In 2005 Corona Del Mar became the first girls team in Mt. San Antonio College history to break the magical 90-minute barrier, running 89 minutes, 42 seconds at the CIF Southern Section Championships that year. It remained the standard for California high school girls cross country for two years until a team from the Santa Clarita Valley started its record-breaking dynasty. Since that day in 2005, only six programs - five from Southern California and one from San Diego - have had five females average under 18 minutes on the historic 2.9-mile hill course.
One program, Saugus, accomplished this feat not once, not twice, but an impressive seven times between 2007-11. During that time, the Lady Centurions also won a record four consecutive sweepstakes titles at the Mt. SAC Invitational and set a record for lowest point total at the prestigious meet (24 points at the 2008 invitational). Another, Great Oak, heads into this weekend's meet as the defending sweepstakes champions and course record-holders (87:58 in the 2013 section finals). California high school girls cross country is so competitive nowadays, teams finishing second in the invitational and section finals are still going under the 90-minute barrier (Simi Valley took second at the 2012 invitational in 88:30, Saugus took second at the 2011 section finals in 89:12, and Great Oak took second at the 2013 invitational in 89:53). This weekend the best teams of the 2015 season will clash in Walnut, Calif. Great Oak, Saugus and Davis could write their names into the record-books, as all three are capable of challenging the 90-minute barrier in conditions cooperate. There's no doubt as to whether not the pace will be quick enough. Davis' Fiona O'Keffe (16:28 in last year's invite) and Great Oak's Destiny Collins (17:10 in 2013) headline a deep field this weekend. |
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