With seven runners placing in the top 20, the Santa Barbara High boys cross country team finish second to Ventura in the first Channel League race on Friday at the hilly, Arroyo Verde Park course in Ventura.
“We haven’t raced here in several years,” said coach Olivia Perdices. “It was a competitive meet on a challenging course. Every team showed up ready to play.”
Ventura won the boys race with 26 points, with the Dons tallying 51 points. Dos Pueblos (77) was third and San Marcos (129) fourth.
Ventura dominated the girls meet, scoring 18 points. Dos Pueblos was second with 70 points, followed by San Marcos (79), Oxnard (119) and Santa Barbara (126),
In the boys race, Dos Pueblos junior Eamon Gordon came in second place with a time of 15:57. Ventura’s Anthony Fast Horse won in 15:10.90.
“Eamon’s race within the race had him challenged by a rival from Buena till they hit the last hill climb and Eamon pulled away,” said DP coach David Jackson. “After the race, Eamon commented that he felt like this was his first real race of the season and that he’s excited to race again in two weeks.”
He was followed by sophomore Cullen Gully (9th,16:40), and then our closely-bunched pack: Andy Brennan (21st, 17:14), Oliver Saleh (22nd, 17:19), and Owen Abbott (23rd, 17:20). Linus Martin in (25th, 17:23) and Finn Wright (26th, 17:27) rounded out the DP team.
Andreas Dybdahl finished fourth at 16:02 to lead Santa Barbara’s runners. Other scorers for the Dons were Blaise Snow (18th, 16:18), Ben Diaz (12th, 16:47), Sasha Tanasychuk (13th, 16:48), Bode Andrulaitis (14th, 16:48), Cainan Birchim (16th 16:53) and Nico Tassos (18th, 17:04).
“We had some different guys in the lineup today and they showed up for us and did a great job,” said Perdices. “Seven boys in the top 20 with a 62-second gap is awesome. We’re in a great place looking at a couple of big invitationals then the championship part of the season.”
Ben Callanan was 15th place in 16:49 to lead the San Marcos boys. Gage Minne, Jared Simms, Ayden Welch, and Andrew Robillio were the Royals’ top five finishers.
“We have a very talented and competitive league,” said coach Marilyn Hantgin. “Our boys and girls competed well today. I am proud of the work they have put in so far this season and look forward to the time we have together to improve and strive to reach our goals.”
GIRLS
Kiala Haas finished third with a time of 19:15 to lead San Marcos. Sadie Engelhardt of Ventura ran away from the field and won in 17:41.66, and Aelo Curtis of the Cougars was second in 18:46.92.
“Kiala ran a great race behind two very talented Ventura runners,” said Hantgin. “Samara Shallhoub, Melina Vela, Gabrielle Jaramilla and Colette Keller were our top-five scoring girls.
The Dos Pueblos girls were led by sophomore Vienza Machuca, who ran a personal-best time of 20:00.
“Her eighth-place finish came at the end of hard-fought battle with tough competition,” said Jackson.
Sophie Saleh finished 12th in 20:39. Followed Cate Bishop (14th, 20:49), Eloise Shea (15th, 21:00) and Maddy Myers in 22:01. Ila Walman-Randall in (27th, 22:28, PR) and Ashley Hansen (29th, 22:38) rounded out the DP finishers.
Madeleine Van Bebber led the Dons with a 13th place in 20:45. Ailey Alexander (22nd, 22:05), Mackenna Show (26th, 22:19), Belen Catalan Jaimes (32nd, 22:55), Sophia Guerrero (33rd, 22:56), Ridley DeSoto (34th, 23:02) and Jaia Beall (39th, 23:23) finished the Dons scoring.
“Our girls came out and battled with Oxnard and Rio Mesa for every point. We’re all still in the mix for the league’s fourth spot into CIF,” said Perdices.