SUNSET LEAGUE / CROSS-COUNTRY : Santa Ana Boys, Edison Girls Roll

Apparently not many people knew about the free distance-running clinic Saturday in Central Park, as only a few hundred spectators witnessed the Santa Ana boys’ cross-country team during the Sunset League finals.

The Saints, who breezed through the league with a 7-0 dual meet record, showed everyone why they are the top-ranked team in Orange County, placing all seven of their runners among the top eight finishers.

Federico Morales, Juan Medrano, Juan Zaragoza and Federico Duran reached the finish line together, each running 15 minutes 48 seconds en route to a four-way tie for first. Wenceslado Morales dropped from the quartet early in the race, but kept the sweep alive, placing fifth in 15:57.

The Saints distanced themselves from the rest of the field just after the mile mark, but Servite’s O.C. Franck, who eventually finished sixth in 16:00, was the only league runner who managed to break up the Santa Ana seven.

“We needed another good day this week,” Saint Coach Roger Nava said.

“This was a good hard workout for our guys today.”

The Saints scored a perfect 15 points, outdistancing runner-up Huntington Beach (72), Ocean View (93) and Edison (128).

In the girls’ race, Ocean View’s Taryn Lawson and Kenna Masuda paced the field early, leading through the mile mark in 6 minutes. Edison’s Janndee Evans and Elyse Homberger were only seconds behind.

The Seahawks’ 1-2 punch remained in the lead at two miles as the field entered the course’s only major hill. But Homberger, the defending champion, appeared alone out of the trees with 800 meters remaining.

Homberger, running in her first varsity competition of the year since recovering from nagging injuries, won in 18:56, ahead of Masuda (19:01), Evans (19:08) and Lawson (19:12).

Edison’s Carrie Quinn, Kerry O’Bric and Jennifer Formosa placed fifth, sixth and seventh to secure the league title with 22 points for the Chargers, top-ranked in the county.

Ocean View finished second with 43 points, followed by Fountain Valley (96), Marina (123) and Huntington Beach (134).