Sannes runs 9:46.3 on 2-mile layout to produce only sub-10 effort as event returns to Mt. SAC for first time since 2015, with Citrus Valley sophomore Romero clocking 12:05.7 to edge Portola junior Zdanavage and Katella senior Viramontes for top girls time; Ayala boys, Westlake girls deepest teams overall

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

WALNUT – Whether he is competing against only his senior peers, or racing the top individuals regardless of grade and section in California, Big Bear standout Max Sannes approaches every meet the same by wanting to score one point for his team.

During the return to cross country competition for the first time in 638 days at Mt. San Antonio College, Sannes made certain he would not only win the 2-mile senior race at the Fastback Invitational, but produce the fastest overall performance from the four combined grade level sections.

RESULTS | INTERVIEWS

Sannes, the top returning competitor in Division 4, clocked 9 minutes, 46.3 seconds to cap an impressive first meet held at Mt. SAC since the 2019 Foot Locker West Regionals, following completion of construction on the cross country course in addition to the renovation of Hilmer Lodge Stadium.

It also marked the first time the Fastback Invitational returned to Mt. SAC since 2015, with the event being held at Bonelli Park in 2016 and Arcadia County Park from 2017-19.

Although Sannes was 22 seconds faster than any athlete, regardless of grade, the pursuit of the top overall girls performance featured strong efforts from the winners of the sophomore, junior and senior sections, all separated by less than a second.

Citrus Valley sophomore Gabriella Romero clocked 12:05.7, junior Jadyn Zdanavage of Portola ran 12:05.9 and Katella senior Ashlynn VIramontes completed the layout in 12:06 that featured only the Switchbacks and Poop-Out Hill, but not Reservoir Hill that is part of the full 2.91-mile course used for the Mt. SAC Invitational and CIF-Southern Section prelims and championship events.

Citrus Valley was the only program in either gender to produce three athletes in the top 10 overall, with Hailie Lomeli following Romero by finishing fourth in the sophomore race in 12:20.9. Junior Itzel Del Rio took third in the junior race and was 10th overall in 12:24.5.

Despite Citrus Valley’s strength up front, Westlake prevailed as the top overall girls team, with five athletes finishing among the 50 fastest competitors from the four combined sections.

Laura Castagna took third in the sophomore race in 12:18.7, just behind Kaitlyn McQuillen of Los Alamitos clocking 12:17.7, to finish seventh overall.

Castagna was supported by the junior quartet of Kali Traversa (12:46.8) in 17th overall, Ava Basile (13:01.7) placing 28th, Virydiana Flores (13:25.9) finishing 42nd and Natalie Aluwihare (13:33.5) in 50th to help the Warriors earn a 136-147 victory over Eastvale Roosevelt, led by sophomore Madyson Nakamura (12:44.6) earning eighth in the section to secure 15th place overall.

Citrus Valley, led by Romero, Lomeli and Del Rio, took third with 174 points.

Similar to Westlake’s girls, the Ayala boys team didn’t have an individual grade winner, but placed five athletes in the top 30 overall to prevail by a 71-135 margin over Orange Lutheran, led by senior Noah Lockwood clocking 10:36.7 to secure seventh in the section and finish 13th overall.

Citrus Valley, with Ethan Romero finishing second in the junior race and fourth overall in 10:11.4, took third with 143 points.

Ayala was led by senior Mason Ma, who placed fourth in his section and eighth overall in 10:18.4. Fellow senior Mateo Cole (10:40.8) was 18th overall in 10:40.8, with juniors Malachi Morris (10:31.6), Christopher Sydnor (10:52.8) and Matthew Carcamo (10:55.1) finishing 11th, 24th and 30th among the four combined sections.

Katella senior Jonathan Aguilar placed runner-up to Sannes with a 10:08.8 effort, edging Newport Harbor junior Kenny Wanlass (10:08.9) for the second-fastest time overall. Although Wanlass passed Romero in the gauntlet just before the finish, the Citrus Valley standout was able to hold off Westlake’s KC Barber (10:11.8), who was fifth-fastest overall.

St. John Bosco had two of the top 10 male competitors, with Christopher Chavez (10:30.6) taking fifth in the senior race and earning ninth overall. Teammate Aiden Aldana won the sophomore race in 10:31.5 for the Braves, who finished seventh in the team competition with 261 points.

Big Bear was the only boys team to produce a pair of individual winners, with freshman Kael Jex clocking 10:49.2 to finish 21st overall.

Citrus Valley was the only girls program to secure multiple victories, with Isabella Bravo clocking 13:02.5 to win the freshman race, before Romero shined in the sophomore competition.

Yorba Linda junior Sydney Rome, runner-up to Zdanavage in 12:11.8, was fourth overall and Martin Luther King senior Audrey Brunken placed second to Viramontes in 12:16.9 to round out the top five performances.