The Santa Barbara High boys cross country team made history on Saturday at the CIF-SS Finals at Mt. SAC, qualifying for the State Championships for the first time in program history.
The Dons finished fifth in the Division 2 team results to secure one of the division’s seven bids.
The Dos Pueblos boys qualified for the State Championships in Division 3 and the Cate girls qualified in Division 5.
“State Meet has been a big goal for these guys since we got eliminated at this meet a year ago,” said coach Olivia Perdices. “They’re the first boys team from Santa Barbara High to qualify that I’m aware of, so this really is a huge accomplishment.”
Santa Barbara ran in the same division as powerful Newbury Park the No. 1-ranked boys cross country team in the country. The Panthers had the top three finishers and took first place with 25 points.
They were followed by Ventura (90), Mira Costa (129), Tesoro (150), Santa Barbara (173), Saugus (182) and Ayala (205).
Blaise Snow was first Santa Barbara finisher, placing 23rd in 15:42 on the hilly 3-mile Mt. SAC course. He was followed by Andreas Dybdahl (29th, 15:49), Cainan Birchim (30th, 15:49), Oliver Levine (36th, 15:56), Bode Andrulaitis (64th, 16:34), Nico Tassos (66th, 16:36) and Jack Garza (101st, 17:33).
Newbury Park twins Lex and Leo Young finished 1-2 and Aaron Sahlman of the Panthers was third. Lex Young won in 14:38.1, Leo Young ran 14:38.2 and Sahlman hit the finish line in 14:43.8. Brayden Seymour was sixth in 15:00.6.
Ventura’s Anthony Fast Horse (14:57.3) and Micha Grossman (14:58.6) came in fourth and fifth place.