Frias clocks 16:42.8 in Division 1-2 team sweepstakes to produce only sub-17 effort at two-day event, leading Mira Costa victory against Division 2 rival Anaheim Canyon; Callanan triumphs in Division 1-2 individual sweepstakes in 17:15.9, setting up four potential races with Bay League’s best in November

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor/Chuck Utash photos

Dalia Frias and Aishling Callanan enjoyed their own journeys to success by traveling parallel paths Saturday at the 73rd Mt. SAC Cross Country Invitational.

But the top two competitors in the Bay League will become plenty familiar with each other in the next five weeks, with the potential to race one another four times in a 24-day span, including the Southern Section Division 2 prelims and finals at Mt. SAC, along with the Nov. 27 state championship meet in Fresno.

RESULTS | INTERVIEWS | PHOTOS BY CHUCK UTASH

Frias, a Duke-bound senior at Mira Costa High, and the Peninsula junior standout Callanan achieved the top two female performances of the two-day event with their victories in Walnut, Calif.

Frias led Mira Costa to victory in the Division 1-2 team sweepstakes race by covering the 2.93-mile layout in 16 minutes, 42.8 seconds, the fastest time achieved at Mt. SAC since 2017, along with helping her equal the No. 12 all-time female performer at the venue.

Callanan triumphed in the Division 1-2 individual sweepstakes competition with a 17:15.9 effort, helping Peninsula finish fourth overall with 163 points.

Frias and Callanan led 16 girls under the 18-minute barrier Saturday, after seven athletes achieved the feat Friday.

Frias was supported by Ella Parsley taking third in 17:26.7 and Anna Chittenden securing seventh in 17:46.3, as Mira Costa placed five scorers in the top 30 to produce a 68-105 victory over Division 2 rival Anaheim Canyon.

Emma Hadley (17:50.1) and Isabella Frisone (17:56.9) were ninth and 10th for the Comanches, who competed without Keira Potter from their winning lineup Oct. 16 at the Orange County Championships.

It was a significant outcome for Mira Costa and Anaheim Canyon, as both Division 2 programs finished ahead of Great Oak, which had its streak of six consecutive sweepstakes championships halted by taking third overall with 118 points.

Kelli Gaffney placed second in 17:22.4 for the Wolfpack, which held off Torrey Pines (141) to establish itself as the top Division 1 program in the sweepstakes race for the 12th consecutive year the event has been held.

Scarlett Taylor finished fifth in 17:41.3 for Torrey Pines, which competed without top runner, senior Annika Salz.

Claremont was fifth overall with 143 points, third among Division 2 programs, led by Denise Chen (17:36.4) placing fourth and Maddie Coles (17:57.8) earning 11th.

Lyla Fedio was eighth in 17:48.2 for Redondo Union, another Bay League program, which was sixth overall with 178 points.

Tessa Buswell of Poway was runner-up in 17:45.6 in the Division 1-2 individual sweepstakes race, with Mackenzie Rogers finishing eighth in 18:17.6, helping the Titans secure second overall by a 94-109 margin behind Del Norte.

Despite junior standout Hannah Riggins struggling in the second half of the race for Del Norte, freshman Emily Russo produced the fastest time by a ninth-grader at the two-day competition, clocking 18:04.3 to finish fifth.

Riggins held on for 10th place in 18:35.3, and Del Norte had five scorers in the top 35, including three freshmen, to hold off Poway for the team title.

Vista Murrieta, led by Isabella Smith placing fourth in 18:04, was third as a team with 138 points.

Jacey Farmer of Rancho Bernardo took third in 17:56.8, helping the Broncos earn eighth with 202 points.

Another San Diego Section standout, McCall Dame of Oceanside El Camino, won her Division 1 varsity race in 17:48.8.

Arroyo Grande senior Jenna LeNay ran the fastest time among the final three Division 2 varsity races, clocking 18:10.5.

Great Oak had five scorers in the top 20 in the Division 1-2 junior varsity sweepstakes, with Lauren Ropacki (19:30.2) and Meilani Castillo (19:35.7) taking the top two spots to produce a 40-80 victory over Xavier College Prep of Arizona.