Wolfpack attack: Great Oak sweeps in Division 1, as does Claremont in Division 2

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Great Oak CA swept the Division 1 team titles for the third consecutive year, becoming the most decorated cross country program in division history Saturday at the CIF Southern Section finals at the Riverside Course.

Fatima Cortes won the girls individual crown, covering the 3-mile course in 16 minutes, 27.1 seconds, leading five scorers in the top 26 for Great Oak, which won its sixth consecutive championship and eighth in nine years with a 56-138 victory over Southwestern League counterpart Vista Murrieta.

Carlos Carvajal was fourth in the boys final in 14:43.4, as Great Oak had its five scorers in the top 38, leading the Wolfpack to a third consecutive crown with an 86-145 triumph over Roosevelt. Shane Bissell (14:39.4) won the individual title for Loyola, which finished fourth with 175 points, also trailing third-place Dana Hills (150).

Great Oak's 11 combined titles elevated the Wolfpack above Palos Verdes (nine) for the most team championships in Division 1 history.

RESULTS

Flintridge Prep won its fifth consecutive Division 5 girls championship with a 55-101 victory over St. Margaret's. Sophie Gitlin (17:59) was second and Sasha Codiga (18:06.5) placed fourth for the Rebels, who had five scorers in the top 29.

Evan Pattinelli repeated as Division 5 boys champion  in 14:51.9 for Flintridge Prep, but Thacher won its first team title with an 82-117 win over Cerritos Valley Christian, with the Rebels third with 122 points.

Claremont had all five scorers in the top 22, led by Sydney Hwang in fifth (17:18.2), to repeat as Division 2 girls champion with a 77-104 victory over Saugus. Haley Herberg ran the fastest time of the day at 16:20.9 to lead Capistrano Valley to a third-place finish with 110 points.

Claremont also captured its first Division 2 boys crown since 1962, relying on five scorers in the top 39 to post a 108-141 win over Saugus. Ethan Danforth of Canyon secured the individual championship in 14:50.2.

West Torrance won its third consecutive boys title, including its second straight in Division 3, placing five scorers in the top 28 to prevail by a 77-118 margin over Palos Verdes. Kevin Ramos of Rubidoux, second last year, captured the individual crown in 14:55.8.

Although Oak Park's Sylvia Cruz-Albrecht (17:33.8) and Sarah Shulze (17:39.7) took the top two spots in the Division 3 girls final, Laguna Hills relied on five scorers in the top 46 secure a 102-130 victory over Palos Verdes.

Malibu's Claudia Lane repeated as Division 4 girls champion, cruising to the win in 16:32.5 after running a course record 15:49.4 in the Nov. 11 prelims. Foothill Tech placed five scorers in the top 29 for a 70-100 victory over Mayfield, securing the Dragons' first section title.

Cathedral captured its first Division 4 boys team title, relying on third- and fourth-place finishes from Tyriq Granillo (15:35.6) and Alexander Cantu (15:38.7) to spark five scorers in the top 24 in a 63-137 victory over Laguna Beach.

Anthony Grover (15:22.9) and Peter Herold (15:29.7) took the top two spots for JSerra, which secured the seventh and final Division 4 state qualifying berth with 231 points.