All-Americans look to repeat sweep in girls sweepstakes race, possibly challenge all-time meet record after sub-16 efforts last year

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

The most prolific pair in the 38-year history of the Woodbridge Cross Country Classic is back for an encore performance.

Only this time, it will just be the dynamic duo of Corie Smith and Meagen Lowe competing for Buchanan CA in the Bob Day girls sweepstakes race Saturday at SilverLakes Sports Complex in Norco, Calif.

10 STORYLINES TO FOLLOW | INTERVIEW WITH CORIE SMITH AND MEAGEN LOWE

With the rest of a young and improving Bears’ lineup scheduled to compete in a varsity race, Smith and Lowe won’t have the opportunity to pursue another Woodbridge team title like they did last season, when Buchanan prevailed by a 92-116 margin over Great Oak CA to capture its first sweepstakes championship since 2005.

But the close friends will have the opportunity to add to their own legacies by potentially becoming the only teammates to take the top two sweepstakes spots in consecutive years, in addition to challenging the all-time 3-mile meet record of 15 minutes, 53.6 seconds run by Brie Oakley of Grandview CO in 2016 on her way to winning Nike Cross Nationals.

Smith won last year in 15:58.4, with Lowe right behind in 15:59.3, joining Oakley and Simi Valley CA graduate Sarah Baxter (15:57 in 2013) as the only female athletes to run under 16 minutes in meet history.

“We’re training partners and we do every run together, so just having each other there gives us that comfort and we know if we’re together or we’re near each other, we know that we’re working hard and that we can work off of one another,” Lowe said. “Looking back at it, at first it was weird (that it was only the two of us). I thought it was a typo. But after sitting down and talking with (Buchanan coach Brian Weaver), we have a lot of girls that aren’t as experienced in those varsity races and I feel like what we need to do right now is build their confidence.

“It’s all about focusing on what their best interests are and focusing on what they need right now, which will help us more down the line.”

Smith and Lowe ran in separate grade races Sept. 8 at the Kingsburg 2-Mile, clocking 10:38.8 and 10:43.8, but they expect to be together pushing the pace up front the rest of the season, benefiting from chemistry and a support system that is unmatched by few teammates in the country.

“It’s going to be lonely out there on the starting line with just the two of us. Obviously we’ve had to do it before in track, but we’ve never done it before in cross country. It’s weird to me because cross country is so team oriented, especially for us with our program,” Smith said. “But this season is not only about pushing us to be better, it’s really about pushing our Nos. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 runners way out of their comfort zones and as of right now, they’re doing a great job of handling that.”

When it comes to handling the pressure of big races, Smith and Lowe have continued to demonstrate impressive poise and maturity at the state and national levels, capped by both athletes earning All-America honors at Nike Cross Nationals last year in Portland, Ore.

Before Lowe finished 16th and Smith 21st at Glendoveer Golf Course to help Buchanan place 12th overall, they swept the top two spots in six races, including their league, section and state finals. Lowe won the CIF Central Section Division 1 title and Smith captured the Division 1 state championship.

“Especially with these meets, not even around here, but in California in general and how competitive California is, it’s really cool because if we were going out and winning by a minute every time, it wouldn’t be fun and you lose that competitive edge and that desire to really push yourself because you have nobody else pushing you,” Lowe said. “I think we’re very fortunate to have that. Growing up with that, it sparked our competitiveness even more and our desire to go out and push our limits. I would always go out to the state track meet or the Clovis Invite and the state cross country meet.

“I’ve just grown up watching these events and I’ve been looking up to the people who have been racing at them, thinking, ‘That’s where I want to be someday.’ Having this environment is such a neat thing, you get to really grow up with that spirit and have the love for the sport around us.”

Although Buchanan’s home course is the famous Woodward Park in Fresno, Smith appreciates the opportunity to race in such an energetic environment at one of the nation’s largest annual high school competitions.

“You look around and it doesn’t matter, there are people everywhere and that always pushes me, because I don’t want to look bad in front of everyone. You’re trying so hard to do your best and also you don’t want to let other people down. The pure adrenaline of racing like that is so much fun for me, so I love this race,” Smith said. “This race and Clovis Invite bring out so much adrenaline in me because there are so many people everywhere. Because the complex is so small, there is literally a person cheering you on no matter who you are. As the race went on, you’re supposed to get more and more tired, but you felt more and more like, ‘Oh my God, you’re getting closer to the end.’ It’s just a great race.”

It won’t be an easy task for Smith and Lowe to improve on last year’s greatness, especially after becoming the first teammates since Liza Pasciuto and Liana Boucher of Murrieta Valley CA in 2003 to take first and second in the girls sweepstakes and only the third female pair in event history to run the top two overall times.

Amy Skieresz Wilson and Kay Nekota of Agoura CA also achieved the feat in 1993.

“The biggest thing for us is now we know we can do it because we’ve done it before,” said Lowe, who improved from running 16:44 in 2016, with Smith clocking 17:13.

“For me now, I have a better scale of where I think I should be at. I know I’m capable of starting fast and finishing faster. I feel like we’re more confident now with our race plan and what we’re capable of. I remember I went by the second mile last year and I was like, ‘That’s pretty close to my PR and I still have a mile to go.’

“It was just little things like that during the race where you might doubt yourself a little bit because you don’t actually think you can run that fast, but now the biggest thing is confidence because we know it can happen since it already has. It’s just about going out and repeating that and fixing all the little things that we know we can.”

Smith is also trying to become the first athlete to win back-to-back girls sweepstakes titles since Baxter in 2012-13. But she knows how challenging a repeat victory will be, especially with the talented Great Oak CA trio of Tori Gaitan, Fatima Cortes and Arianna Griffiths entered, along with Walnut CA senior Chloe Arriaga, Ayala CA senior Mikaela Ramirez, Oak Park CA senior Sarah Shulze, Rio Rico AZ senior Samantha Schadler and Lowe.

“Honestly, I’m just approaching it as more of a time race for me. If I get third and run like a 15:55, I’m going to be happy, no matter what because it’s so early in the season,” Smith said. “I’m just going out there and looking for a PR and if I win, I win. It’s already such a fast time, so PR’ing to me is basically my biggest deal out there. Of course, we’re going to go out there and try our hardest, and I think it could be a really good meet overall based on who is coming out there.”

And hopefully a memorable final showcase under the lights for Lowe competing on one of the most exciting stages in high school cross country.

“It’s bittersweet because it’s her senior year. I’m so excited that we’re racing together, but I also have to realize that it’s our last Woodbridge meet together and that makes me so sad,” Smith said. “Of course I love running with her, but I also have to realize that it’s our last cross country season together, so I just want to take it one race at a time and enjoy it.”