Weekend Preview: CA & NC Meets Invite Caliber Competition

Olivia Ekpone

Sep 16, 2021

INDEX:

adidas XC Challenge - Woodbridge XC Classic

* Ventura's freshman Sadie Engelhardt won her opening race of the season in 15:59.9 for three-miles

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Woodbridge Cross Country Classic

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When: Sept. 17-18

Where: Silverlakes Sports Park -- Norco, California

The biggest meet of the weekend will be in California at the Woodbridge Cross Country Classic.

The two-day meet will showcase talent from California and Arizona.

Sadie Engelhardt kicked off her high school campaign at the Cool Breeze Invitational Evening Invitational and will be back for her second go-around.

She won the event and was the only freshman among the field to place in the top 10. The Ventura (CA) High School runner ran a 15:59.9, which is the fastest three-mile time of the year, U.S. No. 13 all-time and a national best for freshmen runners all-time.

She will line up against Katelyn Maley, the Colorado 3A State Cross Country champion from Basalt (CO). Maley already has two 5K wins underneath her belt this season from the Coal Ridge Invitational and the Basalt Longhorn Cross Country Invitational.

Of course, what would this meet be without a California state champion and the Division 1 Arizona state champion? Lauren Ping of Desert Vista (AZ) has the highest speed rating so far this season on the girls side with a 157. At the Peaks Invitational, she won the individual title and led the Thunder to a team victory, running across the finish line in 18:10.9.

Texas and California teams like Southlake Carroll (TX), Great Oak (CA), Newbury Park (CA), Buchanan (CA) and Flower Mound (TX) are also set to compete in the girls sweepstakes races.

* Isaiah Givens performed well at the Cool Breeze Evening Invitational

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After of summer of training in the altitude, Isaiah Givens crushed the Cool Breeze Evening Invitational in his debut.

The Pasadena (CA) senior scored a U.S. No. 1 time and lifetime best of 14:08 and earned a 185 speed rating for the effort.

The rest of the field will also feature Max Sannes of Big Bear (CA), who crushed the two-mile course at Mt. SAC.

But honestly, the story of the meet will be Newbury Park boys. The Panthers will debut with their top seven and are expected to be just as good as last year, when the program won the XC Town USA Meet of Champions.

Newbury Park is also the last boys team to win Team Nationals in Portland, Oregon. Newbury Park includes Colin Sahlman, Lex Young, Leo Young, Aaron Sahlman, and Daniel Appleford.

The Panthers could get a challenge from a healthy Cheyenne Mountain (CO) team that is coming off a loss at the Liberty Bell Invitational. Other teams expected to perform well are El Paso Eastwood (TX), Great Oak (CA) Loveland (OH), Trinity Prep (FL) and Southlake Carroll (TX).