Mt. SAC Invitational holds fame, importance
From mid-October on, each meet of the cross country schedule seems to take on added significance.
The Orange County Championships came and went, offering teams a chance to gauge their standing against county competition.
Up next is the nationally-acclaimed Mt. SAC Invitational, known for both its size and its course. Nearly 550 high schools have confirmed their participation in the prestigious event.
The first of 109 high school races will begin at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, and races will continue to run in succession until 5:27 p.m. on Saturday evening.
The Mt. San Antonio College course offers sentimental value, of course, because many of the sport’s great runners have braved its famed hills. Only two years ago, then-Brea Olinda High junior Austin Tamagno (running for Oregon) set the course record at 14:23.
Further value is added to the event due to its format. Teams compete within their respective divisions, allowing coaches and athletes to see how their group stacks up against other potential postseason contenders.
Several of the area’s teams look to take advantage of this opportunity by competing in their division’s sweepstakes race. Corona del Mar, Ocean View, and Costa Mesa will have their boys teams participate in those heats. The Sea Kings will also send their girls team into the fire, as will Sage Hill.
“We’re ranked No. 10 (in Division 3) according to CIF polls,” Ocean View coach Daniel Hurtado said of his boys’ team. “I think that this is the best opportunity that we have to see where we’re actually ranked against schools because we’ve never actually faced most of them this season.”
In the past, the meet may well have served as a blueprint for what a team might have to do better down the road. Due to a change in venue for the CIF Southern Section postseason meets, however, running the Mt. SAC Invite might prove less advantageous.
Last season, the CIF-SS Preliminaries were held at the Riverside City Cross Country Course, perhaps as a trial run for future postseasons. The CIF-SS Finals returned to Mt. SAC the following weekend.
This year, both of the major sectional meets will take place at the Riverside course. While countless champions have been crowned at Mt. SAC, Hurtado didn’t mind the title round moving to Riverside. He reasoned that two of the most important races will be run on the same course, and the consistency is helpful.
Ultimately, the CIF races will be run against the same competition, so Hurtado plans to take Friday’s Division 3 Boys’ Sweepstakes into account going forward.
“I think it’s going to give us a good indication of where we are and what we need to do in order to get to at least that seventh place spot at CIF Finals to be able to make it to state, which is our ultimate goal,” he concluded.
MT. SAC INVITE INFO
Where: Mt. San Antonio College, 1100 N. Grand Ave., Walnut
When: The first race on Friday is at 10:30 a.m. On Saturday, racing will resume at 7:15 a.m.
Fan Info: Tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for students who show proof/ID. General parking is $5. Preferred parking is $10.
HACHAC’S PERFORMANCE LEADS O.C. CHAMPS FRIDAY
Costa Mesa High’s Elliot Hachac set a personal record on the Orange County Championships course, running a 15:48 to place second in the Boys’ Small Schools varsity race at Irvine Regional Park.
Jacob Smith of Pacifica High won the race in 15:36. The Mariners’ senior opened the season as one of the top runners to watch in the county.
“Elliot went out with the intention to try to win the race,” Mustangs coach Steve Moreno said. “He ran stride-for-stride with the young man (Smith) up until we got to the final hill.”
“Elliot ran a courageous race. He gave it all he had.”
Costa Mesa hopes to challenge defending boys champion Godinez for the Orange Coast League title. Hachac should be considered a favorite to secure the individual crown.
Moreno added that the girls have been spurred on by a nice find in freshman Diane Molina. She has stepped in immediately as the Mustangs’ top runner, but the team needs to tighten the spread if it hopes to knock off reigning league champion Laguna Beach.
The Mustangs placed ninth as a team in the Girls’ Small Schools varsity race at the Orange County Championships. Ocean View was sixth, and Sage Hill came in 10th.
MITCHEL “THE ELDER” CARRIES ON IN HB’S REBUILDING YEAR
Huntington Beach High’s Alekos Mitchel delivered a top-10 showing in the Division 2 varsity race of the Orange County Championships on Saturday.
He placed eighth with a time of 15:50. Teammate Anthony Reed took 31st in 16:21.
Oilers coach Kareen Shackelford offered praise to Mitchel, saying, “Alekos runs with his guts and heart, getting out from the get-go.”
Mitchel’s younger brother, Lars, also runs on the team. The sophomore was the third Oiler to come in at 16:26.
SINCE YOU MENTIONED IT
League finals meets are just around the corner. Here are some of the upcoming meets:
Thursday, Oct. 27 – Academy League Finals at Irvine Regional Park
Saturday, Oct. 29 – Sunset League Finals at Central Park, Huntington Beach
Wednesday, Nov. 2 - Orange Coast League Finals at Irvine Regional Park
Wednesday, Nov. 2 - Golden West League Finals at Central Park, Huntington Beach
Thursday, Nov. 3 – Pacific Coast League Finals at Mason Park, Irvine