Mt. SAC Sweepstakes Race Preview: Records Could Be Broken

When: 9:35 AM Saturday

Flo50 Team:  Flo 50 No. 2 Great Oak, Crescenta Valley Flo50 Bubble Team

Individuals: Flo50 No. 9 Justin Hazell, Carlos Carvajal, William Frankenfeld, Colin Fitzgerald, Jacob Korgan

Challengers: El Toro High School, Long Beach Poly, Arcadia, Loyola High School, West Ranch

In the team sweepstakes race, the Great Oak boys are the heavy favorites to win the title. This year they should be looking to not only win it but do something special as well and clock a total team time under 76 minutes. Only one other team has done this and it was the Arcadia boys in 2010. Not to mention Great Oak has won the D1/D2 team sweepstakes three of the past four years. 

Great Oak By The Year:

Some schools that could give them a challenge are Crescenta Valley, El Toro High School, Long Beach Poly, Arcadia, Loyola High School, and West Ranch. Crescenta Valley had a solid race at the Clovis Invitational finishing fifth overall in the loaded pre-state meet field. 

Based on our team scores and virtual meet, Long Beach Poly, El Toro High School and Arcadia High School could also be in the mix for a podium finish. 

On the individual side of things, Justin Hazell will be looking to not only be the low stick on his team but also chase after his third major race victory. The El Camino Real senior has been having an absolutely stellar season, winning both the Woodbridge Cross Country Classic and the Clovis Invitational sweepstakes races. He's ranked Flo50 No. 9 after his most recent victory at the Clovis Invitational.

The boys individual course record is currently held by 2016 Brea Olinda High's Austin Tamagno, who ran 14:23.20 in 2014. Based on what Hazell ran at Woodbridge compared to what Tamagno ran at Woodbridge the same year he broke the Mt. SAC course record, Hazell has already run faster. Keep in mind circumstances, race tactics and conditions can all play into the time, but regardless it looks like Hazell could have a shot at the record. 

He will not be alone as the Great Oak duo of Carlos Carvajal and Jacob Korgan should be in the mix pushing the pace to not only chase the record but also those low spots to help their squad. Also, watch out for William Frankenfeld and Colin Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald was third at the Clovis Invitational and Frankenfeld was eighth at the Woodbridge Cross Country Classic.