Pasadena senior produces 40-second victory in 3-mile Sundown Showdown by clocking 14:08.1 on Brookside Golf Course layout, with Ventura freshman edging Mira Costa senior Frias by 15:59.9 to 16:01.1 margin in thrilling girls matchup; Newbury Park girls, Great Oak boys enjoy convincing wins in season openers

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

PASADENA – One of the most anticipated high school cross country debuts in recent history didn’t disappoint Friday night.

And one of the most improved athletes in California finally had an opportunity to shine under the lights in his hometown at the Cool Breeze Invitational.

RESULTS | INTERVIEWS

Ventura freshman Sadie Engelhardt relied on a late surge to prevail in the 3-mile Sundown Showdown race by a 15:59.9 to 16:01.1 margin over Mira Costa senior Dalia Frias.

Engelhardt produced the fastest all-time 3-mile performance by a ninth-grader in California and became only the ninth female competitor in state history to eclipse the 16-minute barrier.

Frias, a 2019 Foot Locker All-American, achieved the fastest cross country effort of her career, but wasn’t able to keep pace along the final straightaway with Engelhardt, who clocked the top mile performance in history by a 14-year old when she ran 4:40.16 on June 13 in Alabama.

Pasadena senior Isaiah Givens pulled away from a field that featured six sub-15 competitors by demonstrating his strength on the second 1.5-mile loop to triumph in 14:08.1.

Givens led by 21 seconds at the midway point and continued to build his advantage in the final mile, with Agoura senior Ethan Godsey moving up seven spots in the second half to place runner-up in 14:48.3.

Givens finished 15th in the Sundown Showdown during his sophomore year, but demonstrated why he is the preseason favorite to win the Division 3 state title with Friday’s performance.

Although senior Jaden Wiley took third for Hart in 14:53.4, Great Oak followed with senior twins Carson Smith (14:56.4) and Cameron Smith (14:57.6) finishing fifth and sixth to secure a 66-99 victory over the Indians.

The Wolfpack, competing in the program’s first meet under new coach Tammy Draughon, had junior twins Mark Cortes (15:06.5) and Ramses Cortes (15:09.6) place 13th and 16th, with senior Brandon Wilk finishing 27th in 15:22.3, as seven Great Oak athletes all ran under 15:30.

Hart supported Wiley with Owen Ahten (15:08.7) finishing 15th, followed by Paul Mangione (15:14.5) and Carson DeSpain (15:15.1) placing 21st and 22nd. Zach Chan was 41st in 15:37.8 for the Indians.

Chris Coles earned fourth in 14:55 for meet host Claremont, which placed fourth overall with 196 points, just behind third-place Clovis West (193 points).

Newbury Park, led by senior Samantha McDonnell finishing third in 16:53, enjoyed a dominant victory by a 71-185 margin over Great Oak, which had junior Kelli Gaffney (17:24.3) taking 12th overall.

The Panthers had junior Ailish Hawkins secure sixth in 17:07.9, with Simi Valley transfer Lexi Darley (17:31.6) placing 16th and freshman Tiffany Sax (17:38.6) finishing 19th. Danielle Brotcke was 32nd in 18:02.4 for Newbury Park.

JSerra took third with 186 points, Anaheim Canyon was fourth with 189 and Mira Costa finished fifth with 197. Anna Chittenden supported Frias with a fifth-place finish for the Mustangs, moving up 10 spots in the second half of the race to clock 16:58.2, placing just behind Saugus senior Isabella Duarte (16:57.9).

Freshman Brynn Garcia (17:23.5) was 11th for JSerra, with Emma Hadley clocking 17:33.6 to place 17th for Anaheim Canyon.

Quartz Hill junior Brianne Smith (17:08.2) was seventh, Claremont sophomore Denise Chen (17:11.4) earned eighth and Agoura senior Georgia McCorkle (17:12.9) placed ninth.

Viewpoint junior JiaLian Mackey won the Division 3-4-5 girls varsity race in 17:14.1, a performance that would have placed 10th overall in the Sundown Showdown.

Palos Verdes, led by runner-up Natalie Wang (18:18), achieved the team victory by a 101-123 margin over St. Margaret’s.

Valencia junior Kamryn Grossman won the Division 1-2 girls varsity competition in 17:48.9. Sophomore Lyla Fedio secured second in 17:55.6 to lead Redondo Union to a 48-101 victory over Rancho Cucamonga.

Senior Conor Gibson (14:55) led five athletes in the top 20 for West Torrance, which triumphed in the Division 3-4-5 boys varsity race with a 40-131 win over Palos Verdes.

Fillmore senior Michael Camilo Torres, the leader at the midway point, finished second in 14:57.3.

Gibson and Torres would have both placed in the top 10 in the Sundown Showdown competition.

Redondo Union senior Christoph Waligorski clocked 15:10.5 in the Division 1-2 boys varsity race, but Madera South had six athletes in the top 25 to earn a 59-88 victory. The Stallions were led by runner-up Dylan Devine (15:25.2) and a fourth-place finish from Alejandro Gutierrez (15:37).