Wolfpack places five scorers in top 30 to hold off Santiago lineup competing without Blade; Combe steps up in teammate’s absence to triumph for Sharks in Division 1-2 team sweepstakes in 17:33, with Torrecillas taking individual sweepstakes crown in 17:39 and El Toro earning team win

By Pete Marshall for DyeStat

WALNUT, Calif. – It’s been six years since the Claremont girls cross country team won its second of back-to-back Division 2 titles at the CIF State Championships.

Perhaps the Wolfpack are ready to be considered serious contenders for another title.

Claremont accumulated 65 points Saturday to earn the title in the Division 1-2 girls team sweepstakes at the 75th Mt. SAC Invitational Presented by Nike, edging out runner-up Corona Santiago (81), which competed without junior standout Rylee Blade.

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“Today is a treat that we were able to win the sweepstakes, because our team has really been growing throughout the years,” said Claremont senior Denise Chen, who was seventh individually on the 2.93-mile layout in 18:06.

“We’ve done this Mt. SAC course so many times, so to finally win it is really amazing. We're really excited to push this potential into the postseason.”

Claremont’s top finisher was senior L’Mio Edwards, who took fifth in 17:58, just behind Vista Murrieta’s Erika Kirk placing fourth in 17:55. Edwards said her team, which had five scorers place in the top 30 in Saturday’s race, is used to being under the radar.

“We’ve gotten used to not being as acknowledged. We’ve learned to focus on ourselves,” Edwards said. “We don’t want to be distracted by the accolades of another team. We know we have what it takes.”

With Blade not competing Saturday after leading the Sharks to the team title Oct. 14 at the Inland Empire Challenge, that left an opening for sophomore teammate Braelyn Combe, a transfer from Rancho Cucamonga, to take the individual title in 17:33.

“I was very nervous because (Phoebe Benun of Santa Monica, who finished third in 17:53) was with me for a while there,” said Combe, who improved from running 18:12 in her Mt. SAC debut last season.

“Honestly, I was not feeling good. I felt like I was going to get passed. When I started feeling good going down Reservoir (Hill), I started picking it up a little bit. I was like, ‘OK, I can do this. This is my first cross country win. I’m really happy.”

Combe edged out Poway senior Tessa Buswell, who was second in 17:45. Buswell, the reigning Division 1 state champion, was second for the third straight year at Mt. SAC after running in the Division 1-2 individual sweepstakes the last two years.

“The strategy going into it was to take it out a little slower than normal because it is hot,” Buswell said. “I ran the first mile pretty smart. I was able to play catch-up the rest of the race and I got pretty close. I got second today, but we’re in the team sweepstakes, which is supposed to be better racers (than the individual sweepstakes).”

The girls Division 1-2 individual sweepstakes was won by Bakersfield Highland senior Mia Torrecillas, who prevailed in 17:39, edging out El Toro freshman Gweneth Williams (17:43) and Westview’s Kaitlyn Arciaga (17:45). Cameron Macias, a sophomore at Clovis West who won the Division 1-2 individual sweepstakes race last season in 17:31, took fourth Saturday in 17:58.

“It’s definitely a big confidence boost,” Torrecillas said. “I’ve been super busy with traveling and I got sick. So, it’s been pretty tough, but just knowing I can get through all that and still do good, is definitely a big confidence booster.”

Williams, the fastest freshman female competitor in the entire two-day meet, helped El Toro hold off Redondo Union by a 108-114 margin to secure the team victory.

Granada Hills sophomore Samantha Pacheco won the Division 1-2 girls varsity race in 18:44.

Martin Luther King had five athletes in the top 35 to produce an 82-86 victory against Rancho Bernardo.

Quartz Hill junior Giselle Andrade achieved the fastest performance in the three Division 1 girls varsity races, clocking 19:26.

Hannah Smith (19:30) and Michelle Ramos (19:42) were second and third for Chino Hills, which triumphed by a 34-117 margin against San Marcos. Quartz Hill took third at 124 points.

Kylie Monson, a senior at Pleasant Grove, won her Division 1 varsity competition in 19:27, but Valencia of Placentia edged the Eagles with a 55-60 victory.

Castro Valley freshman Iliana Nierengarten won her Division 1 varsity race in 19:38, leading the Trojans to a 51-69 win against Warren.

Temescal Canyon junior Megan Crum, competing in only her second race after returning from injury, achieved the fastest mark in the three Division 2 girls varsity races by clocking 18:19.

Scripps Ranch prevailed by a 52-98 margin against Steele Canyon in a San Diego showdown.

Tesoro sophomore Amber Dazey prevailed in her Division varsity competition in 18:36, helping the Titans hold off Woodbridge by a 57-58 result for the team victory.

Hannah Pacheco, a junior, ran 19:11 to win her Division 2 varsity race and lead Bakersfield Stockdale to a 60-93 triumph against Dos Pueblos.