Following a conservative opening mile that had the Kadets in fourth place, Air Academy seized control in the second mile and never looked back.

Following a fourth-place finish in last year’s sweepstakes race, JSerra was ambitious early Saturday night, taking the lead following the first mile.

The Lions couldn’t match the depth of Air Academy, but they made a significant statement by continuing to build their advantage against reigning sweepstakes champion Buchanan.

Relying on a 25-second spread among its five scorers, reigning California Division 4 state champion JSerra secured runner-up behind Air Academy with 146 points, with defending Division 1 champ Buchanan taking third overall with 196 points.

It was a testament to the Lions’ emotional maturity following a 21st-place finish in December in their Nike Cross Nationals debut, the same race where Buchanan placed third and Air Academy finished seventh.

Brynn Garcia, a junior, led JSerra by placing 31st in 16:48.9, sophomore Summer Wilson took 39th in 16:56.7, sophomore Kaylah Tasser (17:00.5) and junior Anne Elise Packard (17:02.7) were 42nd and 43rd, with freshman Reese Holley finishing 59th at 17:14.3.

Seniors Georgia Jeanneret (17:40.6) and Brooke O’Brien (18:03.7) were 90th and 121st, respectively, for JSerra, which still awaits the eligibility of transfers Sophie Polay (Santa Margarita) and Chloe Elbaz (Xavier College Prep) in October ahead of the ASICS Clovis Invitational at Woodward Park in Fresno.

Buchanan was led by junior Elle Lomeli taking 20th in 16:31.9, but the Bears didn’t have another sub-17 competitor. Sierra Cornett, a junior, was 48th in 17:07.2, with sophomore Kynzlee Buckley achieving 65th in 17:16.2, junior Avery Hutchison finishing 69th in 17:17.3 and freshman Molly Sundgren grabbing 71st in 17:21.1.

Stefania Sesock, a senior, captured 80th in 17:28.9 and sophomore Tayler Torosian took 118th in 18:02.2 for Buchanan, which was seeking back-to-back sweepstakes titles for the first time in program history.

Cuthbertson of North Carolina had the most impressive movement after being in 14th place following the opening mile, rallying to finish fourth with 266 points, just ahead of Southlake Carroll from Texas placing fifth with 282 points.

Alexandra Walsh earned 25th for Southlake Carroll in 16:42.9, one spot ahead of Cuthbertson’s Charlotte Bell in 16:44.1.

Flower Mound of Texas, competing without senior Nicole Humphries, secured sixth with 309 points.

Alexandra Fox (16:23.5) and Samantha Humphries (16:23.6) were 13th and 14th for the Jaguars.

Corona Santiago from California, led by a fourth-place effort from Rylee Blade (15:42.0), finished seventh with 321 points.

Conroe The Woodlands of Texas earned eighth with 325 points, Ventura – led by a third-place finish from junior Sadie Engelhardt in 15:37.4 – was ninth with 346 points and Trabuco Hills, highlighted by a ninth-place effort from Laguna Hills transfer Holly Barker (15:59.6), rounded out the top 10 team performances with 359 points.

South Pasadena High from California prevailed in the girls varsity rated race with 224 points, with Vista Murrieta of California edging Carson High from Nevada on a sixth-runner tiebreaker to secure second place after both teams accumulated 249 points.