Records Fall and Favorites Deliver at the CIF-SS Championships
The CIF Southern Section Championships returned to the Mt. SAC rain course and delivered one of the most memorable editions in recent years. Fast conditions, deep fields, and several statement performances shaped a meet that will heavily influence next week's CIF State Championships.
Below are the top highlights from just a few divisions that defined the day.
DIVISION 1
Boys: Zavaleta Repeats and Beckman Confirms Its Championship Strength
The Division 1 boys race produced another composed performance from Maximo Zavaleta, who won his second consecutive CIF-SS title in 13:59. Zavaleta broke away in the final mile and controlled the finish inside Hilmer Lodge Stadium.
Behind him, Arnold O. Beckman executed one of its best races of the season. The Patriots defended their Division 1 team title against one of the deepest fields in California and will enter the state meet with significant momentum.
Girls: Mira Costa's Pack Running Secures the Team Title, Combe Surges for the Win
Mira Costa relied on a tightly packed formation to win the Division 1 girls championship. The Mustangs' 23-second spread from their first to fifth scorer was the most compact of the meet and proved decisive.
Individually, Braelyn Combe of Santiago closed hard over the final mile to win the title in 16:07. Her finish also helped spark teammate and freshman standout Addyson Johns, who placed third in 16:39, strengthening Santiago's outlook for the state championships.
DIVISION 2
Girls: Summer Wilson Breaks the National 3-Mile Record
The most significant result of the entire meet came in Division 2. Summer Wilson produced a historic performance, running 15:14 to break the national high school 3-mile record. Her time surpassed the previous record from the 2024 Woodbridge XC Classic and established her as the leading contender heading into next week's state race.
Wilson's win also reset the Division 2 course record on the Mt. SAC rain layout and created one of the most anticipated state matchups of the season, with Aelo Curtis, Amaya Bharadwaj, and several more front-runners expected to contend.
Boys: Antonio Holds Off a Late Charge, Dos Pueblos Delivers the Fastest Team Performance
The Division 2 boys race was one of the closest finishes of the day. Aidan Antonio forced a fast early pace and held on late as Lyle Mideiros (Claremont), Adrian Cantu (Saugus), and Derek Luna (Rio Mesa) closed significantly in the final stretch. Antonio preserved the win and remains the favorite entering the state meet, but the narrow margins highlighted the depth of the division.
Meanwhile, Dos Pueblos delivered the fastest team average of any boys program across all divisions. The Chargers ran 14:42 with a 27-second scoring gap, marking a breakout performance that positions them as a major contender at state.
DIVISION 4
JSerra Sweeps Titles for the First Time
The most notable program-wide result came from JSerra Catholic, which won both the Division 4 boys and girls team titles. It is the first sweep in program history. The girls extended their established championship run, while the boys added an important breakthrough performance with depth that held strong through the final mile.
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