Buchanan Girls, Beckman Boys Win Competitive Team Contests At Clovis; Josiah Tostenson Wins Individual Title

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

Ken Martinez photos

RESULTS

Sadie Engelhardt continued her mastery of California's Woodward Park course on Saturday, breaking Claudia Lane's 7-year-old course record with a time of 16:24.2 in the Bill Buettner girls championship race at the ASICS Clovis Invitational. 

Engelhardt, a Ventura CA senior, has won two CIF Division 2 state meet titles on the course and added her second Clovis win in 16:24.2. 

Engelhardt needed a big effort in order to beat Rylee Blade from Santiago (Corona), who broke the high school record for 3-mile cross country layouts last month at the Woodbridge Cross Country Classic. 

Blade ran a few strides behind Engelhardt but couldn't close the gap and finished second in 16:31.3 for the third-fastest performance in course history. 

Lane, who attended Malibu High, was a two-time Foot Locker national champion (2016 and 2017). 

An exciting team race will reset the order for California rankings. Buchanan, the state's preseason No. 1, scored 65 points to defeat J Serra Catholic (104), Santiago Corona (119) and Ventura (153). 

Buchanan's overall team time of 89:35 is No. 8 on the all-time list at Woodward Park and one second shy of the school record. 

Molly Sundgren, Kynzlee Buckley and Gaby Gutierrez gave Buchanan three runners in the top 12 of the team scoring, and top 18 overall. 

In the Rob Brenner boys championship, Crater OR senior Josiah Tostenson cruised to victory in 14:41.3, a time that put him at No. 13 in course history. 

Tostenson and his teammates were all together in front at the mile, but the Comets' early lead eroded. Tayvon Kitchen remained in contact throughout and finished third in 14:44.5. Ivar Hokanson dropped nine spots in the final mile but still finished 24th. But the fourth and fifth runners fell back later and No. 5 Crater finished third.

Beckman High of Irvine stepped up with a big performance and won the boys team title with 83 points. The California No. 5 preseason team rebounded in a big way after placing 24th at Woodbridge. Nathan Horrocks, a transfer from Foothill, was a significant addition and was the team's third scorer, 22nd overall, to with Mason Nguyen (11th) and Ryan Barris (20th). 

Jesuit of Sacramento was second with 97 points and Crater was next with 116.

Crater's team time, thanks to the 1-3 finish by Tostenson and Kitchen, was the fastest of the day and moved the Comets to No. 9 all-time on the Woodward Park list and broke Mead WA's all-time best by a non-California team. Crater ran a total time of 76.37.

Griffin Kushen from Tesoro finished second overall in 14:43.8.