Andreas Dybdahl led seven Santa Barbara High cross country runners to top-20 finishes, leading the Dons to the boys team title at the Raider Invitational in Oxnard on Friday at College Park.
San Marcos’ Kiala Haas won the individual girls title, and the Royals took second as a team.
Haas ran the 3-mile race in a personal best of 18:03.75.
“This was a huge personal best for Kiala,” said San Marcos coach Marilyn Hantgin. “She has been struggling with an injury and finally is feeling herself. I am super impressed with her today. Kiala is now one of the fastest cross country runners in school history.”
Dybdahl, the reigning CIF State Track & Field Champion in the 1600 meters, placed second in the 3-mile race in a season-best of 15:11.22. He was beaten by Hueneme’s J.R. Lesher, who clocked 15:02.74. Logan Torres of Buena took third in 15:17.85.
Dybdahl was followed by Cainan Birchim (10th place in 15:48), Blaise Snow (12th, 15:58), Nico Tassos (16th,16:07) and Bode Andrulaitis (17th,16:08) for the team scoring. Benjamin Diaz (16:08) and Matthias Everest (16:09.06) placed 19th and 20th.
Santa Barbara coach Olivia Perdices noted that Ventura didn’t run its top-five runners but still finished second.
“Regardless, the guys did a really nice job today,” she said of her runners. “It was fun to put all our scorers in the top 20 and inside a minute of each other. They all ran season bests.”
Santa Barbara won with 49 points and Ventura had 84; Channel Islands was third with 90 points followed by San Marcos (122) and Hueneme (135) to round out the top five.
San Marcos was led by Ben Callanan, who finished 11th in personal-best of 15:51.10.
“Ben ran a really solid race today,” said coach Marilyn Hantgin. “He continues to train at a high level and all of his hard work is paying off.”
Jared Simms (29th, 16:38.26), Gage Minne (33rd, 16:41.57), Andrew Robillio (40th, 17:01.74) and Asher Holmes (41th, 17:02.50) rounded out the Royals’ top 5.
“Everyone ran a personal best today. The course was flat and the weather was perfect,” said Hantgin.
The San Marcos scored 65 points and were edged out by Canoga Park, which finished first with 61 points. The Hunters had four runners place in the top 15.
Westlake was third (67 points), Ventura fourth (69) and Santa Barbara came in fifth place (122).
Colette Keller of San Marcos placed fifth overall (19:17) and was followed by Ellie Monson (18th, 20:23), Gabby Jaramilla (24th, 20:46.67) and Autumn Richarson (25th, 20:46.71) to round out the team scoring.
Madeleine Van Bebber led Santa Barbara in 12th place in a lifetime best of 19:51.47. Mackenna Show (29th, 21:03), Ailey Alexander (30th, 21:04), Belen Catalan Jaimes (31st, 21:26) and Ridley DeSoto (32nd, 21:27) packed together to run season bests and complete the scoring.
“The racing was fast and the girls responded well, pushing and helping each other throughout,” said Perdices. “That’s Maddy’s first time under 20 minutes. She’s been looking to break that for a while and it’s really gratifying to see. Her season is on a great trajectory.”
Next up for Dons and Royals is the first Channel League next Friday at Ventura.
“Our league is very strong. Today will give us a lot of confidence going into an important meet next week,” said Perdices.