Alyssa Brewer runs national leader in 800, Gillian Wagner and Santa Cruz girls DMR set meet records

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

The 11th annual Dublin Distance Fiesta, the largest distance meet in the country, showcased several of the top athletes and programs in Northern California, with the event reaching new heights as the temperatures dipped Saturday at Dublin High.

Eleven female athletes ran under 11 minutes in the 3,200 meters, with nine male runners finishing under 9:20 in the eight-lap race, both the most in meet history.

INTERVIEWS

Senior Alyssa Brewer of California High, the two-time state 800 champion, ran the fastest time in the country at 2:08.99, the first time under 2:09.0 in March in her career to shatter her own meet record of 2:12.13 from last season.

Redwood Larkspur senior Gillian Wagner eclipsed the 3,200 meet record by clocking a personal-best 10:29.46, leading three of the meet's all-time top five performances, in addition to placing third in the 800 in 2:14.77. Senior Olivia O'Keeffe of Davis Senior ran 10:34.48 in her first high school 3,200 and Healdsburg junior Gabrielle Peterson clocked a program-record 10:34.83, lowering her personal best by 25 seconds.

After taking second to Brewer in the 800 in 2:09.79 – the No. 3 time in the country this season – senior Mari Friedman anchored Santa Cruz to school and meet records in the distance medley relay. Anaya Ward, Anika Lindley, Ella Hedrick and Friedman clocked 12:07.58, the third-fastest mark in the state this year.

Liberty Ranch senior Collin Ullrich prevailed in a thrilling finish in the boys 3,200 in a personal-best 9:06.62, leading three of the top six times in the nation this year. Jesuit sophomore Matt Strangio was runner-up in 9:07.04 and Redwood Larkspur senior Liam Anderson, who ran 1:59.67 earlier in the 800, took third in 9:07.12.

After winning the 1,600 in 4:18.67, Ryan Wilson returned to anchor Carlmont to victory in the DMR to cap the meet in impressive fashion. Justin Hsu, Tanner Anderson, Caleb Metzler and Wilson clocked 10:30.65 to hold off defending champion Bellarmine Prep in 10:31.04 and Heritage in 10:32.94.

Alex Scales anchored Bellarmine's DMR after winning the 800 in 1:53.46, just off his meet record of 1:53.27 from last season.

Sonora Union senior Cassi Land won the girls 1,600 in 5:05.45 and returned to place eighth in the 3,200 in 10:56.19.

Providing they meet the qualifying standards, the top two individuals in each event, as well as the top two DMR finishers earned automatic berths to compete April 6-7 at the 51st Arcadia Invitational.