67th Mt. SAC Invitational -- 10 Storylines to Follow

By Erik Boal, DyeStatCAL Editor

Who's No. 1?

For the first time this season, Brea-Olinda junior Austin Tamagno and Loyola senior Robert Brandt (pictured above) will square off in a battle of two of the nation's best in the individual sweepstakes race Saturday. Tamagno has captured the Woodbridge Classic and Orange County Championships sweepstakes titles. Brandt has five invitational victories, including one at Mt. SAC as part of the San Gabriel Valley 1-on-1 Challenge. With Arcadia's Phillip Rocha and Big Bear's Caleb Webb -- among other elite competitors -- in the field, if the conditions are favorable, don't be surprised if Tamagno or Brandt challenge the course record of 14:24 shared by West Covina's Diego Mercado and Arcadia's Ammar Moussa.

Will the rematch equal repeat?

Great Oak's Destiny Collins and Davis Senior's Fiona O'Keeffe, two of the country's most talented female runners, will race Saturday in the Division I-II team sweepstakes, their first matchup since Oct. 11 at the Clovis Invitational, where Collins was 10 seconds in front of O'Keeffe at Woodward Park. O'Keeffe ran 16:54 at last year's meet to win the individual sweepstakes. Collins ran 17:21 at the Mt. SAC Invitational, followed by 17:10 at the Southern Section Division I final. Don't be surprised if at least one athlete is under 16:30 and possibly both.

Another sweepstakes sweep?

Great Oak has already produced impressive boys and girls sweeps at Woodbridge, Nike Pre-Nationals and Clovis, so the Wolfpack is looking to enjoy another memorable achievement by producing a fourth dynamic double. Great Oak has won five consecutive Mt. SAC Division I girls sweepstakes titles, but is still seeking its first boys championship Saturday. Dana Hills was the last program to secure Division I boys and girls sweepstakes titles at Mt. SAC in the same year in 2008.

Dana Hills is climbing

With the return of junior Jake Ogden from injury, Dana Hills has looked impressive in recent weeks, taking third at Orange County Championships behind Brea-Olinda and Anaheim Canyon. The Dolphins, who also feature junior Mason Coppi, are matched against Loyola and Warren -- also getting healthy at the right time -- in the individual sweepstakes Saturday and have the potential to challenge for the team victory.

Individual showcase

Although it might be overshadowed by Collins vs. O'Keeffe part II in the girls team sweepstakes, the girls individual sweepstakes Saturday also has several talented entries, led by Palisades senior Marissa Williams and Burbank junior Candela Fernandez, both coming off strong invitational performances the past two weeks. Redondo Union senior Amber Gore, Monte Vista junior Brooke Starn, Beaumont junior Kailie Grimes and Tesoro junior Amanda Gehrich are also part of the field, which should eclipse the 17-minute barrier.

Sum-thing special in store?

Saratoga senior Steven Sum won't get the opportunity to race against Brea-Olinda junior Austin Tamagno in the Division III sweepstakes Friday, but the Central Coast Section standout is the favorite to win the final race of the opening day. Sum ran 15:19 at Woodward Park to win his race at the Roughrider Invitational and has the potential to run under 15 minutes at Mt. SAC.

Prep League pride

Although Central Valley Christian has the potential to upstage them both, Flintridge Prep and Mayfield will race for the third time this season in a clash of Prep League powers in the Division V girls sweepstakes Friday. Mayfield edged Flintridge Prep by two points at the Stanford Invitational and defeated a short-handed Rebels lineup at the Clovis Invitational, but this will be a good indication for both teams in preparation for the Southern Section final Nov. 22.

On their way to the big time

A ruling was made Wednesday that the Cougars would be competing in Division I for Central Section and state boys races, but McFarland remains entered in the Division IV sweepstakes Friday. With Bishop Amat, the state's top-ranked team, not fielding its full boys lineup, it could be an opportunity for McFarland -- last year's Division IV sweepstakes winner -- to enjoy the spotlight against schools of comparable size, before taking on the challenge of the larger division when the postseason arrives.

A fresh perspective

Sonoma Academy's Rylee Bowen is entered in the Division V girls sweepstakes, leading a talented group of freshmen at the nation's largest cross country meet, many of which will run the full course for the first time. Roosevelt's Tahlia Adams, Homestead's Elena Kamas, Capistrano Valley's Haley Herberg, El Dorado's Lucina Vincent, Branson's Grace Dailey, Claremont's Tess Rounds, Sonora Union's Cassi Land, Chino Hills' Grace Staton and Amador Valley's Kaitlin Cartwright are among the talented ninth-grade girls to watch. Roosevelt's Raymon Ornelas, Mira Costa's Xavier Court, Burroughs' Alexander Hirsch, Dana Hills' Jack Landgraf, Crescenta Valley's Colin Fitzgerald, McFarland's Melecio Gonzalez and Great Oak's Gavin Korby are among the most promising freshman boys scheduled to compete.

No junior achievement

Great Oak is not only favored to win the boys and girls team sweepstakes titles Saturday, but the Wolfpack also has the potential to win the junior varsity national championships in both genders as well for the third consecutive year. Great Oak's girls roster is so deep that it won't be surprising if its JV lineup produces one of the fastest team times of the two-day meet.