By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

The 73rd Mt. SAC Cross Country Invitational is scheduled for Friday and Saturday, Oct. 22-23 at Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut, Calif.

WATCH THE 73RD MT. SAC CROSS COUNTRY INVITATIONAL LIVE OCTOBER 22-23 WITH A RUNNERSPACE +PLUS SUBSCRIPTION

Here are 10 storylines to follow at one of the largest and most prestigious high school meets in the country:

Showcase of San Diego stars

Two of the top prep athletes in America’s Finest City will be traveling north to compete on one of the nation’s most prestigious courses, when San Diego Section standouts Kenan Pala of Francis Parker and Bryce Gilmore of Sage Creek square off at 5:50 p.m. PDT Friday in the final race of the first day in the Division 3-4-5 boys individual sweepstakes race.

Gilmore, a Wake Forest commit, has developed into the top Division 4 competitor in San Diego, with the Yale-bound Pala establishing himself as the elite athlete this season in Division 5. Both are leading contenders for state championships in their respective divisions.

Pala produced the top overall time Sept. 18 at the ASICS Mt. Carmel Invitational, running 14:58.4 on the 2.95-mile course at Balboa Park’s Morley Field.

Gilmore achieved history Sept. 25 at the Dana Hills Invitational, eclipsing the 3-mile course record by clocking 14:13 to take down an all-time mark of 14:16 that was set in 1983 by Jesus Gutierrez of Pasadena.

The top Division 4 mark at Mt. SAC is 14:28, established by Big Bear’s Ryan Hall in 2000 and equaled by Duarte’s Mohamed Trafeh in 2003. The all-time Division 5 performance in course history is 14:33 by Tim Nelson of Redding Liberty Christian in 2002. 

Adding even more depth to the race will be the presence of Division 3 state title favorite and 2019 individual sweepstakes winner Isaiah Givens of Pasadena, along with another top Division 4 contender in Max Sannes of Big Bear, who produced the fastest 1.92-mile performance Sept. 4 at Mt. SAC by clocking 9:46.3 at the Fastback Shootout.

Also pursuing sub-15 efforts on the full 2.93-mile Mt. SAC course will be Agoura’s Ethan Godsey, Cathedral Catholic’s Blake Levy, Fillmore’s Michael Camilo Torres, Hilltop’s Jimmy Byland, High Tech High’s Nathan Osborn, Servite’s Jared Steins, Sonora’s Alexandro Vielma, South Pasadena’s Brady Nakamura, St. John Bosco’s Christopher Chavez, Hacienda Heights Wilson’s Luis “Gio” Guidel and Stockton St. Mary’s teammates Daniel Winter and Elijah Sullivan.

More fast company for Frias

Following her all-time record 15:43.5 on the 3-mile course Sept. 18 at the Woodbridge Cross Country Classic, Mira Costa senior Dalia Frias has only raced once since, placing third Sept. 25 in a 5-kilometer race at Nike Portland XC in Oregon.

The Duke commit is entered in Mira Costa’s lineup Saturday for the Division 1-2 girls team sweepstakes race at 9:57 a.m. PDT, and Frias has the potential to join an elite group of female competitors in Mt. SAC history.

Only 10 prep girls have run under 16:40 on the 2.93-mile course, with six of them producing sub-16:30 performances, highlighted by the 15:49 all-time effort achieved in 2017 by former Malibu standout and two-time Foot Locker national champion Claudia Lane.

Although Frias didn’t race in 2019 at the Mt. SAC Invitational, she qualified for the Foot Locker national final that season by clocking 17:10.7 on the 5-kilometer layout at the West Regional in Walnut.

Frias has run only once on the 2.93-mile course in her career, clocking 18:02 as a freshman in 2018.

Mira Costa will need another exceptional performance from Frias, along with Anna Chittenden and Ella Parsley, to help the Mustangs prevail against Division 2 rivals Anaheim Canyon, Claremont, Dana Hills and Westlake, as the top five Southern Section teams in the division are all scheduled to compete.

Anaheim Canyon, led by seniors Emma Hadley and Isabella Frisone along with sophomore Makena Oliva, is coming off a dramatic one-point victory Oct. 16 over JSerra to capture the first team title at the Orange County Championships in program history.

Claremont will showcase Maddie Coles and Denise Chen, Dana Hills is led by Allura Markow, Paige Scheer and Annie Ivarsson, with Westlake featuring Laura Castagna and Kalista Traversa.

Great Oak looks to extend grand legacy

With the Mt. SAC Invitational not being held last season as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Great Oak pressed pause on several of the most impressive streaks in meet history.

The Wolfpack return to the renovated Mt. SAC course Saturday in the Division 1-2 team sweepstakes races – with the boys scheduled to compete at 9:41 a.m. PDT, followed by the girls at 9:57 a.m. PDT – looking to add to their spectacular resume of success that extends more than a decade.

Both Great Oak boys and girls teams won the team sweepstakes championships six consecutive years from 2014-19. The Wolfpack are the only program in meet history to win six in a row in the highest division in either gender.

That consistency was only part of a longer run of dominance for the Great Oak girls team, which was the top Division 1 program in the team sweepstakes race for 11 straight years before the pandemic interrupted their streak.

Both Great Oak lineups will be tested significantly Saturday, with juniors Mark Cortes and Ramses Cortes guiding the boys against Loyola, Bellarmine Prep, Crescenta Valley, Otay Ranch, Torrey Pines, San Clemente and Corona Santiago among the top Division 1 programs, in addition to Division 2 entries Ayala, Claremont, Hart, Mira Costa, Mt. Carmel, Royal and Thousand Oaks.

It will mark the first showdown this season involving Great Oak and Loyola, the two teams ranked behind Newbury Park – the nation’s top program – in the state in Division 1.

The Wolfpack girls, led by Aishling Fabian and Kelli Gaffney, will square off against Division 1 rivals Corona Santiago, Redondo Union and Torrey Pines, in addition to Division 2 programs Mira Costa, Anaheim Canyon, Claremont, Dana Hills and Westlake.

Junior gems ready for round two

Hannah Riggins of Del Norte and Aishling Callanan of Peninsula, two of California’s top juniors, produced one of the best girls matchups this season in the state Sept. 25 at the Dana Hills Invitational, and they are scheduled to rematch at 9:25 a.m. PDT Saturday in the Division 1-2 girls individual sweepstakes race.

Riggins edged Callanan by a 16:42.5 to 16:47.5 margin on the 3-mile Dana Hills layout, but they will get an opportunity to showcase their strength at Mt. SAC, having both earned significant victories on hilly courses already this season.

Riggins won the Division 1 junior race Sept. 18 at the ASICS Mt. Carmel Invitational, running 16:27.7 on the 2.7-mile layout at Balboa Park’s Morley Field, site of the San Diego Section finals Nov. 20.

Callanan prevailed Oct. 14 at the first Bay League meet, clocking a record 18:23.8 on the 3.04-mile Palos Verdes course that features Agony Hill, one of the most demanding inclines in the country. She also ran 11:28.6 on the 2-mile Palos Verdes course Oct. 1 for the second-fastest time in Palos Verdes Invitational history.

Mackenzie Browne of JW North, runner-up in the Division 1-2 individual sweepstakes race in 2019, is also scheduled to return Saturday. Riggins finished fifth in the race as a freshman, with Callanan taking third in a Division 1-2 varsity race in her Mt. SAC debut.

The impressive trio will also be challenged by Aliso Niguel’s Lauren Schuerger, Citrus Valley’s Gabriella Romero, Etiwanda’s Jasmine Munoz, Long Beach Poly’s Camille Lindsay, Martin Luther King’s Audrey Brunken, Mt. Carmel’s Sydney Paul, Rancho Bernardo’s Jacey Farmer, Santa Fe’s Kayla Viramontes, Saugus’ Isabella Duarte, Vista Murrieta’s Isabelle Smith, Del Norte’s Emily Russo, Tatum Goforth of Xavier Prep High in Arizona, Serrano High sisters Tiani Goeson and Xyrie Goeson, along with Poway teammates Tessa Buswell and Mackenzie Rogers.

North-South showdown

One of the most underrated matchups of the meet is the expected clash of senior standouts Zach Ayers from Davis Senior and Brennan Foody of Aliso Niguel in the Division 1-2 boys individual sweepstakes race, scheduled for 9:09 a.m. PDT Saturday.

Foody is looking to follow his runner-up performance Oct. 16 at the Orange County Championships, clocking 15:14.4 on the 3-mile course at Oak Canyon Park. He also placed second to Bryce Gilmore of Sage Creek on Sept. 25 at the Dana Hills Invitational with a 3-mile effort of 14:44.7.

Ayers finished fifth in 15 minutes flat Oct. 9 in the championship race at the ASICS Clovis Invitational at Woodward Park in Fresno. He was the top athlete on any team other than Newbury Park, which secured the first four spots in the championship race.

Christoph Waligorski, a senior at Redondo Union, took third in 15:13 in the Division 1-2 individual sweepstakes in 2019, and is looking to not only challenge Ayers and Foody, but eclipse the 15-minute barrier for the first time.

Beckman’s Christopher Keyler, Cypress’ Justin Singer, Downey’s James Guerrero, Glendora’s John Sesteaga, Grossmont’s Russell Blakely, Palmdale Highland’s Mathew Donis, Rancho Cucamonga’s Glenn Bell, Valencia’s Joseph Pohlot, Vista Murrieta’s Brandon Calderon, Westlake’s KC Barber, and Santa Ana teammates Jimmy Dominguez and Juan Ramos are among the top entries joining Ayers, Foody and Waligorski in the field.

Sorting out team supremacy

Although Torrey Pines is competing Saturday in the Division 1-2 girls team sweepstakes race, three of the top four girls programs in San Diego are scheduled to square off at 5:13 p.m. Friday in the Division 3-4-5 girls team sweepstakes competition, with Cathedral Catholic, Sage Creek and La Costa Canyon leading an impressive lineup.

Cathedral Catholic, led by freshman Chiara Bonomi, is a strong contender for the Division 3 state title.

Sage Creek, featuring senior Stormy Wallace, is among the favorites to capture the Division 4 state championship.

La Costa Canyon is the biggest threat to Cathedral Catholic at the San Diego Section Division 3 final, with the Mavericks – led by senior Kyra Compton – also possessing the potential to make the podium at the state meet.

The Southern Section will also be well represented in the field on the course where their athletes will race during the postseason Nov. 13 and 20 at the division prelims and finals.

Palos Verdes and Torrance, two of the top programs in Division 3, are entered, along with Division 4 powers Oaks Christian and La Canada. Payton Godsey of Oaks Christian and Arielle McKenzie of La Canada, two of the top sophomores in the state, add more depth to the field.

Xavier Prep of Palm Desert is the top Division 5 team entered in the sweepstakes lineup.

Small schools embracing big opportunity

Providence, Windward and Viewpoint, three of the top four programs in Southern Section Division 5, will be presented with a great opportunity to test themselves at 5:27 p.m. PDT Friday in the Division 3-4-5 boys team sweepstakes race.

Providence, led by senior Xander Penaflor, performed well Sept. 18 when it competed against several teams from higher divisions at the ASICS Mt. Carmel Invitational at Balboa Park’s Morley Field in San Diego.

Gold Coast League rivals Windward and Viewpoint have each earned head-to-head victories in the past month. Windward, featuring Luke Zanuck and Benjamin Weitz, prevailed Sept. 30 by a 16-point margin, with Henry Didden helping Viewpoint rebound Oct. 13 to triumph by 13 points.

The Patriots also benefited from competing Oct. 9 at the ASICS Clovis Invitational at Woodward Park in Fresno, finishing ninth in the small school race.

It will be another significant challenge for the Division 5 programs, competing against Division 3 powers Capistrano Valley, Palos Verdes, Torrance and Santa Margarita, as well as top Division 4 teams Cathedral and Oaks Christian.

Also entered in the race is Alaska Division 1 state champion West Valley, which traditionally competes Friday at Mt. SAC.

Mackey seeks another memorable moment

Viewpoint junior JiaLian Mackey, the top Division 5 athlete in the state this season, fared well in her biggest challenge of the season Oct. 9 at the ASICS Clovis Invitational at Woodward Park in Fresno, finishing 25th in the girls championship race competing against elite performers from all five California divisions.

She will encounter another outstanding field at 5:36 p.m. Friday in the Division 3-4-5 girls individual sweepstakes race, including rematches from the Clovis championship race with Mia Chavez of Chino and Georgia McCorkle of Agoura.

Chavez clocked 17:52.7 on the 5-kilometer layout at Woodward Park, with Mackey running 18:13 and McCorkle finishing in 18:19.7.

Beverly Hills’ Danielle Hollander is among the top Division 4 performers in the state and will also get an opportunity to face top competition in preparation for racing at Mt. SAC during the postseason.

Yorba Linda’s Sydney Rome, Esperanza’s Ella Boyer, La Jolla’s Kirra Fisk, Santa Margarita’s Sophie Polay, Sonora’s Elizabeth Stetina and South Pasadena’s Sydney Morrow are also scheduled to compete, adding even more strength to an already impressive field.

Hiding in plain sight

Although many elite competitors and ranked teams have decided not to enter sweepstakes races Friday and Saturday, several varsity races could produce notable performances, perhaps none more intriguing than the Division 4 girls and boys sections at 2:04 p.m. and 2:18 p.m. PDT Friday.

Laguna Hills has entered freshman Holly Barker in the Division 4 girls varsity race instead of sweepstakes competition later in the day, with the standout ninth-grader looking to follow her memorable effort Oct. 16 at the Orange County Championships.

Barker clocked 17:14.7 on the 3-mile course at Oak Canyon Park to become the first freshman to capture the girls sweepstakes title since Allyson Marquand of Irvine University High in 1995. She is also the first Laguna Hills female athlete to win the individual championship.

Laguna Hills is also entered in a boys varsity race following the girls competition, despite the Hawks being the top-ranked program in the division in the Southern Section. Laguna Hills won the boys varsity competition Oct. 15 at the Orange County Championships, led by senior Diego Martinez, instead of racing on the same day as Barker in the sweepstakes field.

West Torrance in Division 3 and St. Margaret’s in Division 5 are among other top boys programs choosing to participate in varsity races Friday, instead of sweepstakes competition.

Brea-Olinda in Division 3, JSerra in Division 4 and St. Margaret’s in Division 5 are the leading girls teams that decided to enter varsity races Friday, as opposed to racing later in the day in the sweepstakes events.

State champions return to Southern California

The first high school cross country state champions crowned nationally this year were from Alaska, with Daniel Abramowicz from West Valley High and Robyn Miller of South Anchorage capturing the Division 1 individual titles Oct. 9 at Bartlett High.

Both athletes competed in 2019 at Mt. SAC and are hoping to perform well in warmer conditions Friday.

Abramowicz, who led West Valley to the team championship as well with a 16:12 effort on the 5-kilometer course to propel the Wolfpack to a 72-81 victory over West Anchorage, is part of the Division 3-4-5 boys team sweepstakes race.

Abramowicz ran 16:16 as a sophomore at Mt. SAC to help West Valley place 17th overall in the Division 3-4-5 team sweepstakes race. He is looking to eclipse the 16-minute mark on the renovated 2.93-mile layout, as West Valley competed on the construction course at the 2019 event.

Miller, who is entered in a Division 4 girls varsity race at 1:42 p.m., secured her first state title in 19:10.6, elevating from seventh place last season.

Miller, who helped South Anchorage finish second overall at the state final by a 42-68 margin behind team winner Chugiak, ran 18:57 in the Division 3-4-5 team sweepstakes race in 2019 to place 12th for the Wolverines.

Alaska isn’t the only state outside of California expected to have athletes and teams participating Friday and Saturday, with Arizona being represented by Chandler Prep, Cienega, Vista Grande and Xavier Prep.