Mt. SAC Saturday: Fireworks Provided From The Unexpected

Baxter made history yet again with a #2 AT 16:11 win. (Photo by Dave Burnette)

Saturday Mt. Sac. Invitational Review

By David M. Burnette

26 October, 2013

 

Saturday's Boys Division I & II Team and Individual Sweepstakes provided excitement, suspense, and the unexpected.   Torrey Pine's Tal Braude pulled away from the meet's most talented field of the two days, including Saucony's #1 ranked individual Stockdale's Blake Haney, Villa Park's Garrett Corcoran, Alaskan star Levi Thomet, San Pedro's Steven Correa and Big Bear's Caleb Webb to run the 3rd fastest time in course history, 14:27.  Although, the victory did not come easy as Corcoran gave quite a good chase down the final gauntlet to close within two seconds.  Thomet, making the trip from Alaska, proved he belongs in the discussion of the best in the nation, as he finished third, followed by Correa, Webb, and Haney in 6th.  The Individual Sweepstakes also provided a glimpse into the future with as Arroyo Grande Freshman Christian Ricketts finished 9th in a time of 15:23, which places him in a fifth place tie on the All Time Freshman Records with former Arroyo Grande great Luis QuintanaLoyola took the team title in the Individual Sweepstakes and they look forward to their upcoming battles with Arcadia in the California State and Regional meets.  In the Team Sweepstakes race, Arcadia High survived an off race from nationally ranked Estevan De La Rosa to win for the third time in three years.  Warren High gave quite the chase with only five runners, but in the end, came up 31 points short of Arcadia.   On the individual side, Steven Fahy took a lead into the Reservoir Hill, the final climb on the course but when he turned the corner onto the Airstrip, Blair Hurlock of De La Salle had taken over the lead.  Hurlock finished in 14:48, followed by Arcadia's super sophomore Phillip Rocha, Fahy in third and Benjamin Gonzalez of Warren in fourth.

The Girls' Individual Division I & II Sweepstakes also provided an upset winner.  Fionna O'Keefe of Davis High ran away from the race favorite Palisades' Marissa Williams.  O'Keefe joined Bethan Knights in the sub 17 minute club, which is now 17 girls.  Davis High also took the team title in the race.  The Girls' Team Sweepstakes race provided possibly the most exciting race.  The Mt. Sac. Invite fans were treated to Simi Valley's Sarah Baxter's final invitational performance, which saw her open the first mile under 5 minutes.  Baxter ran away from the field as if she was racing with toddlers to finish in the second best time in course history, only four seconds slower than her own record of 16:00.  The team race provided even more excitement.  After Baxter finished, Dorris, Collins, and Stinger for Great Oak High  came in 3rd, 4th, and 12th.  Great Oak looked as if they would take the team title home until Simi Valley placed the rest of their scoring five in front of Great Oak's #4 runner.  Simi Valley squeaked out a one point victory 72 to 73 in the last time these two California powers will compete head to head.  San Diego's La Costa Canyon finished 3rd lead by Emma Abrahamson