2004 Mt. SAC Invitational

 
Photos by David Kennedy
Murrieta Valley's girls (far left in left photo) won the Mt. SAC crown to join their triumphs at the
Bronco Invitational and the Inland Empire Challenge. At right, super sophomores Hudson
Andrews (left) and Michael Cybulski finished 2-3 for the U.S. #5-ranked Royal boys team, which
convincingly won the Team Sweepstakes competition over a pair of nationally ranked squads.

         Teamwise, Royal's boys and Murrieta Valley's girls led the parade of achievers, with the former keeping a near-perfect season ledger intact after a one-sided triumph in the Boys Team Sweepstakes affair and the latter continuing an impressive string of big-meet successes this fall. Royal now enters the championship phase of the season as the premier boys team in the Golden State) losing only once (by three points to Madera) this season and that occurring in a meet where its #1 runner was absent while taking the SAT test.
          All in all, a whopping 12,606 runners completed the 2.91-mile challenge during 88 races in what is considered the largest high school cross-country invitational in the United States, more than 30% larger than the Manhattan Invitational and twice as large as any other meet in California. Despite heavy mid-week rains, a determined work crew prepped the course just in time for an exciting weekend of action under predominantly favorable weather (during the Sweepstakes races), with runners taking full advantage of conditions as eight boys eclipsed the 15-minute barrier for a second consecutive year and nine girls dipped under 18 minutes, compared to eight doing so last year.
         The featured Individual Sweepstakes competition for boys opened as a kamikaze mission of sorts for the Mercado twins from nearby West Covina High, and closed as a thriller between the aforementioned Bethke and Matusak. In between, Temecula Valley's Brett Campfield and Los Osos' Scott Harris carved some glowing new credentials, James Logan senior Yosef Ghebray flashed another sign of his fitness in defense of his state Division I title and Ben Sitler proved his worth as a meet-week add to the field..

Photo by Rich Gonzalez
Junior class twins Diego (foreground) and Daniel Mercado were
positioned at 1-2 at the mile, but eventually finished 7th and 14th.

         Diego Mercado tore through the two revolutions of the Valley Loop in aggressive abandon to lead the 135-runner pack, splitting the mile marker in 4:25, with twin Daniel heading the chase pack. Matusak came across in 4:32 with Bethke also in the vicinity. Climbing Switchback Hill, the siblings continued to exert their superiority, driving upward toward the peak. This is a tricky course, however, and mastering the downhill slopes are at least as important as scaling the inclines. The Mercados scaled the initial hill without problem. Exiting the Switchbacks, however....

Photo by Rich Gonzalez
Using a bit more conservative start (the chasers were seven seconds
behind at the mile), the rest of the pack draws even by 1.6 miles.

    ... the entire lead pack passed Daniel and closed in to swallow up Diego as well. The lead unit then began to wittle down in numbers after the 'crossover' point, with Matusak and Bethke then opening daylight on the rest. It was at the crest of the steep climb up Poop-Out Hill that Bethke claimed the lead, then towed Matusak along the barren strip of trail on the backside of the final two hills. From there, the duo began their final climb on the three-hill challenge, with Matusak then making his key move at the exact time point as he did in winning last year: At the very top of Reservoir Hill. The Cubs senior then swooped down the hill only to stumble partway down while Bethke remained a few strides away, ready to strike. With Matusak beginning to labor, Bethke bided his time until the middle of the airstrip, then bolted past with some 250 meters remaining, never to be challenged again.
        Bethke won in 14:30, with Matusak settling for the runner-up spot in 14:43 in shutting down over the final furlong.
        "I keep playing that 750 meters in my head over and over and over and over again," said Matusak about his post-race assessment. ... "I was way out of control going down. My post-race breakdown was: "went too soon" and "too outta control going down(hill)."

Photo by Rich Gonzalez
Scott Harris of Los Osos (left) is the hottest newcomer on the statewide elite scene
in 2004, with James Logan's Yosef Ghebray (right) being the coolest cat on the map.
Ghebray, the defending state Division I champion, finds a new gear each November.

        Brett Campfield, who some in the Southland have unfairly dubbed as a flat-course runner, handled the hills with impressive confidence in taking third at 14:55, just a stride ahead of Los Osos' Scott Harris, perhaps the state's most improved high-end runner. Harris, who has been trained and raced masterfully this fall, entered the season with a 16:02 personal best on this course and never bothered to introduce himself to "The 15's", instead claiming fourth in a stunning 14:55!
         Logan's Yosef Ghebrey, who has built a knack for conservative season starts and championship-type closings, came here as the defending state Division I champion, but also merely in search of a fitness test here. Ghebray steadied himself throughout and took fifth in 15:01. St. Francis' Ben Sitler, who was initially denied a spot in this race, was given the clearance to join this "all-star" heat and proved his worth to claim sixth in 15:04.

Photo by Rich Gonzalez
Temporarily gone (yet never forgotten), the La Sierra boys crew
moved back into the upper echelon of teams over the weekend
as Adam Sidoti (right) returned to the lineup and the Knight Twins
(Dylan and Spencer) took care of business as well. Knighty-Knight!

         El Toro, the lone NTN-ranked team in the field, won the race with 122 points, with preseason NTN -ranked La Sierra (137) welcoming its frontrunner to the lineup for his season debut this week and the group answering to perform quite well. Loyola, the only other previously ranked NTN team in the race, took third with 159. El Rancho, perhaps along with Arcadia rankings as the most improved large-schools boys teams in the Southland this fall, was fourth with 161. Not lost in the hustle and bustle of the 55 races on Saturday was a fine performance from Mission Viejo in the early afternoon, posting an eye-catching 81:56 team time when temperatures rose a bit more and the hoopla and frenetic pace of the morning races were long gone -- a very fine showing under the circumstances.
         The Boys Team Sweepstakes race offered substantial drama as it initially appeared Don Lugo's strength would earn in the upset victory against powerhouse and US #5 Royal. The defending state champion Conquistadores were rolling up front, with race leader Fitsum Tesfa and two others in the Top 10 with a half mile to go, and not a single Royal runner in sight from the offered view at the lead-in 'airstrip' toward the peak of Reservoir Hill. But then.... Royal frontrunner Dylan Jaedtke popped into view... then Hudson Andrews... and Michael Cybulski... and Jason Pedersen... and Daniel Benson. Here came the gold-and-green wave!

       
Dylan Jaedtke, Hudson Andrews, Michael Cybulski, Jason Pedersen and Matt Gulden
help comrpise the "Royal Romp" (along with Daniel Benson and Dustin Patterson) at Mt. SAC!

         With the Highlanders parading toward the home stretch and moving up in the final moments, late-race team scores began adjusting dramatically. Along the finish strip, every Royal pass constituted a two-point scoring change. And Don Lugo's 4th man?  Not in top 30... or top 40... or top 50... or top 60... or Top 70... or Top 80... Guess what? Squads from Dana Hills and Madera also were all well on their way to the finish chute before Don Lugo's penultimate scorer came into view in the 80s.
          Although Tesfa dominated the race up front and literally glided down the final hill to victory in an impressive 14-second win over El Camino's A.J. Acosta , 14:43 to 14:57 (with Don Lugo teammates Alfred "Stomps" Gonzales and Alex Mercado placing 5th and 9th in 15:04 and 15:24, respectively), the team-score tallies were not so kind: Royal 92; Dana Hills 124; Madera 134; Don Lugo 147; Murrieta Valley 162; El Camino 177. The 17-team race was headlined in the finish results by the six California Region NTN-ranked teams falling in line -- some in slightly different order -- here (along with preseason-ranked St. John Bosco, which placed seventh), as no new "NTN players" busted onto the scene.
          Royal (which hasn't had 2003 #2 runner Kevin Sullivan run all season due to injury) performed as expected while preseason #4 Dana Hills ran in its first high-profile race of the year and effectively quieted many skeptics with this performance. Nationally ranked Madera was right on target. Don Lugo, usually very solid through four runners, had one member of that quartet perform slightly under par, perhaps affecting their team placing by at least one spot and possibly two. Murrieta Valley had a tremendous breakthrough from Patrick Milloy (third in 14:57), but no others within 50 seconds. El Camino, running without its #3 runner (nursing bursitis in the knee) remained on the NTN radar as did St. John Bosco.
          Individually, Tesfa's great run coupled with an unstable support unit led to gaping holes and a massive 125-second scoring spread for the crew, with several schools taking full advantage. "I relaxed until I was coming down the switchback," explained Tesfa. "My goal coming in was just to relax during the race. I was 4:43 at the mile, but I wanted to actually go slower than that. I definitely approached this race different than last year here, where I went out too hard."
          El Camino's Acosta, who came in somewhat under the weather, compounded the condition with a 4:39 opening mile to lead at that stage -- a bit faster than he had hoped.
         "Not a good idea... I could barely walk after the race," said Acosta, who still mustered back enough strength to attend Homecoming festivities at school that evening. "I didn't run the race I should have, but was surprised I still took second."
         As a cursory side note, the debate regarding the best 1-2 punch in the state remains unsettled: Don Lugo's Tesfa and Gonzales finished 1-5 in the race and El Camino's Acosta and Randy Pensinger finished 2-4.

Photo by Rich Gonzalez
Marie Lawrence (left) begins her ascent of Switchback Hill, where she
took over en route to the #3 time in course history at 16:48.

         The Girls Individual Sweepstakes race was a flyer from the outset, and never seemed to ease the rest of the way. The leaders paraded across the flat first mile in a reported 5:13, with Marie Lawrence and Tori Tyler among those flying. Corona's Alma Escobar, more content to work on refining her cresting, rhythm, and surging talents experimentally here, always remained in the mix. Lawrence bounded up Switchback Hill in billy goat fashion, dropping much of the field early on.
         Exiting Switchback, it was Lawrence who had opened a short lead on Tyler, California's leading female runner through the first half of the season. From hill to hill, the sleek and efficient Lawrence piled on more yardage to her lead, eventually opening about a 70-meter gap by the time she headed for home. Flying down the airstrip, Lawrence re-affirmed her position as perhaps the co-favorite for FootLocker Nationals, flashing both    the strength and boldness needed to capture the top prize.
         A whopping 36 seconds ended up separating the top three runners at the finish, with Lawrence crossing in
16:48 to rank third on the all-time list along the 1999-and-since renovated course layout (bettered only by Amber Trotter's 16:16 record in 2001 and Anita Siraki's then-record 16:38 in 2000). Tyler, who kept Lawrence in sight throughout, stamped herself as an All-American candidate with a runner-up placing in 17:03. Escobar, appearing eased and well within herself, was third in 17:24. Saugus' Shannon Murakami and local talent Christy Adamyck of Glendora, both at 17:38, were the only others in the race to crack under 18 minutes. Serrano frosh phenom Kauren Tarver won an unseeded race in a spectacular 17:41 clocking!
         Teamwise, Reno of Nevada won handily with 87 points (plugging their times into the Team Sweepstakes race would have placed them third behind California NTN #6 Ayala and ahead of California NTN #7 Canyon). Corona, ranked 7th in the CIF-SS preseason rankings, began showing signs of life with a runner-up finish and 142 points, with Glendora sporting a very nice 150-point effort for third.

 
Photos by Rich Gonzalez
Ayala's girls adjust their Superwoman capes and Murrieta Valley's Liana Boucher dons the headband
as the "California Girls" frolic in the sunshine as part of a fine lineup for the Team Sweepstakes affair.

         The Girls Team Sweepstakes was not quite indicative of the blockbuster talent Californian courts these days, as a stunning 6 of the state's 10 NTN-ranked teams were NOT in the race. With several coaches either opting to avoid the featured heat or skipping the meet altogether, new teams were afforded the chance to step in the limelight, with at least one school seizing the opportunity.
         Up front, Murrieta Valley staked its claim for being the top threat to defending state champion Ventura at next month's state meet, with the Nighthawks blowing through yet more super competition to post a 122-138-153 victory over NTN-ranked squads from Ayala and Canyon, respectively. Murrieta Valley employed a fine 41-second scoring gap, with sophomore Liana Boucher (pronounced 'Boo-Shay') leading the all-non-senior group by placing 11th individually in 18:47. The Nighthawks have undertaken the most impressive schedule among California teams this fall, posting big wins at Bronco, Stanford, Inland Empire and Mt. SAC to go along with a very close runner-up placing at Woodbridge. At this point in the season, the group has made a nice case for at-large consideration to Nike Team Nationals, should it need it. Toughness personified!
          Ayala, competing pretty much on its home course, was a very close second (closer on the PRTT rating --position-related-to-time, an excellent indicator of a team's real relative strength to others) in presenting its argument to rise at least another spot in the NTN rankings. Previously NTN-ranked Dana Hills (4th with 177 points) and Vacaville (6th with 219) also competed well, with Buchanan (5th at 192, although there were six top teams opting not to crank it up in the race in favor of key championship races in the weeks to come) and rising and getting-healthier Peninsula moving back into the picture as well. West Torrance took a very close 11th to 10th-placer Edison (245 to 242), but rested out its top runner and had its #4 runner not finish the race.
          Cardinal Gibbons of North Carolina, heading westward on a last-minute decision after a state association ruling pre-empted their Race of Champions entry at the Great American Cross-Country Festival, placed 9th with 236 points, just 17 points out of sixth.
          "You're right, California girls running is no joke," quipped CG coach Justin Scranton by cell phone minutes after leaving the meet. "We had a couple of girls a little off today, but this was still a good test we needed for ourselves at this point in the season."
           With several teams opting out of the sweepstakes, there were some good performances to be overlooked if not checking carefully. Most notable was Fountain Valley, which placed a very close second (58-to-59) to "sub-sweeps" heat winner Royal, but FV ran its #2 and #3 runners in lower levels. Plugging Fountain Valley's top five times for the day into the featured Team Sweepstakes race nets the Barons a second-place overall finish to Murrieta Valley, not bad considering temperatures were 10 degrees warmer and much of the crowd turnout/excitement had dissipated by then.
           "We still wanted to win, regardless of who was in there," Fountain Valley coach Barry Miglioirini said of the team's first setback of 2004. "You always wish to have to mindset of being ready to compete, regardless of the circumstances."
           The premature reports by some claiming that Fountain Valley "blew up", was "destroyed" and "got served" were a bit exaggerated once one does some prudent research, as indicated by its #2 and #3 runners competing quite well in the sophomore race.
           Royal, producing a sensational showing in its own rite, moved squarely into the state-meet qualifying picture with its very fine run. The Highlanders, who were rained out in their huge blockbuster league showdown with Thousand Oaks last week, will face T.O. in league finals competition next week.