The event was called the Cool Breeze Invite, but the weather conditions were were far from cool for the cross country runners in Pomona on Saturday evening.
San Marcos and new coach Marilyn Hantgin made their season debuts at the competition, which had its start pushed back to 7 p.m. due to the 100-degree temperatures earlier in the day.
“Despite being a night meet, the heat was difficult,” said Hantgin, the school’s longtime track & field coach who took over the cross country team this year. “Most of the team ran in the freshman and sophomore divisions.”
The San Marcos freshman girls took first place for small schools, led by Samara Shalhoob. The sophomore boys finished second, led by Ben Callanan. The lower level races were 1.5 miles.
In the 3-mile varsity races, Shaina King was the Royals’ best finisher in 20:34 and Kiala Haas was next at 20:59. Kennedy Funk, Ashley Posch, Sophia Rollman, and Isabelle Harger rounded out our varsity team.
Bryan Edgar clocked 16:52 for 23rd place and Leland Sutter ran 17:26 for the San Marcos varsity boys. Andrew Robillo, Jared Simms, Ian McCarter, Jeremy McCarter and Nathan Hardin all competed in the varsity race.
“Coaching my first cross country meet didn’t disappoint,” said Hantgin. “I’m proud of our team and I’m really looking forward to the meet to come.”
The Royals compete at the Moorpark Invitational on Friday.