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Kristin Fahy Makes Final Mt. SAC Invitational Run Memorable, With Great Oak Adding to Impressive Legacy

Published by
DyeStat.com   Oct 21st 2018, 5:01pm
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Fahy elevates to No. 15 performer in meet history with third consecutive sweepstakes victory, as Great Oak extends exceptional team streaks; Bergmark enjoys big breakthrough to lead Amador Valley in individual sweepstakes

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

La Costa Canyon CA senior Kristin Fahy reminded California, and the rest of the country, how impressive a competitor she can be.

Amador Valley CA sophomore Hope Bergmark and a young Anaheim Canyon CA team demonstrated they will be significant factors during the postseason.

And Great Oak CA added to a pair of the most exceptional streaks in meet history Saturday at the 71st Brooks Mt. SAC Invitational in Walnut, Calif.

RESULTS RACE VIDEOS | INTERVIEWSPHOTOS

Although Great Oak junior Tori Gaitan didn’t prevail in a highly anticipated showdown against Fahy in the Division 1-2 girls team sweepstakes race, the Wolfpack placed four runners in the top nine and had six athletes place among the first 21 finishers to secure a 44-90 victory over Anaheim Canyon.

The Wolfpack matched their boys teammates by capturing a fifth consecutive grand sweepstakes title, but even more impressive, won the Division 1 team sweepstakes crown for a 10th straight year.

Fahy and Gaitan, both Nike Elite Camp attendees, had combined to win five major invitational titles this season in California and Idaho.

Fahy, a Stanford commit, pulled away late in the race to prevail in 16 minutes, 50.4 seconds on the 2.95-mile course, elevating her to the No. 15 performer in meet history. Gaitan was second in 17:02.2, with teammates Arianna Griffiths (17:37.1), Fatima Cortes (17:58.9) and Audrey Dang (17:59.5) placing sixth, eighth and ninth, respectively.

“I know that Tori is an amazing runner. If I’m with her, I’m in good shape,” said Fahy, who won the Division 3 sweepstakes title the past two years.

“I felt really good the first mile. I knew I just tried to stay as relaxed as possible that first mile, and I knew she was right on my heels. And then I just tried to stay tough through the switchbacks. That was my first attack point where I want to be aggressive.”

Gaitan tried to make one last surge against Fahy going up Reservoir Hill, but the La Costa Canyon standout had too much left in reserve.

“I was just super excited to see that I’m on Reservoir Hill and that I still had a little bit of a lead,” Fahy said. “A lot can happen on that hill. It is underestimated, because you think, ‘Oh, I only have 800 to go. I’m good.’ It still takes a lot out of you. At that point, it’s all guts and it’s all whatever you have left.”

The matchup could likely be the only showcase of the two California stars this season, with Gaitan expected to lead Great Oak to a Division 1 state team title and another appearance at NXN. Fahy is the Division 2 state title favorite and could potentially seek a path toward the Foot Locker national finals close to home in San Diego.

“Mt. SAC is always known for being mentally tough, physically tough, too, but more mental. … I’m not going to make an excuse, she was the better runner (Saturday),” Gaitan said. “If you let this affect you longer than (Saturday), then it’s going to affect your for other races, and you’re going to think about this.”

Although Anaheim Canyon placed second in the race to Great Oak, the Comanches won the Division 2 team sweepstakes race, finishing ahead of La Costa Canyon.

Freshman Emma Hadley finished seventh in 17:55.2, sophomore Sarah Paino took 13th in 18:18.4 and junior Ashling Carr was 18th in 18:47.6 for Anaheim Canyon, which rebounded from a six-point setback to Mission Viejo the week before at the Orange County Championships.

Walnut, led by UC Davis-bound sisters Chloe Arriaga (17:21.5) and Emma Arriaga (17:38.9) finishing third and sixth, placed third overall with 103 points. La Costa Canyon was right behind in fourth with 108.

Oakland Tech, led by fourth-place finisher Caroline Garrett (17:36.1), showcased its full lineup for the first time this season and took seventh overall with 171 points.

In the Division 1-2 individual sweepstakes races, Bergmark highlighted an outstanding day for Amador Valley, which secured both boys and girls team titles. The Dons held off Chaparral in the girls race by a 125-129 margin, with the boys prevailing 130-144 over JSerra CA.

But Bergmark’s individual performance was a breakthrough just in time for the East Bay Athletic League final Nov. 3 and the CIF North Coast Section Division 1 finals Nov. 17.

Bergmark prevailed in 17:35.2, ahead of another talented sophomore in Jacqueline Duarte of Chino Hills CA (17:42.7), along with Canyon Crest Academy CA junior Carlie Dorostkar (17:43.5).

“It feels unreal. I’m just so excited to be here and there was so much excitement in the air,” Bergmark said. “It’s so nerve-racking. I’ve never been in first really in a lot of these big races and it’s so terrifying to be there, especially because I’m not the strongest at my kick and I know a lot of girls here are, so I was just praying to God that my legs could take me fast enough.”

Granada Hills CA freshman Sofia Abrego was the only athlete to run under 18 minutes in the remaining varsity races, clocking 17:57.4 to prevail in her Division 1 competition.

Mission Viejo CA, with a returning Ashley Johnson making her season debut after recovering from a sore hip, followed its Orange County title Oct. 13 by winning its Division 1 race by a 42-67 margin over Burbank CA.

Gianna Mendoza of San Jose Presentation CA was the fastest athlete in the Division 2 varsity races in 18:20.4, prevailing against fellow CIF Central Coast Section talent Melissa Cichon of Leland (18:36.4).

More news

History for Mt. SAC Cross Country Invitational
YearResultsVideosNewsPhotosBlogs
2023 2 156 9    
2022 1 142 8    
2021 1 169 8 607  
Show 18 more
 
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