Great Cow Run (CA)
Steven Khan of Ayala won the Great Cow Run Varsity Boys race in 14:36, the second-fastest time in the nation for three miles this season. The junior's performance marks a huge improvement from 2014, when he ran 15:34 for 25th overall at the same meet.
Citrus Valley junior Claire Graves ran 16:57 for three miles to win the Girls Varsity race in what is the third-fastest time in the nation this season.
"I felt pretty good during the race," Graves said. "Our team trained through this race to get ready for Woodbridge. I'm pretty content with my time even though I didn't hit 16:30 like last year."
The victory comes after a runner-up finish last year to Samantha Ortega, formerly of Saugus and now a freshman at Arizona State. The two battled to top times of 16:30.08 and 16:33.19, as Graves said that Ortega took the pace out much quicker last fall at Cerritos Regional Park.
Graves will look to the Sept. 19 race for a big start to the competitive season. She ran 16:31 for fifth at the meet last year in a season that culminated in a runner-up finish at the California state meet as well as a Foot Locker berth.
In the team standings, Serrano scored 59 points to win the girls title with a top five average of 18:15.3. Courtney Brenner led the squad with a 17:32.4 runner-up finish. The California (Whittier) boys won over Loyola, 86-96, led by Angel Aguirre in sixth (14:53.5).
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