Led by an individual title by Andreas Dybdahl, Santa Barbara high boys cross country captured the CIF-SS Division 2 title on Saturday at Mt. San Antonio College.
Dybdahl beat out Ventura’s Anthony Fast Horse in the final stretch of the race, finishing with an impressive time of 14:04.5.
“Andreas and the chase pack kept Anthony within range the whole race,” Dons coach Olivia Perdices said. “Guys kept dropping off and in the end, it was Andreas and Anthony. Andreas passed him with about 60 meters to go.
“What can I say, the guy knows how to hold his cards and bring it home in clutch moments.”
As a team, the Dons were in sixth place at the first-mile mark, then crept up to second at the two-mile mark before pulling away with the first-place finish by the third and final mile.
All seven Santa Barbara High racers ran personal bests. Following Dybdahl were Blaise Snow (14th, 14:38), Cainan Birchim (17th, 14:44), Bode Andrulaitis (32nd, 15:03), Nico Tassos (34th, 15:05), Sasha Tanasychuk (48th, 15:19) and Benjamin Diaz (52nd, 15:23).
With their performances, Dybdahl and Snow were CIF medalists.
“We came in thinking there were four teams that could win it today. It was going to come down to who had all seven guys show up,” Perdices said. “All credit to the boys. They took the course change in stride and went out and executed exactly how we asked. I couldn’t be prouder of them.”
The Dons will now race in the state meet next week for the second year in a row.
“It’s going to be another brawl next week and hopefully we’re up to the task,” Perdices said.