Friday recap from 45th ASICS Clovis Invitational

 

The reigning Gold Coast League Cross Country Champions shared the spotlight again Friday at the 45th ASICS Clovis Invitational at Woodward Park in Fresno, Calif.

Olly O’Connor, a junior at Viewpoint, and Brentwood sophomore Amelia Sarkisian both secured victories in their respective varsity small school blue division races, while also producing the fastest overall performances on the opening day of competition, as the event expanded to a two-day schedule for the first time in meet history.

O’Connor clocked 15:14.9 on the 5-kilometer layout, highlighting a day of exceptional efforts for several Division 5 competitors throughout the state. O’Connor improved from 16:08.3 at last year’s Division 5 state final at Woodward Park, leading 19 male athletes to sub-16 performances during Friday’s schedule.

Kiefer Wilcox from Tahoe Truckee secured second in 15:30.5, with Callum McBride of Albany taking third in 15:31.5, Auge Martin from St. Francis finished fourth in 15:32.0 and Oliver Clippinger-Zimmerman achieved fifth in 15:35.2, as 15 competitors in the race eclipsed the 16-minute barrier.

Foothill Technology earned the team victory with 123 points, with St. Mary’s of Berkeley placing second at 144 points.

Ryan Fitzpatrick of The Nueva School prevailed in the boys varsity medium school blue division competition in 15:26.8, with the junior relying on a significant surge in the final 400 meters to hold off Wildwood senior Theo Udelson-Nee in 15:28.8, the only other male athletes Friday to join O’Connor with sub-15:30 marks.

Bishop O’Dowd edged Larkspur Redwood on a sixth-runner tiebreaker after the teams both accumulated 131 points.

Sarkisian triumphed in the girls varsity blue division race in 18:12.1, with Las Lomas senior Lily Montilla clocking 18:17.9 for runner-up honors, Templeton senior Frannie Perry taking third in 18:21.1, Redwood junior Sydney Middleton grabbing fourth in 18:22.5 and Archie Williams junior Ani Stieg placing fifth in 18:24.7, as 15 female athletes Friday achieved sub-19 performances.

Sarkisian showcased a remarkable improvement from last year’s Division 5 state championship when she ran 19:29.6 to finish 24th at Woodward Park.

Redwood edged Immanuel of Reedley by a 133-135 margin to emerge victorious in the team battle.

Monrovia freshman Isla Terrill made her first career appearance at Woodward Park a memorable one, winning the girl's varsity medium school yellow division competition in 18:46.4, the fastest mark recorded Friday by a ninth-grader in girls' competition.

Lynbrook achieved a 41-98 victory against Tracy, followed by Lompoc Cabrillo at 99 points, and Monrovia benefited from Terrill’s effort to take fourth with 114 points following a sixth-runner tiebreaker against Windsor.

Kylie Brunelli, a senior at Monte Vista Christian, eclipsed the 19-minute barrier for the first time in her career, winning the girl's varsity medium school blue division race in 18:56.4.

Laguna Beach captured the team title with 141 points, Newark Memorial was second with 160 points, and Delaney Napierala ran 19:09.4 to help Oaks Christian take third with 198 points.

It was a split decision in the boy's varsity medium school yellow division race, with Newark Memorial junior Kenji Kawabata earning the individual win in 15:59.3, but Tamalpais benefiting from a second-place finish from Marco Zink (16:07.7) and five scorers in the top 25 to triumph against the North Coast Section rival Cougars by a 45-97 margin.

Blake Bay, a sophomore at Fresno Christian, clocked 16:00.7 to win the boys varsity small school yellow division competition, with Monte Vista Christian achieving an 85-86 victory against Yosemite, which had Ford Stegge (16:23.5) and Anthony Ruiz (16:38.1) place second and third, respectively.

Micah Redding, a junior at Colfax, was victorious in the girl's varsity yellow division small school race in 19:54.4, helping the Falcons take third at 109 points, with Piedmont prevailing against fellow North Coast Section program St. Mary’s of Berkeley by a 44-75 margin.

-By Erik Boal