Sanchez is top female for second time in three years, Paredes finally earns victory after pair of runner-up finishes; Griffiths and Gaitan lead way for Great Oak girls, with strong efforts by Newbury Park, Great Oak boys lineups

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Juan Paredes and Valerie Sanchez have the long-term goals of qualifying for the 2020 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials.

Great Oak CA has its sights set once again on challenging for podium finishes in December at Nike Cross Nationals.

For the Southern California professional athletes and one of the country’s top high school programs, their respective journeys unofficially began Saturday at the 24th annual Baldwin Park Pride of the Valley 5-kilometer road race.

RESULTS | INTERVIEWS

Paredes, 28, who competed at Santa Ana CA and UC Santa Barbara, was the overall winner in 14 minutes, 51.65 seconds.

Paredes finished second in 2015 and 2016 to Adams State All-American Sydney Gidabuday, who had captured the past three Pride of the Valley titles, before deciding not to compete Saturday.

Sanchez, a former standout at San Fernando CA and Cal State L.A., was the top female competitor, finishing 36th overall in 16:44.83, just off her 5K road personal best of 16:42. She was also the top women’s finisher in 2016, placing 65th overall in 17:10.

Newbury Park CA incoming juniors Nico Young and Jace Aschbrenner, racing unattached, finished second and fifth overall, respectively, in 14:55.22 and 15:26.19.

Shimelis Abebe, 22, placed third in 15:15.41 and Great Oak CA incoming junior Chris Verdugo took fourth in 15:19.98.

Arianna Griffiths and Tori Gaitan, two additional incoming juniors at Great Oak, were the top high school females racing unattached, finishing 45th and 46th overall in 17:00.28 and 17:00.68, respectively.

Former JW North CA and Cal-Berkeley talent Mariel Mendoza was right behind in 47th in 17:01.14, followed by Christine Bolf – who raced at Notre Dame Academy CA and Colorado – taking 48th in 17:06.93.

Great Oak, represented as the Woofpack, captured the boys and girls team titles.

The boys lineup, which also included Cameron Hylton, Aric Reza, Brock Stuckey and Micah Baird all placing in the top 15 overall, clocked 77:56.

Led by Griffiths and Gaitan, the girls lineup had a cumulative team time of 89:53, with Brianna Weidler, Caroline Jilek and Lauren Buckley also finishing in the top 100 overall.

Ayala CA had its boys and girls teams, racing unattached, both finish second to Great Oak, with California High of Whittier CA taking third in both genders.

Ayala was without incoming senior Mikaela Ramirez, who was the top female finisher in the 5K race July 28 at the 37th annual Cypress Run, clocking 16:56 to place ninth overall.