By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor
The 75th edition of the Mt. SAC Cross Country Invitational was held last Friday and Saturday in Walnut and the Palisades High boys and girls teams ran in two of the featured races as the Dolphins continue to fine tune themselves for a run at a City Section sweep next month.
Max Fields led a strong contingent in the Division 1-2 boys team sweepstakes race, which boasted 20 of the top teams in California. Fields started in the lead pack in a field of 138 runners and ran the first mile of the twisting 2.93-mile course at Mt. San Antonio College in 4:49. By the two-mile mark he had moved into a tie for 10th in 10:12 but the early fast pace took its tool and he had to drop out with half a mile to go.
“I had the stomach flu the day before and I wanted to save a little energy going up Reservoir Hill when it hit me. I’m a little disappointed because it’s my last senior invite and on the outside it looks like I haven’t had great results but I know I’m in good shape to do well the rest of the way. I think as a team we can get 16 or 17 points and challenge the time record. My priority is the state meet—that’s where I want to peak.”
Despite fields being unable to compete the race the Dolphins got ninth with a score of 254. Great Oak won for the eighth time in nine years with 88 points and San Clemente’s Brett Ephraim won in 14:50. The Dolphins’ first finisher was Zachary Cohen (15:51) in 34th, followed by Owen Lewicky (40th in 15:55), Blake Sigworth (43rd in 15:56), Axel Mammen (53rd in 16:02), Andrew Razo (84th in 16:32) and Roland Becking (18:06).
In the previous race Saturday morning the Pali High girls competed in the Division 1-2 individual sweepstakes and were fifth out of 20 teams with a score of 181. El Toro was first at 108. Mia Torrecillas of Bakersfield Highland ran 17:39 to beat runner-up Gweneth Williams from El Toro by fiour seconds.
Zoey Morris led the Dolphins wiith an effort of 19:10—good enough for 17th. Kyra Morris was 24th in 19:20, Louisa Mammen was 33rd in 19:54, Gabriella Gilyard was 57th in 20:57, Virginia O’Neill was 59th in 21:03, Giada Rice was 87th in 22 flat and Cecelia Tierney was 94th out of 124 runners in 22:20.
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